January 2020

February 1, 2020

Homelessness has been a huge topic and concern in Salem for the last year or so. A camping ban, combined with sidewalk cleanings and the annual Point-in-Time homeless count brought me to telling the story of the Salem homeless community a lot in January.

A Salem Police officer patrols on the north side of the former Nordstrom in downtown Salem on Jan. 3, 2020. A city ordinance doesn’t allow tents to be set up, but people can currently sleep on sidewalks.

Cars drive during the morning rush hour as rain falls in Salem on Jan. 13, 2020. Snow is possible in the Willamette Valley Tuesday and Wednesday.

A woman carries belongings cross the street to the Ross store from the sidewalk outside the former Nordstrom before crews come in to clean the area in downtown Salem on Jan. 9, 2020. People experiencing homelessness have been staying outside the former Nordstrom and the Rite Aid downtown for about two weeks.

People rest in a sky bridge as others walk across Chemeketa St. NE below them as the sun rises over downtown Salem on Jan. 21, 2020.