From Mid-Columbia Community Action Council:
By Sarah Kellems
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 3, 2026 — The Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative will host its fifth annual Housing Stabilization Summit on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. The Summit is free to attend and open to people from Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties in Oregon and Klickitat and Skamania Counties in Washington.
The Mid-Columbia Housing Stabilization Summit is an opportunity for service providers, community leaders, and community members who care about improving our region’s ability to prevent and end houselessness to come together to connect, learn, and deepen our collaborative efforts.
“The Summit is a chance for the people doing this work across our region to learn from one another and strengthen the relationships that make real solutions possible,” said Kyle Bray, MCCAC Deputy Director. “No single agency can address houselessness alone, and this day is about building the partnerships and shared understanding that help our neighbors move toward stability.”
The Summit is organized by Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP), and the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority (MCHA) as lead conveners of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative. This year’s Summit is sponsored by Energy Trust of Oregon in partnership with these three convening agencies.
“We are proud to partner with MCCAC and MCHA to convene this community event,” said Julie K. Hester, WAGAP Executive Director. “Bringing together providers, community leaders, and people with lived experience across the Gorge helps us listen, learn, and ultimately work together more effectively. We’re grateful to Energy Trust of Oregon for their support of this year’s Summit.”
The Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) is a partnership bringing together over 40 organizations and local governments dedicated to addressing houselessness across Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. MCHC envisions a region with equitable opportunities and support, where everyone who needs stable housing can find and afford it—especially communities that have faced disproportionate barriers to housing—so everyone can achieve the best quality of life possible.
What to Expect
The Summit runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Session topics include Civic Engagement, Fair Housing in Oregon, Older Adults and Houselessness, Non-Profit Advocacy, Cultural Humility, and more. The day includes:
Resource Networking Session: A chance for service providers to learn more about partner agencies’ programs, resources, and teams.
“A Day in the Life”: A full-group session featuring local service providers and community members with lived experience of houselessness.
Morning Breakouts: Older Adults and Houselessness, Civic Engagement 101, and Native Listening Session Findings.
Afternoon Breakouts: Coordinated Community Safety, Fair Housing Oregon, Cultural Humility, and Advocacy for Non-Profit Work.
Presenters include Kai Nichols Burgess of Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.; the WAGAP Civic Engagement Team; Jody O’Connor of Colibri Consulting and Dawn LeMieux of The Next Door, Inc.; Native Supports; Amber Rose Orion of Hood River Latino Network; Glenda Moyer of the Fair Housing Council of Oregon; Rosie Strange of the Columbia Gorge Health Council; and the Oregon Food Bank.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (arrivals and registration begin at 8:00 a.m.)
Location: The Dalles Civic Auditorium, 323 E 4th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
Cost: Free; breakfast, lunch, and refreshments provided
Register: Register for the Summit here
Get Involved
Service providers, community leaders, and community members are encouraged to register and join us.
For more information about the Summit, visit www.mccac.com/summit2026. For more information about the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative and how to get involved, visit the MCHC webpage at www.mccac.com/houseless-collaborative.
Our Commitment to the Community
Preventing and ending houselessness takes more than any one agency can do alone. The Summit brings people together across counties, states, and sectors to share what’s working, learn from one another, and strengthen the partnerships that help community members move from crisis to stability. We invite you to join us.
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The mission of The Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative is to work to reduce houselessness in the Gorge by expanding housing capacity and ensuring supportive services are provided in culturally affirming ways that uphold human dignity through collaboration and advocacy.
