Category Homelessness
Mayor Julie Hoy asks city to coordinate with ODOT for homeless camp cleanups in Salem
During Monday’s city council meeting, Salem Mayor Julie Hoy will propose taking steps to work with the Oregon Department of Transportation to improve cleanliness and maintenance of ODOT property within Salem. Councilors will not take any action until a meeting later this month.
Oregon Gov. Kotek extends homelessness emergency order, this time with a mental health focus
A new declaration orders state agencies to rehouse more than 1,400 people and prevent homelessness for 8,000 Oregon households through 2027.
TOP STORIES: Sentenced to the Sidewalk, health care challenges
Reporter Abbey McDonald shares insights on her top stories from 2025.
COLUMN: Reflections on Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day
Columnist Lynelle Wilcox shares memories of Salem residents she's known who have died while homeless. Salem City Council declared Dec. 21 Homeless Persons Memorial Day.
Salem-area organizers opt to skip unsheltered homeless count this year
Due to better methodology and rising costs of living, last year’s unsheltered Point-in-Time count measured a record number of people living on Salem’s streets. The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance won’t be conducting a count this year due to a lack of staff availability in the region.
Federal funding for Salem-area homeless services in limbo after HUD withdraws controversial policy
After getting sued by 20 states including Oregon for its plan to shift nationwide homeless policy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development temporarily pulled guidelines for distributing money to homeless shelters that prioritized those that require people to work and be sober before getting housing. Salem-area providers don’t know when applications will be due, or what will be asked of them.
5 things to know: Local governments zero in on Wallace Marine as residents worry about options
Last week, Salem Reporter published a report featuring the perspectives of Wallace Marine Park residents and local elected officials, health care workers and law enforcement who work there. The park will be the center stage for a new collaborative effort to address homelessness from Marion County, Polk County and the city of Salem.
As local governments sharpen focus on Wallace Marine Park, residents worry about a lack of options
For the first time, Marion County, Polk County and the city of Salem are meeting to discuss a joint plan to address camping at Wallace Marine Park. Though the park is in Polk County, Marion County commissioners say the problems are significant enough to merit a regional response.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to youth sees staggering reduction in homelessness
A state program gave homeless youth $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.