Safe, Clean and Healthy Salem Makes Progress

Staff at the City of Salem have made good progress in implementing strategies under the Safe, Clean and Healthy Salem initiative.

This initiative focuses on improving safety, cleanliness and health in downtown and northeast Salem, areas with higher demands for police and emergency services. The plan includes immediate actions, near-term strategies, and long-term goals.

Community Engagement
City staff have engaged residents, businesses, service organizations, and advocates for unsheltered individuals to gather input. These conversations continue, and updates will be shared with the Council.

Immediate Actions
Since July 2025, police visibility has increased in downtown and northeast Salem through additional overtime assignments. On October 13, 2025, the Council approved funding for:

1. Two additional Homeless Services Team officers to provide seven-day coverage starting November 2025.
2. Expanded the Salem Clean Team (formerly the Salem Outreach and Livability Services Team) cleaning services, resulting in a 95% increase in waste removal in December 2025 compared to the previous year.
3. REACH, the Rapid Engagement, Assessment & Community Health Team, a pilot community health response program that partners Salem Fire with Marion County mental health professionals, launched in January 2026.

Report: Safe, Clean and Healthy Initiative

Pictured: The Salem Police Homelessness Services Team and the Salem Clean Team now operation seven days a week under the Safe, Clean and Healthy Initiative.