Marion County creates Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative Task Force to coordinate regional response

The Marion County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 27 to establish the Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative Task Force to coordinate regional efforts to reduce homelessness in Marion and Polk counties. Commissioner Janet Carlson presented the charter, which cites recent increases in homelessness and shortages of rental and low-income housing for people with housing vouchers.

Under the charter, each jurisdiction may appoint up to five members to a diverse task force supported by a list of technical advisors. The task force is staffed by Laura Walker of the City of Salem and Hitesh Parekh of Marion County; its first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2016, in the Anderson Room at the Salem Public Library.

Board discussion focused on priorities and strategies. Carlson said the group should seek opportunities to expand affordable housing, emergency shelters and supportive services and to prioritize subpopulations such as youth, veterans and families with children. Commissioners emphasized that the initiative is not intended to encourage homelessness or create sanctioned camps; they expressed interest in studying the Housing First model and in identifying which populations to prioritize.

The board subsequently approved an order appointing Bruce Bailey, Gladys Blum, Janet Carlson, Jason Myers and Jon Reeves to the task force, with terms ending upon the task force's termination. Gladys Blum was noted for her real estate experience and community involvement; the record shows Jon Reeves was absent from the meeting while participating in the local Homeless Count.

Next steps include convening the initial public meeting and developing the list of technical advisors and priority populations the task force will study.