In this interview, Joe Davies, an employed Air Force veteran and former software engineer from Montana opens up about his experience with Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and how his move from the pallet shelters on Bargeway Road into The Annex has impacted him for the better.

The results from the January 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count in the Mid-Columbia region have been collected. While the numbers have not yet been confirmed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), preliminary data shows an overall 5% increase in people experiencing houselessness throughout Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties as compared to data collected in 2022, with an 18% decrease in people experiencing homelessness throughout Wasco County and 56% increase in Hood River County.

John Michael Doyle, age 63, lifelong resident of The Dalles, who was best known for his laughter, died of a stroke and heart failure at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 11th, 2022 while experiencing houselessness.

The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on March 16th, 2022. Highlights from the meeting included a presentation by Mid-Columbia Community Action Council on rates of houselessness in Wasco County, and public comments on MCACC’s Navigation Center.

Joli Kirk and Kerry Hyde are picking up the pieces after an alleged arson fire destroyed Aubrey Stacy’s antique business and left all three of them houseless. A sale of the salvaged antiques is occurring at the parking lot on Sixth Street in The Dalles through Sunday. David John Daniels, 66, has been indicted on first-degree arson.

Get the highlights of the recent Wasco County Commission Meeting without having to sit through a 3-hour meeting. The meeting held on January 1st, 2022 covered topics such as a COVID outbreak at an emergency homeless shelter, wildfire smoke response, upcoming legislation about Medicaid for incarcerated youth and adults, County priorities and prioritized enhancement projects for 2022, and more.

The homeless housing team at Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) began offering Warming Shelter services for unsheltered people in Skamania and Klickitat Counties on December 13, 2021.

Humans generate a lot of trash, and the pandemic has significantly increased the usage of single-use plastics. And for those facing the unique challenges created by experiencing houselessness, keeping up with trash can be an insurmountable task.

The new restroom and shower trailer provides functionality, durability, comfort to guests of the shelter, while also improving shelter guests health, self-esteem, confidence and overall wellness.

The Navigation Center will serve as a comprehensive resource center for low-income community members and those experiencing houselessness in the Mid-Columbia region and become the new permanent location of The Dalles tiny home shelters.

WAGAP has recieved $20k in funding to build a shower facility and to hire a new outreach coordinator with lived experience as a houseless individual. His story reveals how the kindness of strangers keeps paying it forward.

“To see the people loosen and relax and look at me and say, ‘Really, you stayed here?’ and be able to say, ‘Yes, I’ve been in your exact shoes and from this place I was able to move to a much better place for myself and my family. To relieve that fear is my favorite part of the job.”

The Dalles Houseless Shelters will not be shutting down operation on March 31st thanks to some hard digging into Municipal code by The City of The Dalles in partnership with Mid Columbia Community Action Council. The City of The Dalles has decided that the temporary shelter site operated by MCCAC is within the public right-of-way* and the City has granted MCCAC a temporary license to use the right-of-way to continue operating a temporary shelter site effective April 1st.

What is it like to experience houselessness in The Dalles? Cole Goodwin of CCC News lives a day in the life to find out.

To help individuals overcome barriers to housing, the City of Hood River has contracted with a licensed clinical social worker to provide direct outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Contractors are making quick work of a houseless shelter project on Bargeway Road today, Nov. 5. While electricity will not be available until next week, a push is on to get them open this weekend as a cold snap is impending.

The Dalles City Council is pushing ahead on creating a temporary shelter for the local houseless population. The village of six units is to be located at the end of Terminal Way in a gravel lot between Northwest Natural and Oregon Cherry Growers.