Karen Long expands team to promote affordable housing
THE GORGE — 2025 has been a busy year for Mid-Columbia Housing Authority (MCHA). The agency introduced new leadership to the team to support those who have been longtime advocates promoting affordable housing throughout the Gorge.
It’s a big partnership. Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, which operates in Sherman, Wasco, and Hood River counties in Oregon, works in tandem with Columbia Gorge Housing Authority (CGHA), which serves Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington. These two organizations focus on serving individuals in need and managing a variety of housing programs.
Tying it all together is Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation (CCHC), which has been a local leader in affordable housing development for more than 35 years. CCHC covers all five counties in both states and is a partner to both Housing Authorities, helping them all reach their shared mission: to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity, and a suitable living environment, free from discrimination, to those who have barriers due to income or disability.
The three organizations work together to meet this shared mission, with a new leader, Karen Long, who serves as executive director over all three organizations. Long has been with MCHA since 2011, when she first came to the Gorge and jumped on an opportunity to apply as a housing assistant. Over the years, she worked her way up to interim director in June of 2024, before being formally hired as executive director in October last year. Her goal is to serve the community even better, expanding organizational capacity and developing her team to tackle the issues unique to the Gorge.
It’s a huge job. The two housing authorities invest more than $750,000 each month directly with local landlords in the form of federal rental assistance and offer several self-sufficiency and asset-building programs. The Housing Resource Center at CCHC provides clients with a wide range of programs, including down payment assistance (also for Veterans), foreclosure prevention, home repair, home buyer classes, and pre-purchase counseling.
In addition, CCHC owns 24 affordable housing communities, which have 435 units of various types serving individuals, families, seniors, Veterans, and agricultural workers. More affordable housing developments are on the way. Mariposa Village is under development at the Rand Road site and will add 130 units in Hood River, Oregon. Seven acres have been secured by the Carson Community Land Trust in Washington, with plans to build 14 affordable homes for homeownership.
As Long spends this first year as executive director reshaping her staff, she has brought in team members to help the three organizations reach their goals. “I'm grateful for the strong team that has brought us to where we are today and to those who are joining us as we expand,” Long said. “We prioritize working collaboratively with staff, residents, local leaders, and community partners on these complex issues surrounding affordable housing. Continuing to develop a long-tenured staff with that shared goal is essential.”
Paula Maden, the group’s finance director, joined MCHA three years ago. With over 20 years of nonprofit work and a career of financial experience, she finds value in helping others. She views housing as a critical need and said it means everything that the organization devotes all funds and resources to the endeavor.
Liz Wilber is one of three new hires at CCHC. As the Housing Resource Center manager, she works directly with clients, navigating the programs the organization offers to help them on their journey to finding affordable housing. Her experience in Skamania and Klickitat counties in workforce development and community services gives her an understanding of the unique challenges facing low-income residents of the Gorge.
Joe Gillock now serves as the asset manager, bringing 18 years of affordable housing asset management experience, having worked in Oregon for Northwest Housing Alternatives for 14 years before joining ROSE CDC in Portland, and then working as a consultant through the Housing Development Center. He has a wide range of rural and urban projects under his belt and said his interest in joining the CCHC team is helping create and preserve desperately needed affordable housing in the Columbia Gorge.
“We have a great team in place,” Gillock said. “I am excited about tackling some big goals with them.”
With the growth of the organizations, a new role has been developed to include a director of real estate development. Long said this position is essential to navigating its future, and she is happy to introduce Sergio Garcia to the team with his experience in housing development, financial management, and community-focused planning.
Garcia appreciates the region’s deep history, strong local identity, and growing economic development. He said CCHC also plays a vital role in supporting small business growth by maintaining a strong and stable local workforce. “I see this work as a way to support that momentum by helping ensure that local families, workers, and residents have a stable place to call home,” he said.
“Every person supporting our three organizations makes a difference in the lives of local residents,” Long said. “With these new hires, I am most excited about having the capacity to better serve our community by expanding programs and building more affordable housing units. We have a really strong team. There is a huge need out there, and we are now fully staffed to meet it.”
This is the first of a series of four articles highlighting the work of Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Columbia Gorge Housing Authority, and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation. For more information or to apply for assistance, go online to www.mid-columbiahousingauthority.org or www.columbiacascadehousingcorp.org.
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