Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), the region’s leading homeless services provider, announced that Leslie Naramore will join the organization as Interim Executive Director. Leslie begins her new role after more than seven years serving as the Executive Director of the MCCAC’s counterpart in Klickitat and Skamania Counties, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP).

For nearly 25 years, Jan Pearo has been on a journey to support her community, making her the longest-running employee at Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP).  In January 2000, Pearo began helping people in Skamania and Klickitat counties. She had recently moved to Stevenson, Washington, from Portland, Oregon.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is pleased to announce the grand opening of The Gloria Center, a one-stop multi-agency supportive services center located in The Dalles The formal grand opening event will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 31st at 2505 W. 7th St. in The Dalles. 

The bi-state Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) invites partners and interested public members to the Gloria Center at 2505 W. 7th Street in The Dalles on April 9 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for an in-person meeting and tour.

The annual PIT Count is a federally mandated survey of people experiencing houselessness in communities across the country. The count, which occurs in late January of every year, plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness.

With severe weather hitting the region, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and its partners are ensuring our most vulnerable community members can access shelters, emergency lodging, and street outreach resources.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is pleased to announce that we are now scheduling appointments for all household types for the December 1, 2023 opening date of our Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With winter approaching, there will be an increased need for our most vulnerable community members to keep their homes warm and safe throughout the season.

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.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is pleased to announce that it will be breaking ground on its Navigation Center on March 24th, 2023. The formal groundbreaking event will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 24th on the Navigation Center site located at 2505 West 7th Street in The Dalles.

“In order to best understand how to address houselessness we need to have solid data that assists with our decision-making,” said Kenny LaPoint, Executive Director of Mid Columbia Community Action Council. “We are grateful for the many partners and community volunteers who came together to make the 2022 Count a success.”

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council will conduct an annual Point-in-Time (PIT) survey to to count the number of people experiencing houselessness in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman Counties next week. The survey will also provide valuable information to MCCAC about contributing factors to houselessness and the length of time individuals in our region have been houseless.