Ward 6 candidates discussed Salem's ordinance that prohibits camping on public property when shelter beds are available within 15 miles and urged the city to expand shelter capacity and focus on root causes.

Caitlin Halapa said she supports protections in the ordinance but criticized parts of it, especially the 15-mile relocation limit and the shortened notice period for clearing encampments. "I don't think that taking someone out of their community and their support network and moving them 15 miles away... is really the intent," Halapa said, and she urged extending the required notice beyond the recently amended 12-hour window.

Marlene Warner emphasized addressing root causes and coordinating social services in Salem instead of simply moving encampments: "We don't have... a strategic enough plan as to how to handle the multifaceted issues that are being presented by individuals in the encampments." She recommended maximizing existing facilities and interagency coordination.

Robert K. Meyer pointed to mental illness and addiction among some people living outdoors and called for regional shelter and day programs, saying Salem should not carry the burden alone: "We need every city to step up and have some type of shelter." Meyer cited his experience with state social-service programs and group-home operations.

All candidates said increasing shelter beds and service capacity is the primary way to make the ordinance workable. They opposed rapid displacement without pathways into shelter or housing.

Ending: Candidates recommended increasing shelter capacity, lengthening notice periods, and building interagency plans that prioritize housing and services rather than displacement alone.