Sequoia Crossings opens to residents! Watch the video.

The team at HDC was thrilled to join Salem Housing Authority (SHA) and partners to celebrate the opening of SHA’s newest housing community, Sequoia Crossings, on January 30.

Sequoia Crossings provides permanent supportive housing (PSH) to 60 households who are exiting or at high risk of homelessness. HDC has been working with SHA to plan this project and bring it to the finish line since 2020.

SHA Director of Development and Strategy Jessica Blakely gave a tour of Sequoia Crossings in a video posted by Capital Community Media last week. (You can also find the video on the Capital Community Media YouTube channel.)

Extensive learning and planning went into creating a project that addresses the needs of residents exiting homelessness, Jessica explained.

HDC staff with SHA Executive Director Nicole Utz (second from right) at the grand opening.

The whole development team, including staff of HDC, attended the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute training program together. The team gained in-depth knowledge of how the PSH model works to help residents to stay stably housed.

Using this training and input from people with lived experience of homelessness, the team created a trauma-informed design at Sequoia Crossings. The building’s exterior siding is composed of tiles in multiple shades of blue, meant to mimic a waterfall. Materials, such as real wood, and colors used throughout the site represent the outdoor environment that residents were familiar with when they did not have supportive housing. The enclosed courtyard is designed to make residents feel safe entering and exiting their units.  

Extensive outdoor gathering and recreation areas (including a concrete ping-pong table and a dog play area), durable unit finishes, and a computer room are other key features. A reception area is staffed 24 hours a day to ensure residents have assistance when needed.

“This project was intentional the whole way,” Jessica said.

Watch the video to learn more!