Emergency Power Generation for Low-Income Senior Housing
Background history on why the Salem Housing Authority is helping keep our seniors safe:
In 2021, The Willamette Valley experienced an ice storm event lasting several days. The senior residents of two affordable housing projects experienced a life-threatening event. The power was out for over five days, leaving 114 residents without access to an elevator, lights, heat, power for life-saving medical equipment, and access to nurse pulls that alert 911. The
entire city was impacted, and employees could not respond. Salem Housing Authority is looking to prevent this tragedy from happening again through a full rehabilitation and installation of life-saving safety measures at both sites. Generators will be installed to ensure elevator service, emergency lighting, and a community room, including a kitchen and bath to stay warm, cook food, access power for medical equipment, and nurse pulls that run on generator power. With your support, we can help provide new safety measures. These locations will provide space for low-income seniors to seek refuge during the next emergency.
During the ice storm, our community raised concerns about our seniors and their health during an emergency. These low-income seniors are some of our most vulnerable Salem community members.
This request is supported by our local Fire Department and City Manager, who experienced a call-out from the community during the event. It would free up fire response and resources during an event as the residents would have self-sufficiency opportunities. This request is voiced by the residents themselves.
Project Overview:
Project Name: Emergency Power Generation for Low-Income Senior Housing
Amount of being requested: $1,500,000
Description of the Project:
During the 2021 ice storm in the Willamette Valley, two properties serving low-income seniors in Salem Housing Authority’s portfolio were without power for seven days. In total, 114 residents living in these multi-story buildings were without heating, emergency lighting, elevator access, ability to cook, notify emergency medical services (nurse pulls were inactive), and power for medical equipment. Seniors are aging in place. While seniors are eligible for housing at these properties at 62, many are staying in SHA property. This makes them more vulnerable to weather emergencies that may impact power supply.
Salem Housing Authority is in the process of rehabilitating these buildings but cannot find adequate financing opportunities to meet this emergency power need. We have found that it is hard to acquire debt on low-rent properties. Locally, Oregon’s housing funds are focused on creating new, additional affordable housing stock, not on rehabilitation projects.
If this appropriation request is approved, the $1.5 million will be used to purchase a diesel generator for each of two low-income senior housing properties, Southview Terrace and Englewood West Apartments, and construct necessary.
The primary purpose of requested funding:
Funds will be used to purchase a diesel generator for each of the two low-income senior housing properties, Southview Terrace and Englewood West Apartments, and construct necessary power upgrades to the 30-year buildings.
Southview Terrace
Englewood West Apartments
Project Names:
Southview Terrace and Englewood West Apartments - Salem, Oregon
Salem Housing Authority is ready to build this project and needs funds to support this emergency management piece: 2 Diesel Generators and Electrical Upgrade (Power Supply)