Nicole Yoots, director of the Salem Housing Authority, briefed the council and the Housing Authority on program metrics Dec. 8.

Yoots said HUD had rescinded and intends to reissue the 2025 Continuum of Care NOFO; the agency is monitoring developments and the Mid Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance will proceed with its NOFO grant process when the NOFO is reissued.

Program statistics presented included a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) leasing rate of 93%; project-based voucher utilization at about 79% (some allocations are tied to projects in renovation scheduled for 2026); and Emergency Housing Vouchers at 68% utilization. Yoots said the authority "can't administer any more of those vouchers" at current utilization and that remaining emergency voucher participants will need to transition to the HCV program later in 2026. She also noted the agency had distributed just over $3,000,000 in housing assistance payments to the community as of Dec. 1.

Yoots highlighted landlord engagement success and cited approximately 140 vouchers "on the streets" in use by clients, estimating about 65% of voucher holders will be able to move into housing under current conditions. She also reported coordination with Western Oregon University's occupational therapy interns at Sequoia Crossings and Yaquina Hall to provide life-skills support for residents in supportive housing.

No council action was requested; the briefing was informational and staff offered to answer follow-up questions.