PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Salem families facing immigration enforcement, food insecurity and homelessness could receive help from a social services pilot program.
Salem City Council approved a one-time $200,000 fund for “vulnerable” community members on Monday. The money will be doled out to four community organizations offering resources like legal aid, housing assistance and health care services.
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The approval of the new program comes after the city’s Budget Committee directed staff to “re-establish” it for residents in need in mid-January.
“The need in the community is real and substantial,” Salem staffers wrote in a report for the program. “Residents are experiencing disruption and uncertainty in their daily lives. Despite an increase in demand for assistance over the past year, the resources available to community providers and the City have diminished, including funds to support families in need to reduce their housing or food insecurity, provide financial support for legal assistance, or to reduce the impact of increasing cost of healthcare.”…