THE GORGE — Nearly 80 individuals joined a Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative meeting on Feb. 13 to learn about progress made toward its goals during 2023, review strategic plan updates, and get an overview of key activities and projects planned for 2024. One highlight was the connections the group is making in the region.
“We had a tremendous increase in people dialing into our quarterly meeting and listening session,” said Leslie Naramore, executive director of Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP). “This shows that the issue of houselessness matters to our communities.”
Collaborative partners are sharing stories of people who have personally experienced houselessness throughout the region. In 2023, members took the Collaborative’s mission a step further by creating a series of profiles that put real faces in front of deeply personal stories to help advocate for the need for programs, services, and funding. The Portraits of Houselessness series is online at www.mccac.com/data-reports.
One woman, Debra, was living in her car while also fighting a terminal illness. She was referred to Collaborative partner Mid Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) from the FISH Food Bank. This triggered a flurry of activity to help her secure temporary housing, followed by permanent placement in a 55 and older community. The team assisted Debra in stabilizing her monthly expenses, and she was able to keep and maintain her vehicle, giving her the independence to focus on her health.
A veteran, Jeff, was living out of a grocery cart. A caseworker from MCCAC connected him with the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program. The team got him out of the cold, referred him to transportation and health care in Portland, and helped him secure permanent housing. He hopes to help other veterans by sharing his experiences and helping link them to services in the region.
Another man, Mike, is challenged with a learning disability, mental health diagnosis, and childhood trauma. Following his mother’s death, he began living in his car and struggled with his health and social needs. He developed a wound that would not heal, which led to the amputation of his leg. His physician at Adventist Health, formerly Mid-Columbia Medical Center (MCMC), referred him to Bridges to Health before he was discharged. This changed his life.
He received help to navigate health and social service systems. The team supported his efforts to get a new state ID card and apply for social security disability. He was helped to apply for HUD and transportation vouchers, food benefits, and received assistance to obtain clothing and essential items. Mike was empowered to take control by connecting with ongoing healthcare and a mental health provider. Through his new connection with the Aging and People with Disabilities, he was able to access a caregiver who now helps him through the struggles of living independently.
In October 2023, Joe Allen Davies shared his personal story in a video interview, “I Walk with My Head a Little Higher.” The veteran told some of his life story and how he transitioned from houselessness to holding a job while living in The Annex, MCCAC’s transitional housing facility. He was preparing to become fully independent again. It can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ9qQA9Uwh0.
One team within the Collaborative is the Lived Experience Work Group, which meets monthly to advise on improving regional coordination to help houseless clients access services more efficiently and effectively. In 2024, group members have prioritized expanding the video series in the hope it will broaden the reach of these personal stories.
The first video released in 2024 is Kari Lyons’ story. For years, she was houseless, living outside with just a backpack and duffel bags, moving from camp to camp. She connected with the Rapid Rehousing Program through MCCAC, and they helped her apply for funding to get into her own apartment.
Lyons was responsible for locating a potential new home and engaging with the landlord, but was supported in working out the details. The program helped her with rent and the move-in fees. Her story is available online at youtu.be/kah0STJ-M-8.
Linking the broader community with these stories and giving them an opportunity to experience houselessness themselves will be a focus of the 2024 Mid-Columbia Housing Stabilization Summit and Day in the Life of Houselessness event being scheduled for fall 2024 at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles.
“Understanding how your life would function if you became houseless is the purpose of the Day in the Life event,” Naramore said. “A personal experience like this can really impact you to better understand the struggles created by not having a safe place to sleep and maintain your possessions.”
In addition to the Lived Experience Work Group, the Collaborative has groups that local organizations and community members can participate in depending on their interests, experience, and expertise to support its efforts in Oregon in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties and in Washington in Skamania and Klickitat counties.
Learn more about the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative mission and goals and view its updated five-year strategic plan at www.midcolumbiahouselesscollaborative.org. For questions and additional information about its working groups, email Sarah Kellems at skellems@mccac.com.
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