Cody Freshour stands outside his firm, Ivalor LLC. Freshour rents 10 units to people who would be homeless without the city of Salem-backed program. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) When it comes to renting homes to the homeless, Cody Freshour says the perception is worse than reality. Freshour is one of 21[Read More…]

A rendering of the new Union Gospel Mission men’s shelter. The shelter is expected to break ground in 2020. (Courtesy of Union Gospel Mission) A year after businesses appealed a permit for Union Gospel Mission to proceed with its upgraded men’s shelter, it will now contend with at least one[Read More…]

The future home of Redwood Crossings, at 4107 Fisher Road N.E. (Courtesy of Salem Housing Authority) The Salem Housing Authority landed a new property this week to transform into the city’s debut “housing first” facility, set to open by fall. Redwood Crossings, at 4107 Fisher Road N.E., will be a[Read More…]

The ARCHES Project case worker Ken Houghton, left, and Bob Francis, a volunteer, walk to the homeless camp shortly before its eviction by the city of Salem in January. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Nearly $100 million in public dollars was spent helping homeless in the region last year, according to a[Read More…]

Lead volunteer Russ Lipetzky, left, jokes with warming center guest Ckierra McKenzie. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) “Anybody else need a bag?” Russ Lipetzky walked along a line of several dozen people gathered outside the basement entrance to First Presbyterian Church Wednesday night, passing out black trash bags. It was a few[Read More…]

Volunteers at First Presbyterian Church prepare bags to store belongings overnight for warming shelter guests. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) With temperatures below freezing Wednesday night, people lined up by the dozens to get inside First Presbyterian Church. The church basement serves as the largest of three Salem warming shelters, providing a[Read More…]

People cross the street in downtown Salem during following a snowstorm on Feb. 5, 2019 (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) At least ten homeless people seeking shelter from the snow Tuesday night were turned away from Salem warming shelters because of a lack of volunteers. To avoid a repeat Wednesday,[Read More…]

People sleeping on mats at a warming shelter at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday night. Organizers said one shelter closed that night due to a lack of help, and 20 homeless were turned away. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) If Kathleen Thorpe wasn’t volunteering at a warming shelter in Salem, she said[Read More…]

A person stands on a concrete bench under the Marion Street Bridge during a homeless camp’s eviction in January. The ARCHES Project said Friday it needs volunteers for an annual count to help collect data on the region’s homeless. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The yearly count of homeless people that helps[Read More…]