Catholic Community Services and Church @ the Park (C@P) are partnering to end homelessness in Salem. This spring, C@P was looking for a site to develop safe, legal accommodations for people in crisis. Catholic Community Services Foundation offered to redevelop a portion of its main campus on Portland Road for this purpose. The two organizations are now moving full steam ahead to develop a program and facility that will maximize success for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness.
One key component of the project is that multiple health and human services partners are already onsite at the Seymour Center and neighboring Bishop Steiner Building. Collaborative, co-location partners include St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank, Gentle Dental, Arches, CCS Community Counseling Center and Fostering Hope Initiative. The availability and collaboration of multiple service providers in one location increases wraparound supports for individuals and families, and hence the success of those families when transitioning to longer term housing.
“We have seen the benefits of a collaborative co-location space firsthand on our St. Joseph Family Shelter campus in Mount Angel,” said CCS CEO Josh Graves. “That location now houses multiple providers and a food pantry. This project will establish a service array that is even more robust on our Portland Road campus.”
Structural improvements and repairs planned for the space formerly occupied by a pallet company include new ceilings, insulation, and heating. The facility will be staffed to shelter up to 140 people a night, helping them to stabilize their lives and gain better access to services and employment.
Key Elements of the Program Design include:
· 40 Indoor camping sites under the cover of the warehouse space (capacity of up to 80 guests);
· 20 Pallet shelter structures (capacity of up to 40 guests);
· 8 Safe parking spots (capacity of up to 20 guests);
· Indoor Navigation Center for outreach, case management, and partner providers to provide connections to resources for guests to end their homelessness;
· 24/7 Staffing, including daily Safety Team presence and point-in-time data capture;
· Possession storage for shelter guests;
· Provision of basic necessities: safety, bathroom and shower access, daily meal and food, and health and sanitation supplies
· Coordinated use of the CCS commercial kitchen for provision of one meal a day.
View: Church@thePark’s Website