The Homeless Rental Assistance Program (HRAP), launched in 2017, was the City of Salem’s Housing First initiative to permanently house the “top 100 hardest to house” chronically homeless individuals in Salem.

Salem Housing Authority is the lead agency in this collaborative initiative and partners with various social service agencies. Salem Housing Authority provides intensive case management, resources and referrals, housing placements, landlord engagement, and administration of all rental assistance and barrier removal funds for the program. Since 2017, HRAP has served more than 300 households, with more than 110 of these households successfully completing the HRAP program and “graduating” to Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher). HRAP has since transitioned into Salem Housing Authority's Special Programs Team.

Our Outreach Navigators provide various services to the community, including case management and service delivery for our Homeless Rental Assistance Program (HRAP) participants. However, we will sunset this program in June 2024, and new referrals will no longer be accepted. Our navigators also provide assistance with rapid rehousing barrier removal and move-in, utilizing Governor Kotek's Executive Order funds.

They make referrals to community partners and are trained in trauma-informed care and de-escalation. Our navigators follow safety protocols established by OSHA, and they are SOAR-certified. They will also be trained to be Coordinated Entry Assessors by the Continuum of Care (CoC) in 2024. We pride ourselves on continuously evolving to meet the needs of our community.

The Outreach Navigators will continue to provide vital services in our community now and well beyond June 2024 by remaining in close partnership to help our unhoused neighbors. Working with the City of Salem, and specifically, Salem Police Department, Code Compliance Department, and Salem Parks & Recreation, Special Programs Outreach Navigators will connect clients experiencing homelessness with immediate basic needs and make referrals to other community partners as needed.