$1.6 million in Renovations to MCCAC Navigation Center Annex Near Completion
Between the dumpster, and contractor vehicles the parking lot at the Annex has stayed pretty full in recent weeks. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, OR—Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is making significant progress on $1.6 million in grant and weatherization funded renovations to The Oregon Motor Motel thanks to the hard work of staff, volunteers, and local contractors. All of whom are rallied around completing the renovation of the 54-room motel which is expected to provide at least 50 transitional housing and shelter units with coordinated supportive services integrated on site in collaboration with community partners.
During MCCAC’s volunteer days at the beginning of the month nearly 40 volunteers logged 120 hours to help community partners and 21 local contractors work together to help complete much needed renovations to the Annex.
It takes a village.
Volunteer Days at the Annex. Photo Credit: MCCAC facebook page.
The volunteer days have helped to bring a lot of positive energy to the project.
MCCAC has stood in close allyship with those experiencing houselessness in recent years, forming partnerships, bringing in millions of grant dollars to the community, and working closely with local, regional, and state legislatures to create a systemic approach to ending homelessness in the region.
Even more importantly, they’ve proven that their policies and systems work.
Since the summer of 2021, MCCAC has been able to help more than 80 individuals transition from The Dalles Shelter into long-term housing placements.
However their work has often put them in the line of fire by those who object to MCCAC providing shelter, food, water, hygiene products, physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral health services, veterans services, employment support, case management, youth and family services, and more to those experiencing houselessness in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties.
But on site, all of that takes a backseat to focus on the here and now as boots on the ground meet up with their neighbors to connect over a common goal.
“It’s been great,” said Kari Dinatale of Kari’s Top Notch Cleaning who has been leading the volunteers in their efforts.
Sarah Kellems, Kari Dinatale, Rob Mendoza, and Kenny LaPoint take a break from working to pose for a photo for CCCNews.com. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
“It’s been very beneficial, people come in with a great attitude and are ready to help and be a part of the process. And I think that's awesome. I’ve been very grateful for that and feel blessed to have all these different agencies and people that are volunteering and spending their time to help us with our project. So, I appreciate that,” said Rob Mendoza, Shelter Manager.
“It’s been fun to meet people,” said Colleen Ballinger, MCCAC volunteer. “I’m a client of Shanon Saldivar Insurance and we saw each other, and we couldn’t figure out who we were! It’s just amazing to make those connections.”
Saldivar also provided pizza for staff and volunteers working on site.
Volunteer Days. Photo Credit: MCCAC facebook page.
“It’s so cool to see the way the community is literally showing up and saying we support this project and we want to be a part of this project,” said Sarah Kellems, Development and Engagement Coordinator at MCCAC.
Kellems extended a special thank you to Google Datacenter At The Dalles, Oregon, Kari's Top Notch Cleaning, Shanon Saldivar, Wines on Second, PacificSource Health Plans, and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for their volunteer contributions.
Meanwhile a group of churches led by Tyler Beane Kelly are working to put together welcome kits for the first group of folks that move into the shelter, in late July.
LaPoint expressed gratitude to the volunteers who are going the extra mile to make sure that the people who will be transitioning into the shelter will be “welcomed with open arms.”
Those interested in future volunteering opportunities with MCCAC can email skellems@mccac.com.
It’s taken a lot of work to get this far.
The renovations that have been underway included extensive trash removal, including the removal of ten non-operational washer and dryer units.
“We’ve removed 16 tons of trash,” said Kenny LaPoint, Executive Director of MCCAC.
Other renovations have included new wiring, new energy efficient windows, doors, new plumbing, heat pumps, air conditioners, ventilation, roofing, new exterior stucco, new insulation, drywall, painting, and client room renovations.
“The inside of the rooms are completed. We renovated the inside which is something we didn’t anticipate doing on the front end. But we decided as long as we’re in there doing a bunch of remodeling, we might as well,” said LaPoint.
Once they got into it, they discovered that there was a lot to do.
The inside of a guest room before renovations. Photo Credit: MCCAC
Some needs were obvious to the eye.
“There was no ventilation in any of these rooms. So we put fans in all of the bathrooms,” said LaPoint.
“We have two rooms being converted into wheelchair accessible units. We had to widen all the hallways and doors and create a wheelchair accessible shower,” said LaPoint.
“The roof is brand new, the stucco siding was in horrible shape so it's all been sanded down and it’s ready to take on a new coat of stucco,” said LaPoint.
Others required some demolition to discover.
“The electrical here was horrible,” said LaPoint “We had to gut the manager's apartment. And when we opened up the drywall– there were extension cords running through the walls.”
Due to the major fire hazard posed by the old electrical system, Hege Electric was called in to install new wiring.
The old hotel manager’s two bedroom apartment will be the new residence of a 24/7 on site on-call manager.
“They’ll get to live in this two bedroom apartment, staff the office and will be on call,” said LaPoint.
There will be two on site resident managers in the Annex who will be on call to address client needs and issues. There will also be overnight security on site monitoring activity from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. 365 days a year.
Other room renovations included the removal of all carpets, drapes, and bedding in order to ensure the health and safety of future guests.
MCCAC has installed new vinyl laminate flooring, repainted and cleaned the rooms before Blissful Mattress came to deliver and install some 80 new beds. Volunteers have helped to build much of the furniture at the soon-to-be transitional housing shelter.
In addition to beds and a bathroom, each room will have a locking wardrobe closet for people to keep their stuff secure, a desk, a chair, a mini fridge, and a microwave.
Sarah Kellems, Kari Dinatale, Rob Mendoza, and Kenny LaPoint inside a freshly renovated, cleaned, and furnished room. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
A sneak peak of the inside of the annex post renovations. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
In unit bathrooms will be a significant improvement in the lives of many people currently experiencing houselessness. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
MCCAC has also purchased a commercial laundry set up from Raindrop Laundry in The Dalles for onsite employee use. A laundry solution for clients is still in process.
MCCAC is also in talks with Meals on Wheels about providing food service to the shelter.
What’s Next?
The Annex plans to open in phases.
MCCAC hopes to be complete with renovations and begin moving in clients by the end of July.
“We’re starting with moving in our pallet shelter clients first. We’re going to slow roll it so we can get used to increased capacity and different infrastructure,” said LaPoint.
Phase two will involve opening up the family side (the apartments on the westside of the property) roughly 60 days after the individuals and couples side opens. And Phase three which involves opening up the remainder of the Annex is planned to occur some 60 days following the completion of phase two.
When asked how it feels to be nearing project completion LaPoint spoke from the heart.
“It’s exciting. It’s been a lot of work. I’m sure I will cry when it opens but it’s exciting. Especially to take this place that probably shouldn’t have even been open anymore and convert it into something that’s going to be a beautiful facility that provides good quality housing for people.”
“We’re excited to create a community asset that’s going to serve people who are in need of affordable housing. So this is going to be great for them. It’s going to be great for the community. I think it’s a win-win,” said LaPoint.
For more information about the Annex, energy and utility assistance, rent and eviction prevention, houseless assistance and more visit: MCCAC.com
To donate to MCCAC’s clients visit Purposity.com
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