There is a homelessness crisis in the Salem area and most people want something to be done. UUCS and Habitat and Hope Village, Inc. can provide one piece of the solution. This article provides information on the Farmhouse transitional housing project planned for an unused portion of the UUCS north parking lot. We are working toward an early 2021 congregational meeting when you can vote on leasing it the land. Your support is critical since the project will not be built on this site without congregational approval.
Demographics:
Our target clients are single women who qualify as “diversion clients” as defined by the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency and ARCHES.
They have been homeless for less than one year and do not require intensive case management.
At any one time, 35 to 50 women on the ARCHES waiting-for-housing list would qualify for the HHV Farmhouse transitional housing program.
Entry into the HHV Program:
Most of our clients will be referred from ARCHES.
All will meet HHV criteria as part of a coordinated entry system.
HHV will interview each client, go over the Hand Book rules, have them sign a release of information, and do a background check.
Partner Agencies and HHV Personnel:
ARCHES will provide a Housing Stabilization Specialist or Case Manager who will report to an ARCHES Program Manager. The Program Manager will be charged with helping clients overcome barriers to permanent housing, and locate housing. Support activities include arranging transportation to required appointments and helping clients procure first and last month’s rent, necessary clothing, employment, etc.
HHV will provide a part-time Facility Manager (FM) who will report to the HHV board of directors and who will not live on-site. The FM will work closely with ARCHES personnel to complete the coordinated entry system and promote the well being of the community of women. Duties will include helping coordinate dinners, mediating issues within the household and attending to neighborhood concerns.
For the first three years HHV will use volunteer Facility Managers since three years of successful management are required on applications for grants to fund employee salaries.
Transportation Issues:
Transportation will be important to the success of the program.
ARCHES will make sure the clients have transportation to the appointments they are required to attend.
HHV is working with other service organizations to develop van sharing arrangements, and it is possible some Farmhouse clients will have cars. Also, a volunteer system could be created for runs to the grocery store.
Regarding public transit, the closest Cherriots bus stop is roughly one-half mile from the Farmhouse. Transit system administration is currently unable to justify adding stops or changing routes to reach the UUCS neighborhood. Since the Cordon Road area is building up quickly we will continue working for community support for a closer bus stop.
Even though bus transportation is currently an inadequate option we feel it is important to move ahead with the Farmhouse project.
Community Outreach:
Working with the surrounding population will be crucial to success.
We have attended East Lancaster Neighborhood Association (ELNA) and East Salem Substation Neighborhood Association (ESSNA) over the last two years presenting our concept for transitional housing.
We have also attended numerous organizational meetings around the Salem area.
We are pleasantly surprised at how well our plans have been received, and have heard very few NIMBY comments.
HHV will work with nearby neighborhoods to develop memorandums of understanding and provide ways for them to contact HHV with concerns.