Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES Project, shows Jones recently donated supplies that are currently stored in the building’s unused sobering center on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Work has changed dramatically for Jimmy Jones, the executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency.
Most of the work he normally does is on a face-to-face basis, but now he’s adapted to working from a distance either at home or occasionally in his Salem office.
Jones is bracing himself for the onslaught of work his agency will have to address in the coming months as restrictions ease on evictions.
“The moment is kind of pregnant with anticipation that it’s about to get real fast again,” he said.
The Community Action Agency serves Marion and Polk counties with programs designed to promote self-sufficiency, harm reduction and independence for those in poverty.
The agency plans to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to prevent evictions as many Salem residents have lost their jobs due to measures imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
It also provides energy payments and weatherization services, Head Start classes, Child Care Resource and Referral training and technical support, nutrition programs for family child care, a prison re-entry program, runaway and homeless youth services and sheltering, and housing programs and homeless services for adults and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in our community.
JImmy Jones shares a light moment with Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES Project, during a meeting on homeless services and outreach on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES Project, holds a mask to her face during a meeting on homeless services and outreach in Jimmy Jones’ office on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones holds on to one of several baseballs on his desk during a meeting to discuss homeless services and outreach on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A wall calendar in Jimmy Jones’ office. For each day marked ‘COVID,’ Jones worked solely on issues relating to the pandemic. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, steps away from a Zoom call to talk with Helana Haytas, chief operating officer, in her office across the hall on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, participates in a Zoom call for the board of directors of the Community Action Partnership of Oregon on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, participates in a Zoom call for the board of directors of the Community Action Partnership of Oregon on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, greets prior to entering the program’s warming facility on May 7, 2020. The facility has reduced the number of visitors allowed due to social distancing guidelines. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, examines a pile of recently-purchased sleeping bags at the ARCHES project facility on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, steps away from a Zoom call to talk with Helana Haytas, chief operating officer, in her office across the hall on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, laughs while on a phone call on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A quote from Mother Teresa sits in front of candy bowls on Jones’ desk on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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