Our Stories: Church at the Park

Creating community and dignity: Church at the Park’s approach to housing-focused sheltering

Church at the Park (C@P) in Salem, Oregon, is a place of hope for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Founded by DJ Vincent, the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)-funded organization provides emergency shelter and a pathway to permanent housing and stability. Through innovative programs and an emphasis on community, C@P creates a space where guests can rediscover dignity, safety, and support.

“When families come to our site, they don’t just bring their challenges. They bring all their beautiful strengths, their ethnicity, their culture,” said DJ Vincent, C@P’s founding pastor and director.

At its core, the organization focuses on building trusting relationships with guests, a philosophy that begins with knowing each individual by name and extends to providing wraparound services.

Every guest works with a case manager and a peer support specialist to develop a personalized plan for health care, income, and housing. These peer specialists, often individuals with lived experience of homelessness, play a crucial role in breaking down barriers.

“It’s about having someone who knows what it’s like to walk in their shoes,” Vincent explained.

C@P operates three micro-shelter sites tailored to specific populations: families, adults, and young adults. The family site alone houses up to 132 individuals, and over the past year, 75% of guests have successfully transitioned to permanent housing.

“Our goal is always to create spaces of love and acceptance,” Vincent shared.

These shelters, equipped with locked doors and private spaces, provide more than safety — they restore a sense of autonomy and dignity.

This non-congregate model also ensures guests can bring their pets, possessions, and partners, reducing barriers to accessing shelter. “We want to meet people where they are and provide a safe environment to rebuild,” said Vincent.

C@P’s services extend beyond shelter. Guests participate in community meals, life skills workshops, and activities like gardening and crafts. These programs foster connection, encourage healing, and provide opportunities for guests to build relationships that last beyond their stay.

“We believe in the healing power of community,” said Vincent.

Local volunteers, partner organizations, and even youth programs contribute to this effort. One summer, high school students in a career-tech program built and donated 12 new micro-shelters, an act that Vincent described as “literally restoring hope and community.”

Curtis, a peer support specialist at C@P, embodies the organization’s impact. Once unsheltered, Curtis credits the shelter for helping him regain stability and mental health.

“Church at the Park made me feel safe. It gave me an opportunity to work, and I just took it and ran with it,” he said.

Curtis now supports other guests as they navigate their own paths to stability.

“It’s about reminding them they’re not alone in this journey,” he explained.

His story is one of resilience and hope, demonstrating how meaningful employment and community support can change lives.

The growth of C@P has been bolstered by emergency funds from OHCS. These funds have expanded capacity, adding 32 beds to the family site and enabling the construction of permanent shower and bathroom facilities. Vincent emphasized the importance of ongoing support: “We can’t do this work without state, county, and city partnerships.”

Looking ahead, Vincent envisions a society that sees people experiencing homelessness as neighbors in transition.

“I’m hopeful that more people will say yes to coming alongside, volunteering, and offering second chances,” he said.

C@P is not just a shelter — it’s a community where individuals are empowered to rediscover their strengths and build a brighter future.