By James Day
Sheltering Silverton has hit a milestone in its serving of the homeless in town with the opening of its new warming shelter and cabins outside the parking lot of the city shops complex on McClaine Street.
“It’s not the end, but it’s a new chapter,” said board president Mary Jane Schaffer, one of the speakers at an event at the new shelter that drew approximately 50 people Nov. 21. Schaffer thanked the many partners of the agency and ended by thanking “you, the community, for wrapping its arms around us.”
The state of Oregon via an emergency appropriation of $565,000 from Governor Tina Kotek to tackle homeless issues, paid for the modular building and its remodeling. The unit was modified to serve as a shelter for up to 12 individuals, along with day center functions such as work and case management space, a kitchen and laundry, and shower facilities. Brent Stuntzner of Percipient Architecture designed the interior and C.L. Rose Construction was the general contractor.
Mayor Jason Freilinger said “the city is glad that it was able to help and we’re also on city property here. We can’t solve the national homeless issues, but we can do our part to make things better in our community.”
The facility includes four cabins, paid for with a $25,000 grant from the city. The cabins sleep two each, giving Sheltering Silverton a capacity of 20 beds.
“This shelter puts us well on the way to eliminating unsheltered homelessness in Silverton,” said Sarah White, Sheltering Silverton’s executive director.
The agency has served more than 200 people in its seven years of operation. Its case management system is placing five people per month into permanent, supportive housing. Access to its services is limited to those within the boundaries of the Silver Falls School District. Key components of the Sheltering Silverton model are night sheltering, case management and advocacy, and a day center and food and basic needs.
The building is “functionally completed,” White said. It opened about a week before the ceremony.
Challenges remain for Sheltering Silverton, including avoiding traffic jams in the city shops, parking for its operations and occasional community blowback about the clientele it serves.
“Many of our days are filled with frustration,” said Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Salem-based Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. “Then, there are days like this in which we can honor what is before us. This particular homeless model is a model for Oregon.”
White agreed with the frustration challenge, but added that “when you get depressed and frustrated mighty forces will come to your aid. Homelessness is a preventable and solvable human problem.”
Key Partners
Sheltering Silverton officials acknowledged the following at the Nov. 21 ceremony:
• Oak Street Church & Immanuel Lutheran Church
• Percipient Architecture & C.L. Rose Construction
• City of Silverton, Marion County, Oregon Housing & Community Services, Governor Tina Kotek’s office and Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon
• Silver Falls School District
• The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency & the Mid-Willamette Valley Housing Alliance
