Salem Navigation Center
Channel: CITYOFSALEM
Date: 24/04/2023

A navigation center connects people to public benefits, health services, and permanent housing using a low-barrier model. It also provides public toilets and a place to rest and recuperate from living outdoors. Navigation centers have shown strong success in helping people exit homelessness. Traditional shelter models require sobriety upon entry, segregate by gender, and offer limited space for personal possessions or service animals. Navigation centers help people make a first step in accessing services, allowing people of all genders to stay at the center and do not require sobriety for entry. Navigation centers also help reduce pressure on existing cooling and warming sites as it expands capacity throughout the hottest days and during the cold winter months.