Collecting "Scenarios"

At the September meeting, the work group determined that, in order to coordinate services to respond to downtown businesses needing assistance with people's disruptive behaviors, it would need to better understand the types of situations involved.  Jim Vu agreed to write up some examples, and to collect examples from others and bring them to the October meeting.  At the October meeting, Jim shared the results of the SMSA survey, but didn't have any "scenarios" (written examples of problems businesses or community members want assistance with).  Tom Hoffert agreed to collect "scenarios" by October 24, but his efforts were fruitless.

Sarah Owens solicited "scenarios" through CANDO's Facebook page, but even though her post was widely viewed and shared 9 times, she also received no response.

So, Tom asked Jim and TJ Sullivan to "reach out to a cross-section of businesses" for their "scenarios", as he was going to be out of the country for eight days.

In visiting downtown businesses to invite them to CANDO meetings and share the CANDO Good Neighbor Guide, Sarah and her helpers talked to 50+ employees and owners.  Their impression from those conversations was that most businesses have issues, but nothing they haven't found a way to deal with, and rarely do they feel the need to call police.

TJ submitted a list of 10 "scenarios" shortly before the November meeting.  Most were covered by the CANDO Good Neighbor Guide.  Sarah and Michael reviewed and sorted them, sent them on to providers and law enforcement for questions and comments, and asked them to let Sarah know by COB 11/20 whether a meeting would be required. 
  

October Meeting Notes

Agenda:  1) Welcome by host Tom Hoffert 2) Introductions 3) SMSA survey results 4) Technical Training Institute by Brenda Pearson, DHS 5) Business "scenarios" by Jim Vu 6) CAHOOTS update by Kim Hanson  

Present:  Kristin Retherford, Facilitator; Moises Ramos and Bruce Donohue with UGM; Dana Shultz   with MWVCAA; Kim Hanson with United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley; Josh Lair and Matt Maciera with Be Bold Ministries; Jim Vu with Salem Main Street Association; Tom Hoffert with the Salem Area Chamber; TJ Sullivan with Huggins Insurance; Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston with CANDO.  Not present: anyone from law enforcement.

Welcome by Hoffert.  Intros around table.  Kristin asked for comments on SMSA survey results.  She expressed concern that some respondents didn't know who to call.  Josh offered everyone his phone number and said it could be shared, that Be Bold Has worked extensively with Venti's and Great Harvest [both businesses locations] [also has contacts with US Bank, Trachshel Body & Paint, Salem Tire, RJ Dance Studio, Roy Jon Designer Goldsmiths, and Court Street landlord Eric Kittleson].  He said he doesn’t think law enforcement should be dealing with this problem, and that we, as a community, can be doing something different.  Matt said their focus is to meet people's immediate need, because the relationship component was "already there."  Be Bold coordinates with ARCHES, UGM, etc.  Josh said just talking with people changes the way you deal with them.  Michael noted that a number of responses identified behavior problems that were unlawful (not merely nuisance).  Brenda approved thinking of how to respond in terms of the risk threshold, and distinguished between relational versus transactional encounters (police encounters are transactional) and said relational is better/needed.  She said training might be offered.  Kristin said the pros are trained, and some police officers are trained, but  SMSA reps have asked for tools/resources on how to respond to various situations (implying they were not so interested in training).  Kristin did say that training would probably be "part of the mix", however.  TJ said he was surprised at the number of responses indicating a willingness to  "invest financially."  He said he wanted an if/then one-pager, and also to know how many "rooms" and chronically homeless individuals there are in Salem.  Responding to a comment, Matt said people go downtown because it is safe.  Many factors contribute to a person's condition/behavior.  For women on street, sexual assault is a reality.  Urinating and defecating on one's self is protective factor. He said that often, when he is working with someone on the street, a passer-by will say something gratuitously negative and disapproving, like get a life.  He said it's designed to and does provoke a negative response, but the underlying problem is thinking one is somehow a better or more worthy, just because one isn't living on the streets.  He said one should never underestimate what someone in dire straits now could be doing in just a few years.  It's important to look at every aspect and every facet of their lives [before judging].  Moises praised what Be Bold does and said the approach was effective.  Michael, responding to TJ, shared that there are about 1,800 homeless individuals inside Salem's UGB, roughly 700 of whom are within 1 mile of Marion Square Park.

Brenda Pearson shared a project concept to provide skill and industry training for people who've become disconnected from the workforce, what she called "Books to Boots" job training.  Kristin said she, Brenda and Moises talked about this idea together.  Sarah told Brenda she would put her in touch with Jimmy Jones to discuss. 

Jim said he wanted "tangible takeaways" from the work group but did not have the list of "scenarios" he'd promised at the last meeting.  Tom said he would work on creating a list and have it available after 10/24/19.  Kristin suggested providers and law enforcement meet to work through the list in preparation for the November meeting.  She said she would be away 10/24 to 11/17, but she would make sure to have law enforcement at the meeting to go over scenarios, which Sarah agreed to help arrange before next the meeting on November 13 at SHA.  Kristin said she would arrange for someone from the City to facilitate the November meeting.

Kim Hanson gave an update on efforts to replicate the CAHOOTS program in Salem.  She said they were looking at a program that would focus on downtown, with a $1M annual budget (same as the projected costs to operate a sobering center), and another $80 to 100K to purchase a van.  She said United Way had agreed to undertake fundraising for the van but the program would likely need to be a public-private partnership like CAHOOTS. 

Meeting Schedule:

Wednesday, 5:30 to 7p, November 13, at Salem Housing Authority 
Wednesday, 5:30 to 7p, December 11, at The ARCHES Project
Wednesday, 5:30 to 7p, January 8, at Ike Box, Bay Room
Wednesday, 5:30 to 7p, February 12, at United Way

2019 SMSA Survey

In September 2019, the Salem Main Street Association conducted a four-question, open-ended answers survey of downtown businesses focused specifically on "issues of homelessness" downtown.  It's not known how many were asked to take the survey.  There were about 20 responses.  Consistent with business owners' comments during Downtown Homeless Solutions Task Force meetings, responses were concerned primarily with debris and potentially hazardous material left on and around the premises.  Satisfaction with police response when called to address disturbances was quite high, with only 8 of 20 respondents identifying the need for a change in City code (specifically a sit lie/camping ban), the apparent rationale being that it would "discourage congregation downtown" and thereby reduce "negative impacts."  Most respondents expressed a willingness to contribute to "effective" programs/resources for people experiencing homelessness downtown.  View the entire survey here.