Announcement

Former Salem Housing Authority Admin, Andy Wilch

Until further notice, the Mid-Willamette Valley Health and Housing Work Group is in recess,  subject to the call of the secretary.

Please feel free to contact the Secretary, Sarah Owens, with any questions.

The Work Group is very grateful to the Salem Housing Authority for allowing them to meet in their conference room over the past year.

13 January 2020 Meeting Notes

Present: Presenter Corissa Neufeldt, Marion County Human Services Director; Sarah Owens, Secretary;  Members Chris Jones, Eddie Maestas, Dana Schultz, Michael Livingston (see Roster tab, above).

Corissa spoke informally about what Marion County Human Services is doing at the intersection of health and housing.  The Board of Commissioners has a leadership role in forming the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance.  The Juvenile and Sherriff's Department are also involved.  Most of Marion County's housing services is supporting clients that the county serves through behavioral health services. 

The Marion County Housing Authority sets aside 10 housing vouchers per month for homeless/at risk clients.  These are shared between the Human Services, Juvenile, and Sherriff's Department, but Human Services uses most of them.  Their clients have many barriers to accessing housing, even with a voucher (housing is not affordable, or not accessible, or not suitable because of other tenants, etc.)  Corissa plans to work with Annette Jensen to cultivate relationships with owners and property managers.  Annette prioritizes housing referrals based on need/vulnerability.

The county also has an OHA "Housing First" rent subsidy program for clients with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders.  Clients in this program eventually move on to a voucher.  The county Health Department runs Horizon House and other adult foster homes
  
Dana asked if the county would be interested in cooperating on a Permanent Supportive Housing project and Corissa said yes, she thought so.  Dana and Annette had been to Eugene the day before to look at a reentry housing program for sex offenders, and were hopeful about working together on similar project. 

Pacific Source has contractual expectations that providers address housing as one of the social determinants of health.  Corissa said the county is more or less waiting to hear more about those expectations.  Dana said she'd met with interim director Trudy Townsend, who said once the Mid-Willamette Valley Health Council was assembled, providers would be invited to make proposals on how they propose to satisfy their contractual obligations, and the Council will decide whether or not to approve them.  Pacific Source has yet to settle on a director or a location, but will eventually have about 40 staff in a Salem office.  

Dana said that Jan Calvin is conducting one on one meetings with providers to get them "signed on" to the Built for Zero goals.  The aim is to involve every organization who is connected to a homeless individual or to the desired outcome for the homeless individual.  Providers have to commit to twice per month case conferencing.  The by-name list will focus on chronically homeless individuals.  Lane, Clackamas, and Washington counties are also participating.  Participants report to an "improvement advisor" named Sandy Coltz who is also available for technical assistance.  See here for an info sheet with more details.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 10.

13 January 2020 Agenda

18 November 2019 Meeting Notes

Present:  Sarah Owens, Secretary; Members Michael Livingston, Jan Calvin, Kimm McBeth; Guest Janet Carlson (see Roster tab, above).

Report on the distribution of CANDO's Good Neighbor Guide:  Visited 72 downtown Salem businesses and spoke with owner or manager at 29 of them.  Guide received a uniformly positive response, and most immediately read it.  Some asked for extra copies for employees.  “Very helpful”

Asked if business had problems with "homeless" individuals?

• 15 “too busy to talk”
• 11  “not mentioned”
• 13  no problems, or no current problems
• 8  “yes, but no specifics”
• 15  occasional, or infrequent (intoxicated; “alternate reality; unruly person asked to leave; people drunk or using drugs at sidewalk restaurant tables; people sleeping in doorways when staff arrive
• 4 on High St north of Marion (2 based on previous contacts) identified continuing serious problems -- e.g., vandalism and people mentally ill and out of control)  Owner of one of those businesses spoke highly of Be Bold Street Ministries staff -- Josh & Matt, whose contact information is in the pamphlet

Asked if business did have any problems, how handled?  

• 10 relational approach (asking people to leave) & call police as needed
•  3  security guard
•  8  relational approach only
•  4  other (e.g., call police & coordinate with nearby businesses; complain to mayor & council; call Be Bold Street Ministries) 

Josh said that as a result of the distribution, he had received 27 calls, and Matt had received 15.

Nicole offered tours of SHA's Immediate Needs Station to which law enforcement has 24/7 access.

Discussion:  Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance's Built for Zero project; canceling December Health & Housing Work Group meeting to allow members to attend the Thursday, December 5 MWVHA meeting for area providers to discuss progress on forming the new continuum of care (9-10:30 at the Keizer Civic Center).

18 November 2019 Agenda

14 October 2019 Meeting Notes

Present:  Presenters Eunice Kim and Scott Eastburn; Sarah Owens, Secretary; Members Eddie Maestas, Christie Hughes, Kristin Keunz-Barber, Shelly Ehenger, Michael Livingston, Chris Jones (see Roster tab, above).

Shelly Ehenger:  The draft 5-year Consolidated Plan is available for comment.  The City is working with Western Economic Services.  Only ~80 or so people responded to the survey, which is open through March if you haven't yet taken it or want to change your answers.

Eunice Kim:  The City is in the midst of a multi-year project to update the Salem Area Comprehensive Plan, which guides development in the Salem area.  The project is called Our Salem, and is in the "community-wide visioning" phase.  Sign up to get email updates about the project and learn about opportunities to get involved.  

Scott Eastburn:  The ARCHES Project has launched a new housing program with three components based on a client's VI-SPDAT score, and three funding sources.  Four case managers, 15-25 client caseload.  Intent is to match services/support with need.  Expectation is one check-in/month and a six-month follow up after exit.  Key performance measure is housing stability; aim to house 95% of those going through intake, and have 90% exit to positive housing situation.  Program strengths: cultivated relationships with landlords; uniform forms; rapid, assisted intake; removing barriers before the housing search begins (e.g., help client complete out a standard lease application and practice interview), move in checklists to work while the client is waiting for the inspection to be completed; having staff certified to be able to inspect; solid relationship with Fair Housing.  Maximum assistance is for two years, but most will exceed income standard (30% of gross) in six months.  More details in Scott's outline (edited somewhat).



There is nothing yet planned for November, the work group having rejected Sarah's idea to hold a debate on the merits of the City's proposed Sidewalk Behavior Ordinance. Kristin Keunz-Barber agreed after the meeting to see if someone from Marion County's Health Advisory Board might be prepared to talk to the work group in November about HAB's interface with housing and homelessness.

14 October 2019 Agenda