Salem, OR – In Salem, Oregon, hundreds of people spend each night sleeping in their cars, often with few options for safety or support. For many, the Safe Parking Program offered by Church at the Park provides a critical lifeline. This program not only gives individuals a designated place to park and sleep, but also access to showers, food, and case management services. Participants can connect with health care providers and explore housing options, while knowing they won’t be asked to move by local business owners or law enforcement officers during the night.
However, as the city grapples with a growing budget deficit, the future of the Safe Parking Program and other essential homeless services is in jeopardy. City officials have proposed significant cuts to homeless assistance programs as part of efforts to balance the budget. For the many who rely on these services, this decision could be devastating.
The Safe Parking Program has long been a lifeline for those experiencing homelessness in the area. Church at the Park’s parking spaces, provided at local churches, offer a secure environment where car campers can rest for the night without fear of being moved on. With a consistently growing waitlist, the program highlights a pressing issue: demand for such services is high, yet support for them is waning.
Participants in the program often return to work or school each day, striving to maintain normal routines despite their challenging circumstances. The program’s ability to connect them with case managers ensures that they have a chance at long-term stability, helping them navigate the complex system of health care and housing resources that many might otherwise struggle to access.
Despite the clear need, the city’s proposed budget cuts threaten to strip away these vital resources. With no immediate alternatives available, advocates for homelessness services warn that eliminating or scaling back such programs could push more people into further instability, deepening the crisis in the community.
In response to the proposed cuts, local advocates have called on city officials to reconsider, emphasizing the importance of Safe Parking and other similar programs in helping individuals get back on their feet. “These services are not just about providing a place to sleep,” one local advocate noted. “They’re about offering people a chance to stabilize, to regain their independence, and to reenter society in a meaningful way.”
As Salem’s budget discussions continue, the fate of the Safe Parking Program remains uncertain. For now, hundreds of people are left hoping that their voices will be heard, and that their temporary refuge will not be taken away in the name of fiscal responsibility.
