04/06/2026
🌟 Community Partner Spotlight: Church @ the Park 🌟
We’re honored to highlight our incredible community partner, Church @ the Park, right here in Salem, Oregon.
Church @ the Park is doing meaningful, life-changing work by creating safe spaces, building relationships, and walking alongside individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Their heart for dignity, community, and restoration is something we deeply value and are grateful to support.
As part of our partnership, we will be sharing their weekly newsletter to help keep our community informed about the impact they’re making and the ways you can get involved.
Whether through volunteering, donations, or simply staying connected, there are so many ways to be part of what’s happening through Church @ the Park.
Together, we can serve, support, and strengthen our community,one step at a time.
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1. RESURRECTION
Along with churches from across the globe, we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.
The reading for this week is from John 20 and it recounts Mary Magdalene’s first encounter with Jesus after the resurrection. She initially mistakes Jesus for a gardener, but once Jesus calls her by her name, she recognizes him. After the encounter, Mary hurries back to the rest of the disciples to tell them what she has seen.
Mary was likely coming to the tomb to care for the body of Jesus. Instead she finds Jesus alive and well.
Death, despair, darkness, violence, and sorrow still seem to be ruling the world. Our inclination is often to hide from those things. We try to “keep on the sunny side of life.” Many of Jesus’ followers were probably planning on doing something like that. The disappointment was too great. Better just to get on with life.
But maybe we need to be a little more like Mary Magdalene and show up to the hard places.
And maybe, just maybe, when we get there we will find life where there was only death, light where there was only darkness, hope where there was only despair, peace where there was only violence and war, joy where there has only been sorrow.
May it be so.
2. IS CHANGE REALLY POSSIBLE?
Meet Michelle.
When you drive past a tent, a camp, or someone standing on a corner, it’s easy to tell a simple story in your head about why they’re there. In this new episode of our podcast, John sits down with Michelle to hear the far more complicated—and hopeful—story behind her years of homelessness.
Michelle talks honestly about growing up in violence, surviving addiction and s*x trafficking, losing her kids, living in her car and in tents, and trying to die more than once. She also shares what changed: a community that refused to give up on her, the hard work of recovery, learning to choose herself, and the joy of now serving neighbors who are where she once was.
If you’ve ever wondered “Why don’t people just get a job?” or “Is change really possible?”, this conversation is for you. Listen in, and hear Michelle’s message to those who haven’t experienced homelessness—and to those still living outside who are telling themselves a story that there isn’t a better life available.
Listen to the podcast - https://churchatthepark.transistor.fm/11?mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
3. GOING THE EXTRA MILE
One of our Case Managers at Village of Hope, Ivy, is moving on to a new job.
As Ivy steps into a new chapter, we are deeply grateful for the way she has invested her gifts in the work of emergency sheltering and hope-focused navigation. We are grateful for the care she has shown, the relationships she’s built, and the way she’s helped create a banquet of love and acceptance for those who need it most—she will always be part of the Church at the Park family.
Her VOH team had some kind words to share about her and she shared a letter of gratitude with our leadership team.
Jennifer, VOH Manager: I have had the privilege of working beside Ivy for the last 2.5 years here at Church at the Park. Ivy has grown tremendously in the professional world as a case manager but something that never needed development was her heart.
Sarita, VOH Assistant Manager: I’ll always remember the small, thoughtful things she did for both staff and participants that made everything feel more compassionate, connected, and warm.
Renata: VOH Peer Support: She was the kind of teammate who didn't just show up but would consistently go the extra mile for the guests and staff. She will be deeply missed here.
Here is a portion of Ivy’s letter: Leaving my role at VOH has been a very difficult decision, because this place has meant so much to me. When I started, I had no case management experience and wasn’t sure what to expect, but you took a chance on me. Because of that, I found work that I truly care about and take pride in.
Over the past two and a half years, this has been more than just a job. It’s been the most consistent and supportive place I’ve been part of, and that has meant more to me than I can fully put into words. I’ve grown here, both professionally and personally, in ways I didn’t expect when I first walked in.
I’m incredibly grateful for your guidance, patience, and mentorship. I’ll also deeply miss the people here, the team I’ve worked alongside and the guests I’ve had the privilege to support. This work and this community have left a lasting mark on me.
While I’m taking a step that feels right for me at this time, this isn’t something I’m leaving behind lightly. I hope to stay connected and to cross paths again, whether through serving the shelter with my new job or in the community. I would truly love the chance to return one day, even if it’s just to volunteer.
I am so very happy I got to be part of the Church at the Park family.
Good luck on your journey, Ivy. We are rooting for you!
4. HIRING: VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
We are adding a new position our team — a Volunteer Coordinator.
The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of our organization's volunteer program.
They will oversee the recruitment, placement, and orientation of volunteers, while ensuring that their roles are fulfilling and that they feel valued and involved. They will also oversee our donation center and internships.
There are also two other new openings:
A Shelter Manager for our Family Site
And a brand new position for our kitchen project - Workforce Development Program Manager
If you, or someone you know, might be a good fit for one of the positions, click below to learn more or apply.
Job Opening - https://www.church-at-the-park.org/join-our-team?mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
5. FURNITURE BANK
Do you have some unused furniture that has been sitting in your garage? C@P regularly partners with Salem Alliance Church’s Furniture Bank to help our guests furbish their new homes when they move out.
Their mission: To support individuals and families who have recently secured housing and need assistance furnishing their homes. Embodying Jesus’ love, we bring practical support and compassionate care— transforming empty spaces into welcoming homes.
They are always working to keep their warehouse full to meet the needs in the community. You can take your donations to their donation center on Saturdays from 8:30 am-12:00 pm at 1268 Broadway St NE. Before arrival please ensure your donation is an item they take and matches their guidelines. For questions, call 503-616-3772. You can also click below to learn more about what they need, or go to their Walmart page to ship new furniture directly to the warehouse.
Furniture Bank - https://www.salemalliance.org/furniture-bank/?mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
6. WHAT IS HOMELESSNESS?
In one of his regular updates to the community, Jimmy Jones, Executive Director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency talked about the definition of '“homeless.” The update provided some helpful context that we wanted to share.
What is the legal definition of homelessness?
In order to understand shelters, it’s important to know “what counts” in terms of who is eligible to be sheltered. As we discussed, the federal definition of homelessness, primarily under the McKinney-Vento Act and used by HUD, defines a homeless person as someone lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes individuals living in places not meant for human habitation (cars, parks), emergency shelters, transitional housing, or hotels paid for by charity/government. HUD creates four categories of homelessness, and various services, funding, and program models are designed to address each one.
Category 1: Individuals or families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those in shelters or places not meant for human habitation.
Category 2: Imminent Risk: Individuals/families who will lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days, with no resources to obtain housing.
Category 3: Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes: Unaccompanied youth under 25 or families with children who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes (e.g., US Department of Education definitions).
Category 4: Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence: Individuals/families fleeing violence who have no other residence and lack resources to obtain, and often are not safe in, permanent housing.
Need Levels
Most of the people in downtown Salem fit into Category 1. Those are the folks using the ARCHES Day Center, Union Gospel Mission, and most of the sheltering models at Church at the Park and ARCHES/Community Action. Category 4 is eligible for the same funding models generally as category 1. Category 2 are usually folks in housing and in need of emergency eviction prevention funding. Category 3 includes children in the public schools who are living with relatives. The vast majority of state and federal homeless funding is dedicated to Category 1 and Category 4. The purpose of shelter, on its surface, is to provide those in categories 1 and 4 with a roof over their heads, in a safe, protected place, while they look for housing.
These are the ways we define the homeless population (above). Within those populations we further design services, housing, and programs based on need levels. In short, there is a prioritization methodology based on “need type.” Nationally, we break the literally homeless population into three need levels:
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): These are homeless persons at the highest need levels. They typically have been homeless for a long time, and have multiple co-occurring disabling conditions, in health needs, substance use history, and mental health. We sometimes refer to these folks as “chronically homeless,” because of their need level and length of homelessness (by definition over one year). These folks are often legally disabled, and typically will need long-term (or permanent) housing supports to stay housed, perhaps a public housing voucher or other financial support. Many may never be self-sufficient again. Very few ever self-resolve without intervention.
Rapid-Rehousing (RRH): These are homeless persons at moderate need levels. They typically have been homeless for six to twenty-four months, but sometimes longer. They often have one or more co-occurring disabling conditions, as we discussed above, but the needs within those domains tend to be lesser. These folks typically need 12-24 months of financial assistance to re-house, but Agency staff work with them to become self-sufficient as financial supports are slowly withdrawn. Most will be self-sufficient again, with a connection to proper case management and other resources. Some will self-resolve without intervention; many also will eventually become higher needs chronically homeless persons in need of higher levels of care without intervention.
Diversion (DA): These are folks who have been typically homeless for less than six months, most of them living in their cars. They may have a job now. They usually just need a deposit and three months of support, and connection to community resources. By definition, they are not chronically homeless, and most will not have a disabling condition. To a person, these folks almost all became homeless over economic conditions, low-income, job loss, etc. Almost all of these folks are self-sufficient, and most will resolve on their own even without intervention. There is still debate about using scarce resources to address this cohort, when most will self-resolve without assistance.
The above should give you the lay of the land. In sum: There are different types of homelessness, depending largely on where people sleep at night. There are, as above, also different need levels within the homeless population, largely dependent on other factors (substance use, physical health, disability generally, mental health, ability to navigate the system, etc). It is critical that the needs themselves are generally correlated conditions, and not causal factors when considering why someone is living outside.
To read the full update, click below.
Jimmy’s Update - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mcusercontent.com/e33cfc68e4d4bb8d0c78b3924/files/2ed6e039-b3dc-437f-e467-a7383deb0a0f/Jimmy_039_s_Update.pdf?mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
7. THE CHALLENGE OF POVERTY
How hard is it to be poor? A Seattle woman’s story about her battle to retrieve her 1991 Toyota Camry, which she was living in at the time, from a towing company made national news in 2018. The story is now a movie starring Rose Byrne.
The Seattle Times caught up with Amanda Ogle, the real life inspiration for the movie, for an update to the story. Below are some highlights from the article.
The car was stolen one day from North Seattle and later towed from an apartment building in SeaTac. This turned into an existential crisis for Ogle when the tow lot demanded $427 in fees to turn over the car. That was about $400 more than she had to her name.
She was forced to relocate into a night women’s shelter, at University Lutheran Church in Seattle, yet managed to file a towing appeal in court. She relied on a Fred Meyer fax center as a makeshift office to file and receive documents. She won the appeal when a judge ruled, commonsensically, that because she was the victim of the crime in this case, and she was destitute, she should obviously get the Toyota back.
“Everyone assumed that because I was a homeless person, I would just give up and say screw it,” she said.
What happened next was straight out of a Kafka novel. The company that towed the car, Dick’s Towing in SeaTac, twice had given Ogle court forms already filled in with a sister company’s name, Lincoln Towing. Due to this foul-up, both companies were able to claim ignorance of any court proceedings. In the meantime, they had sold off her car. For just $175. So even though she won she lost.
This story was like a case study in how crushingly expensive it is to be poor, especially in our shimmering city. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans don’t have $400 to cover an emergency — coincidentally the original tow bill.
The movie is currently available to rent on AppleTV.
youtube.com/watch?v=qdkpcsuPAhA&mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
8. BORN INTO POVERTY
Speaking of the challenges of poverty, PBS released a documentary about that same topic.
FRONTLINE’s new, 90-minute documentary “Born Poor” tells the stories of the now-grown children at the heart of “Poor Kids” — chronicling their lives from childhood to the present day, and offering a powerful, personal and longitudinal look at the realities of growing up in poverty in the U.S.
The documentary follows three kids from three families — Kaylie, Johnny and Brittany — across three chapters of their lives as they try to overcome poverty and pursue their dreams while dealing with an economy that presents more obstacles than opportunities.
Despite difficulty, loss and setbacks, all three — now navigating parenthood themselves — refuse to give up on their pursuit of economic stability and an American dream that’s felt perpetually out of reach.
youtube.com/watch?v=WTbo4gb_c3o&mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
9. SEEKING SHELTER
And one more story about the challenges facing those experiencing poverty, this one about the “working poor” — people who work full time but are still unable to make ends meet due to the high costs of living.
Seeking Shelter is a new book about a working mother trying to hold her family together.
In 2018, poverty and domestic violence cast Evelyn and her children into the urban wilderness of Los Angeles, where she avoids the family crisis network that offers no clear pathway for her children to remain together and in a decent school. For the next five years, Evelyn works full time as a waitress—yet remains unable to afford legitimate housing or qualify for government aid. All the while, she delivers her children to school every day and strives to provide them with loving memories and college aspirations. Eventually Evelyn encounters Wendi, a recently trained social worker who, decades earlier, survived her own relationship trauma and housing crisis. Evelyn becomes one of Wendi’s first clients, and the relationship transforms them both.
Told from the perspectives of Evelyn, Wendi, and Evelyn’s teenaged son Orlando, Seeking Shelter is a “remarkably vivid and…deeply empathetic” (Los Angeles Times) exploration of homelessness, poverty, and education in America—a must-read for anyone interested in understanding not just social inequality and economic disparity in our society but also the power of a mother’s love and vision for her kids.
Get the book - https://bookshop.org/p/books/seeking-shelter-a-working-mother-her-children-and-a-story-of-homelessness-in-america-jeff-hobbs/8fabffdd6625a352?mc_cid=07b1492e16&mc_eid=7c7553db9f
