FAQs
Myself or a friend are struggling to pay rent, can you help me not get evicted?
The short answer is yes, sometimes. Eligibility requirements for this program vary from grant to grant, as well as the amount and length of time we are able to assist a particular household. These funds are not always available due to grant funding and vary depending on the time of year, but we help as many people as we possibly can, visit our Housing Assistance page to learn about requirements and application steps.
Myself or a friend are struggling to pay utilities and the provider going to disconnect us, can you help us pay for utilities?
We offer a variety of energy assistance programs designed to assist families who have low incomes with utility and heating fuel bills. Eligible families can receive benefits paid toward their heating bill, including natural gas, electricity, wood, propane, and oil costs. We also have programs that can cover water, sewer, or garbage, depending on grant availability.
Learn about eligibility and how to apply on our Energy and Utility Assistance Page
Myself or someone I know is experiencing houselessness and in need of shelter?
If we have the capacity to put a roof over your head to get you back into permanent housing, we’ll put it there. Assistance through one of MCCAC’s houseless programs varies from program to program. Assistance also depends on if there is sufficient capacity available in any of these grants to help address your current houseless situation. Houseless programs can assist with anything from providing a shelter, helping you get back on your feet, and resources to help you get into permanent housing. Learn more about our Houseless Assistance programs here
Can you help me or someone I know get into permamant or transition housing?
Our housing programs have limited capacity, coupled with a high volume of people needing assistance. Get in contact if you’re looking for a transition into permanent housing via our Houseless Assistance page and we’ll do everything we can to help you.
My utility bills are very high, can you help me reduce them?
MCCAC refers qualifying low-income community members from Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties who are seeking home weatherization services to NeighborImpact, a private not-for-profit organization based out of Redmond, Oregon.
NeighborImpact is an experienced home weatherization service provider and supports households to complete home improvements that result in more comfortable and durable homes along with lower energy bills.
Community members can also reach out to NeighborImpact directly on their website, at 541-316-2034 or homewx@neighborimpact.org.
I’m a Veteran without housing, can you help me get a roof over my head?
If we can, we will. Our veteran’s housing facility located in The Dalles often has a lengthy list of applicants, but not always, Visit our Veteran’s Housing Assistance page or get in touch to find out more.
I know a person that’s in need of these services, what should I do?
Give them our phone number or have them apply online, we’ll be happy to connect with them and get them some assistance.
I filled out a form online, what do I do next?
If you have completed one of our online forms via PDFfiller and followed the process all the way to the end, the team have received your information and will contact you shortly, if you have not heard from them after more than 14 days or you’re in a crisis situation, please contact us.
I scheduled an appointment and need to change/cancel it?
If you’re needing to change or cancel your scheduled appointment, please go to your confirmation email, there you will find buttons giving you instant access to change or canceling your appointment.
I’m struggling to upload documents, can I drop copies off at your office?
Yes, If you’re struggling with the upload system or for any reason need to drop off completed forms, eligibility, or identification documents, you’re welcome to drop them off at the office you’ve been working with, please be sure to put them in an envelope with the head of household’s name on it, making it easy for us to locate and put them in your file.
Image of a sidewalk with “what do you mean?” written in chalk
The Gloria Center | Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Navigation Center / The MCCAC Gloria Center?
House Bill 2006, from the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session, defines a Navigation Center as a low-barrier emergency shelter that connects individuals and families with health services, permanent housing and public benefits. MCCAC’s The Gloria Center provides a hub of services for multiple agencies as well as a 36-bed non-congregate emergency shelter.
Services provided at The Gloria Center include:
Basic needs supplies
Housing stabilization services
Utility assistance
Veterans services
Resource connection
Monthly resource drop-in center
Emergency Shelter during severe weather events
…And other services that assist with mitigating the impacts of poverty and creating pathways to self-sufficiency. It is important to note that not all these services are specific to those experiencing houselessness. And placing all these services in one central location, and under one roof, benefits everyone utilizing those services regardless of housing status due to the often overlapping nature of assistance needs.
The Shelter On The Gloria Center Site
36-bed, non-congregate emergency shelter for those experiencing houselessness to provide safety from winter weather and summer heat and air quality events.
Agencies co-located at The Gloria Center include:
What is The Gloria Center and shelter staffing structure?
The Gloria Center emergency shelter opens during severe weather events. The shelter staff provide support and oversight of those accessing the shelter services. The shelter staff communicates closely with other community services and emergency shelter operations are supported by community volunteers.
The Gloria Center services are staffed 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Staff provide the wide array of services previously noted.
MCCAC also operates The Annex at 200 West 2nd, The Dalles. The Annex is open and staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides longer term shelter and transitional housing options for those experiencing houselessness.
What services are provided to shelter clients?
Clients of the MCCAC shelter are provided with a range of services including:
MCCAC Housing Team works with each client to develop a personalized plan for reintegration into permanent housing.
The MCCAC Housing and Shelter staff meet weekly to triage the individual needs of each shelter client and ensure those needs are being met and the clients are working towards accessing permanent housing.
Mid-Columbia Center for Living offers behavioral health and crisis support services for families and individuals.
Bridges to Health brings Community Health Workers to help translate people to systems and systems to people. This means they help people understand how to navigate complicated systems and they help systems understand how to better serve the individuals they work with.
One Community Health offers health services to people experiencing poverty.
And so much more…
What rules must shelter clients follow?
MCCAC shelter operations include rules based on best practices:
While the MCCAC shelter is a “low-barrier” shelter, we do not serve individuals who are under sex offender registration requirements or who have been convicted of arson.
MCCAC does not allow the use of drugs or alcohol at its shelters or offices and strictly prohibits weapons and violence of any kind. In addition, shelter units are inspected daily to ensure units are kept clean, safe, and healthy.
Shelter clients must be on shelter premises between the hours of 10pm-6:30am. This applies to both emergency and transitional shelter. Exceptions may be granted for curfew hours if shelter guests have received approval from shelter management for employment-based reasons for not being on-site during these hours. Employment-based reasons require a letter from the employer stating the work schedule of the shelter client.
The Gloria Center and/or shelter clients will be trespassed from the site for non-compliance with site rules.
MCCAC’s The Annex | Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Annex transitional housing and shelter?
The Annex was made possible through a transformative public/private partnership between Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), the State of Oregon and Oregon Community Foundation. The Annex, located at the former Oregon Motor Motel site, is now open and serving the community as a program of MCCAC. Providing transitional housing, and shelter housing units. The Annex integrates supportive services on-site in collaboration with community partners, currently serving houseless individuals and families from Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties.
Who is the owner / operator of The Annex?
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) owns and operates The Annex. MCCAC is a dedicated private 501c3 non-profit organization with over 30 years of service history, aiding low-income community members in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties.
Who does The Annex’s transitional housing and shelter serve?
The Annex extends its services to community members experiencing houselessness. This includes individuals and couples, families with children, veterans, and persons with disabilities, with a focus on clients of culturally specific and culturally responsive partners.
What services and resources are offered at The Annex?
The Annex offers a range of services in the areas of Housing, Utility Assistance, Health and Wellness, Employment, and more.
Housing and Utility Assistance services include:
Housing case management
Rapid rehousing services
Housing placement services
Native and Tribal member-specific housing services
Housing services for agricultural workers
Veteran housing assistance
Home weatherization
Home utility bill payment assistance
Emergency shelter
Health and Wellness services include:
Medical respite services
Physical health services
Behavioral health services
Healthcare benefits access
Food access
Employment services include:
Resume and job application assistance
Career connections
Employment placement services
Additional services include:
Case management
Latinx specific services (provided through bilingual staff)
Youth and family services
The agencies that serve clients in The Annex include:
What is the staffing structure for The Annex?
The Annex is staffed 24/7 by MCCAC, with a site manager residing on location and serving as on-call staff. Overnight security is ensured through contracted security guards. In partnership with Mid-Columbia Center for Living, on-site behavioral health staff is also provided.
How successful has MCCAC been in moving houseless clients from shelter into permanent housing?
Since 2021, MCCAC has successfully helped more than 200 individuals transition from Shelter into long-term housing. MCCAC case managers play a crucial role in facilitating these transitions, leveraging their expertise and client relationships.
Strong case manager and client relationships increase opportunities for the people we serve. Our case managers are trained in best practices, work hard, and connect with our clients in a timely manner so that clients can have the maximum number of opportunities available to them. The work of our case managers is vital to supporting clients on their path to success.
The Gloria Center Annex, alongside The Gloria Center, plays an important role, enabling this work to take place and for our community to benefit from both shelter and access to supportive service providers. The MCCAC teams and their partners expect more consistent outcomes once there are consistent spaces in which support can be provided.
What rules must clients follow?
MCCAC has clear rules and guidelines for The Annex along with its other programs:
MCCAC’s programs, including at The Annex, do not serve individuals who are under sex offender registration requirements or who have been convicted of arson.
MCCAC does not allow the use of drugs or alcohol at its program locations or offices and strictly prohibits weapons and violence of any kind. In addition, units are inspected regularly to ensure they are kept clean, safe, and healthy.
Clients must be on premises between the hours of 10pm-6:30am. This applies to both emergency and transitional shelter. Exceptions may be granted for curfew hours if shelter guests have received approval from shelter management for employment-based reasons for not being on-site during these hours. Employment-based reasons require a letter from the employer stating the work schedule of the client.
Clients at The Annex will be trespassed from the site for non-compliance with site rules.
How does MCCAC ensure site security?
The Annex staffing practices, layout, and operations are being designed with safety and security at the forefront.
The Annex is staffed 24 hours a day including an on-site manager and contracted security
The MCCAC staff conducts regular unit inspections and inspect areas around its site to ensure the neighborhood is well taken care of
A security guard is on-site during overnight hours
In addition, MCCAC `monitors its site utilizing full-site video surveillance
MCCAC also has a strong working relationship with local law enforcement and behavioral health providers to ensure the safety of clients, the public, and The Annex staff.
It is important to note that MCCAC’s current operations have proven to be effective and successful, having a minimal impact on other public services. This is in part due to the ongoing communication and mutual respect between MCCAC staff, community providers, and clients. As rapport is built and maintained, the mutual respect for the site grows and creates a strong motivation for clients to follow the rules and ensure their own safety.
Is camping allowed at The Annex?
No. The Annex is not a managed campground. RV, vehicle, and/or tent camping is not allowed anywhere on the property. Any and all client and staff parking is included as part of the site design. The only overnight lodging/shelter available at the site are throug the rooms located within the converted motel.
Is there a soup kitchen at The Annex?
While services at The Annex include meals for clients, there is not a soup kitchen that provides food service to the greater community. However, other independent agencies that offer this service such as St. Vincent DePaul continue to serve food at their site through their Bread and Blessings and Community Meals programs. More information on St. Vincent DePaul’s programs and services can be found at www.svdpthedalles.org.
I Hold My Head A Little Higher: A Video from The Annex