The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) announced that it has acquired the Trinity United Methodist Church properties located at 590 Elma Ave. SE, Salem, Oregon.
“East Salem continues to experience significant shortages of affordable housing and community services despite rapid population growth,” said Jimmy Jones, MWVCAA Executive Director. “This acquisition gives us the opportunity to preserve a vital community asset while creating more than 100 affordable homes in one of Salem’s highest-need neighborhoods.”
The approximately three-acre site includes the church sanctuary and several additional structures. MWVCAA’s long-term vision for the property is the development of a new affordable housing community featuring approximately 100 housing units, with construction anticipated to begin by 2028 pending financing and development approvals.
“This project reflects our commitment to addressing both housing insecurity and food insecurity in East Salem,” said Ashley Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director of MWVCAA. “We are honored to continue working alongside the Trinity United Methodist congregation to preserve this site as a place of service, connection, and support for the community.”
In partnership with the Trinity United Methodist congregation, MWVCAA will continue operating the existing food pantry while exploring opportunities for a larger community center and expanded food distribution. The pantry at Trinity United Methodist is the only food pantry on the east side of I-5, and the only one in Salem that is open every Saturday.
“In this time of increasing need and hunger, we hope to build on the food pantry work and expand our services. We will continue to serve the neighborhood and surrounding community with food distribution at least twice a week,” said Eva Pignotti, Chief Program Officer. “Our doors are open to everyone, and we welcome new clients and volunteers”.
During the second quarter of this year, 43 volunteers completed 487 shifts at the food pantry. Of those shifts, 18% were filled by clients of the pantry. During this same period, the food pantry recorded 2,789 household visits, serving a total of 13,220 duplicated individuals. Notably, 41% of those served were children.
“For generations, churches served as places where people gathered, built relationships, solved problems, and supported one another,” Jones said. “Across America, communities are increasingly reimagining former church properties to serve as centers for housing, community services, and civic engagement, carrying that community-building mission into a new era.”
As part of the redevelopment plan, the church sanctuary will remain available for community meetings and continued use by the congregation, while the remainder of the property will be redeveloped to include affordable housing and expanded community services.
“It has been a long year and a half for me and the others involved with putting this together, but we think it is a win, win, win, all the way around,” said Paul Hampson, Trinity United Methodist Trustee Chair. “MWVCAA can build affordable housing and provide community services in an under-served area and the food pantry will be better able to serve those in need.”