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Salem Housing Authority reports improved customer service, completed office remodel and advocacy outreach
Summary
Housing Authority staff reported restored customer service response times, completion of a long-delayed carpet replacement, nearly $2.8 million paid to landlords in the past month and ongoing advocacy at the state and federal level.
Nicole Yoots, housing administrator for the Salem Housing Authority, told the Housing Authority board on May 27 that customer service responsiveness has returned to pre-pandemic levels and that offices reopened after a carpet replacement. Yoots said in-person client visits numbered about 533 and staff are processing more than 636 items in the agency’s Dropbox; voicemails and email responses are being returned within 24–48 hours.
The authority completed a long-postponed carpet replacement that had previously received bids in excess of $100,000; a recent award came in at about $39,000, Yoots said. She said the project and associated tight orchestration allowed the office to be cleared, renovated and returned to service within five business days.
Yoots also reported an operational outreach figure: “we have 2,800,000 in the last month that went out to landlords in the community,” which she described as payments to help serve vulnerable populations. (The transcript lists the dollar figure without additional breakdown; staff did not provide line‑item detail in the meeting.)
Advocacy and next steps: Jessica Blakeley, director of development, described ongoing advocacy at the federal level after the presidential proposed budget included program cuts. She said staff have met with federal and state delegations and county officials in Polk, Yamhill and Marion counties and will attend a national appropriations conference in July. Blakeley asked commissioners how they preferred to receive updates; commissioners generally favored small-group briefings supplemented by written reports for those unable to attend.
Staffing and outreach: Yoots reported that outreach staff who joined the agency on May 16 remain on staff; two now work in property management and one in resident services. The board had no further actions and Yoots adjourned the housing authority meeting.
Ending: The update was informational; the board took no formal action at the meeting.
