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Salem Housing Authority briefs Keizer council: voucher changes coming, two properties eyed for Habitat transition
Summary
A Salem Housing Authority representative told Keizer council the authority serves 119 households in Keizer (avg. assistance $1,043/month) and that HUD‑requested payment‑standard reductions start Aug. 2; two Keizer addresses are included in a proposed transition to Habitat for Humanity to create affordable homeownership opportunities.
Keizer — Jessica Blakely of the Salem Housing Authority gave the council an update on local rental assistance and upcoming policy changes during the July 20 meeting.
Blakely said Salem Housing Authority currently serves 119 households in Keizer with an average monthly rental assistance payment of $1,043 — about $1.5 million annually — and supports 247 individuals living in the Keizer area. She told council that HUD has requested the housing authority reduce payment standards as a cost‑savings measure beginning Aug. 2; she emphasized current voucher holders will not see immediate cuts until their next anniversary (12 months) and that rent reasonableness tests will apply for new lease‑ups.
Blakely noted the housing authority is confronting a budget shortfall and that her commission will discuss nine addresses (two in Keizer) on Aug. 24 that are proposed for transition to Habitat for Humanity as part of a public‑housing authority plan to convert some public housing into affordable homeownership opportunities. She encouraged Keizer residents to submit public comment to the housing authority at upcoming meetings (July 27 and Aug. 24 at the Laux Auditorium, Salem Public Library, 6 p.m.). Blakely also promoted upcoming landlord outreach and a Fair Housing & Landlord Symposium in October.
Council thanked Blakely for the data and asked few questions; Blakely said Salem Housing Authority will post specifics on program changes and outreach materials on its website and social media and return to council with more updates in the fall.
