Salem Housing Authority to Apply for Moving to Work Designation

Public Notice

Salem Housing Authority to Apply for Moving to Work Designation

Salem Housing Authority (SHA) plans to submit its Moving to Work plan to HUD to declare its interest in participating in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program: Asset Building Cohort.

 SHA seeks public input on the draft Moving to Work (MTW) plan, which will be submitted to HUD on July 28, 2022. The plan describes the activities SHA would undertake if selected for participation in the MTW Demonstration Program. These activities are designed to: 1) increase self-sufficiency among families served by our programs, 2) reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, and 3) increase housing choice for low-income families. Additionally, participation in the Asset Building Cohort allows SHA to create a savings program for randomly selected families that will build assets with no out-of-pocket contribution from the family or requirement to be engaged in self-sufficiency activities or employment. The draft plan is available at https://www.salemhousingor.com/plans-and-policies and in print at our main office.

If SHA is selected to participate in MTW, the flexibility of MTW will enable SHA to implement strategies tailored to our local marketplace that will be cost-effective, will support families and increase economic mobility, and will increase housing choice. Additionally, administrative relief provided by MTW status will allow SHA to reduce administrative burden for both its program participants and its staff, enabling SHA to deepen our innovation in service to low-income families and households in our community.

A Public Hearing will be held Monday, July 11, 2022, during the regularly scheduled City Council and Housing Authority Commission meeting. This is an online meeting, beginning at 6:00 pm. Meeting details may be found by visiting the Public Meeting Calendar online at https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/city-council-mayor/city-council-meetings. If you wish to provide public comment or testimony during the Public Hearing, you may do so by: 1) submitting written comments or testimony no later than 5:00 pm on July 11, 2022 to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net, or 2) preregistering to provide real time comments or testimony during the meeting. Instructions for preregistering are available at the link above.

Additionally, written comments, feedback, letters of support, or other documents you wish to be considered will be accepted by Salem Housing Authority until 11:59 pm on July 27, 2022. Written input may be: 1)  submitted directly to SHA at our main office at 360 Church Street SE, Salem OR 97301; 2) submitted by postal mail to this same address; 3) submitted by email to compliance@salemhousingor.com; or 4) submitted by fax to 503-588-6465 (please mark faxes Attention: Compliance).

https://www.salemhousingor.com/s/SHA-MTW-Plan-DRAFT-20220627.pdf

Applications Open for Two Salem Housing Authority Programs, February 25 – March 18, 2022

Effective Friday, February 25, 2022 at 12:00 am until Friday, March 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm, Salem Housing Authority (SHA) will be accepting applications for the following programs:

Southfair Apartments Project-Based Vouchers

1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units

This property is adding Project-Based Voucher rental assistance to 32 of its 40 current total units. These units are required to have new waiting lists. Applicants who previously applied for assistance at Southfair must apply to these new waiting lists if they are still interested in living at the property. Applicants can apply for any unit size(s) they may be eligible for.

Household income is restricted to 50% of the Area Median Income.

After the application period closes, applicants will be placed on the waiting list in randomly selected, lottery order.

Single Room Occupancy (1-person, female)

Single Room Occupancy units (maximum occupancy: 1 person)

Single Room Occupancy units provide private sleeping / living quarters. This project is dormitory-style with shared restrooms and is limited to female/female-identifying individuals only. Homeless applicants receive preference on the waiting list. Applicants will be placed on the list in order by 1) homeless status, and 2) date and time of application.

Note: Applicants for other SHA waiting lists, including Section 8, are eligible to apply for either of these programs.

Please see the public notices for complete details about these waiting list openings:

Yaquina Hall Groundbreaking

Salem Housing Authority is about to break ground on our newest housing property. Yaquina Hall will consist of 51 one-bedroom units and one studio apartment on the site of at the former nurses’ dormitory at the Oregon State Hospital North Campus. Yaquina Hall is a Historic Place listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several unique historic features will be preserved and enhanced.

Twenty of the units will be reserved for individuals needing permanent supportive housing. Rent amounts for all units will be based on income. Income limits will be at 60% or less of area median income.

Current estimated opening date is in 2023. The opening of the waiting list for Yaquina Hall has not been announced. It will be posted on the Salem Housing Authority website in the future.

Come help us celebrate! We would love for you to join us at this groundbreaking. Please RSVP to dgarrison@salemhousingor.com . We hope to see you there.

SHA’s lobby will close early at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 to allow staff to attend the celebration. SHA will reopen Thursday, February 3 at 8:00 a.m.

Salem Housing Preservation Waiting Lists Open November 19 - December 19, 2021

Public Notice

Notice of Opening the Salem Housing Preservation 4 and Salem Housing Preservation 9 Waiting Lists

Effective Friday, November 19, 2021 at 12:00 am until Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 11:59 pm, Salem Housing Authority (SHA) will OPEN the waiting list for the following properties:

Salem Housing Preservation 4

Includes Northgate Village and Livingston Village, both in NE Salem

1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units

Note that all 1-bedroom units at these properties are fully accessible and are offered first to applicants needing accessibility features.

Salem Housing Preservation 9

Includes Meadowlark Village in SE Salem and Brush College Village in NW Salem

1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units

Note that some 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units at these properties are fully accessible and are offered first to applicants needing accessibility features.

To apply to the waiting lists for these properties, visit www.salemhousingor.com and click the “Apply Now” link. Paper applications are also accepted as a reasonable accommodation. Paper applications may be requested by contacting SHA at housing@salemhousingor.com or (503) 588-6368.

The waiting lists for these properties will close Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Applications will not be accepted after the waiting lists close.

Questions may be directed to housing@salemhousingor.com.

Equal Housing Opportunity

The Housing Authority of Salem does not discriminate against any person due to disability, race, color, religion, sex, source of income , familial status, national origin, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and/or domestic partnership in accessing, applying for, or receiving assistance, or in treatment or employment in any of its programs and activities.

The person named below has been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR, part 8, dated June 2, 1988):

Melanie Fletcher, Compliance Manager, Salem Housing Authority, 360 Church Street SE, Salem OR 97301

(503) 587-4815 | mfletcher@salemhousingor.com | TDD users: Dial 711

SHA lobby open to assist clients one at a time

PUBLIC NOTICE:

SHA is pleased to announce our main office lobby is open to assist clients one at a time.

When you arrive, please knock on the lobby door. Front desk staff will escort you inside as soon as they finish assisting the prior client. Per City of Salem guidelines, masks must be worn by both staff and clients while inside City offices.

Front desk staff is available to assist you at any time during our new lobby hours: 8:00 am — 4:30 pm, Monday — Friday. To meet with your Housing Specialist or Coordinator, you must have an appointment prior to arriving at SHA. Contact your Specialist or Coordinator directly to request an appointment.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our staff is still working hard to ensure that payments are processed on time, new clients are assisted, recertifications and moves are taken care of, and maintenance issues are addressed. Paperwork and rent payments may be dropped in our secure drop box at 360 Church Street SE, Salem OR 97301.

We are available by phone or email. You may contact your Specialist or Coordinator directly. If you have a general question or do not have contact information for the person you need to speak with, please email housing@salemhousingor.com or call 503-588-6368. We will respond to messages in the order received, as promptly as possible.

If you have an emergency and need to reach someone urgently, please call 503-588-6388.

We are closely monitoring the pandemic and are doing what we can to help protect the health and safety of our community. We thank you for your patience during this challenging time, and we look forward to opening the lobby more fully when risk has subsided.

Redwood Crossings Waiting List closing November 14, 2021

Public Notice

Notice of Closing of the Redwood Crossings Waiting List

Effective Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm, Salem Housing Authority (SHA) will CLOSE the waiting list for Redwood Crossings for all bedroom sizes (Single Room Occupancy and 1-bedroom). The waiting list is routinely closed when the anticipated wait time exceeds 24 months. The current wait is estimated at over 24 months.

 Applications for Redwood Crossings will not be accepted after the waiting list is closed.

 To apply to the Redwood Crossings waiting list before it closes, visit www.salemhousingor.com and click the “Apply Now” link. Paper applications are also accepted as a reasonable accommodation. Paper applications may be requested by contacting SHA at housing@salemhousingor.com or (503) 588-6368.

 SHA will provide public notice when the Redwood Crossings waiting list re-opens.

 Questions may be directed to housing@salemhousingor.com.

Equal Housing Opportunity

The Housing Authority of Salem does not discriminate against any person due to disability, race, color, religion, sex, source of income , familial status, national origin, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and/or domestic partnership in accessing, applying for, or receiving assistance, or in treatment or employment in any of its programs and activities.

The person named below has been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR, part 8, dated June 2, 1988):

Melanie Fletcher, Compliance Manager, Salem Housing Authority, 360 Church Street SE, Salem OR 97301

(503) 587-4815 | mfletcher@salemhousingor.com | TDD users: Dial 711

Returned Mail for Applicants

Attention all waiting list applicants:

SHA communicates with applicants via US Postal Service mail. Remember to keep your address updated with Salem Housing Authority once you have submitted a waiting list application. It is your responsibility to notify SHA promptly of all address changes to keep your application active.

Effective October 1, 2021, when undeliverable mail is returned by the US Postal Service, the applicant’s name will be removed from all waiting lists with a status of “Active” at the time the mail is returned. This applies to all mail returned with an official USPS sticker citing the reason it is returned.

If an item is returned with a USPS sticker that includes a forwarding or new address, the applicant’s address will be updated in the database, and the item will be sent to the new address with an updated due date.

Thank you for keeping your address updated while you are on SHA waiting lists.

Waiting Lists for 3-Bedroom Accessible Units at Parkway East and Parkway West Open June 1

At 12:00 am on June 1, 2021, Salem Housing Authority will open the waiting lists for Parkway East and Parkway West for 3-bedroom accessible units. Applicants with a verified need for accessible housing are screened first for accessible units. All other applicants are screened in date and time order of application.

The waiting lists will remain open until 11:59 pm on June 30, 2021.

Applications are accepted online. To apply, visit www.salemhousingor.com and click “Apply Now.”

If you would like to apply but are unable to do so online, paper applications are accepted as a reasonable accommodation. To request a paper application by mail, call 503-588-6368 or email housing@salemhousingor.com.

To learn more about Parkway East and Parkway West Apartments, visit www.salemhousingor.com/parkway.

Salem Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program accepting applications

Qualifying low-income homeowners within Salem city limits may be eligible for emergency mortgage assistance for hardships experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are being accepted now. Please see the Mortgage Assistance Program page for more information, and to request an application.

SHA Waiting List Closures

Effective December 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm, Salem Housing Authority will close the following waiting lists:

•  Englewood East Large Building: 1- and 2-bedroom

• Englewood East Small Building: 1- and 2-bedroom

• Parkway East: 2- and 3-bedroom

• Parkway West: 2- and 3-bedroom

• Public Housing Multifamily: 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom

• Public Housing Homes: 2- and 3-bedroom

• Section 8 Mod Rehab SRO

• Salem Housing Preservation 4 (Northgate and Livingston): 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedrooms

• Salem Housing Preservation 9 (Brush College and Meadowlark): 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedrooms

• Southfair: 1-, 2-, and 3-bedrooms

Why is the Housing Authority closing these waiting lists?

Until now, the Salem Housing Authority has maintained most of its waiting lists continually open. However, our policy for these properties has been to close the list when the wait time is more than 18 – 24 months. For all of these properties, the estimated wait time is more than two years. For some, it exceeds three to four years. When waiting lists are very long, it often means that applicants have found other housing by the time their name comes to the top of the list.

 How long will the waiting lists be closed?

We do not know how long the waiting lists will be closed. It depends on the rate at which current residents of these properties move out, and the rate at which the lists are reduced when we fill those vacancies.

 How will I know when the waiting lists re-open?

When the waiting lists re-open, we will announce it in the local newspapers, on our website, and through our community partners. The best way to keep informed about our waiting lists is to check our website frequently. When we are taking applications again, we will announce it at least 14 days before we start taking applications.

 What if I am already on the waiting list?

If you are already on the waiting list, you will not be impacted by the waiting list closure. We will continue to process all applications in the order they were received. You may check the status of your application by visiting www.salemhousingor.com and clicking the “Check Your Status” link.

 To keep your application active, you must report changes in your mailing address. If the Housing Authority attempts to contact you and your letter is returned as undeliverable or you do not respond by the deadline, your application will be removed from the waiting list. To report changes to your address or household, visit www.salemhousingor.com and click the “Household Update” link.