‘Pretty devastating’: Rowena Fire victims struggle to find housing

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Nearly two months since the Rowena Fire tore through Wasco County, destroying 56 homes and 91 other structures, local residents are still figuring out a way forward.

“People know our region because they like to come here and have fun, but people live here too,” said Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Executive Director Leslie Naramore. “And we need to do everything that we can to get our people back into their homes as quickly as possible.”

The organization connects victims of the fire to housing and other resources. They’ve rehoused 14 families so far, but say they know there are many others who still need assistance.

“We still have people out there who have not yet connected with us,” Naramore said.

For families in need of immediate shelter, the group also helps put them in hotel rooms while they work on securing more long-term accommodations. Three households are currently staying in hotels, and two others will move into hotels soon, she said.

But even hotels are getting harder to come by.

“Hotels just aren’t wanting to work with us long term because it’s tourist season and this is when they make all their money,” Naramore said. “So they don’t wanna be renting long-term to people who are trying to get away from the fire because they could be making a lot more on tourist season.”

According to a report from Travel Oregon, visitors spent more than $107 million in Wasco County last year.

“We are in an area that does not have many rentals, and so to lose 56 additional homes is pretty devastating,” Naramore said. “If you live in this area and you have a rental unit or the ability to create a rental unit, we need units on the ground.”

Once families are rehoused, the council also helps connect them with other items or services they need. For example, they’ve partnered with local businesses to help provide things like furniture since many of the fire victims were also without insurance. They’re currently seeking partners to help them provide furnishings like sheets and pillows.

Many of the victims of the Rowena Fire were elderly or low-income, said Miriam Starrett, a community engagement coordinator for the council. Some were already relying on the council for housing assistance or recovering from homelessness.

“The housing market is challenging here because there are a lot of vacation homes and second homes, and a lot of people come here to have fun,” Starrett said. “Our community just needs to have a lot of support and a lot of empathy for what is going on.”

After the fire, the council initially hosted multi-agency resource centers for survivors at their office in The Dalles. Those centers have closed for the time being, but plans to restart them soon are in the works, Naramore said.

To find out how to help, or find out if you’re eligible for assistance from the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, visit mccac.com.