SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The City of Salem is paying to put six portable toilets and hand-washing stations at a homeless encampment near the ARCHES Project, a downtown social services provider.
The Statesman-Journal reports that Salem was on the verge of declaring the encampment of dozens of tents a public health nuisance. That move would have made city staff notify the homeless they needed to leave within a set amount of time.
But the city’s health officer, Brady Rogers, decided against issuing a declaration after seeing conditions had improved at the camp since his visits in November.
The City Council on Monday approved a ban against camping on public right of way, public sidewalks and public property. The ban won’t become effective until Dec. 16 and may force campers to leave the ARCHES spot anyways. City officials are considering setting aside some city property for homeless camping.
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