Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency utilizes 2023’s emergency funding to increase homelessness prevention and sheltering.
One year after Gov. Tina Kotek declared a homelessness state of emergency in January 2023, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) is reporting success in homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing as a result of the Emergency Order’s funding initiatives.
Governor Tina Kotek speaks to a crowd at the grand opening of The ARCHES Lodge on April 12, 2023.
MWVCAA is the only state contracted organization to provide homeless prevention services for Marion and Polk counties through the Governor’s 2023 Emergency Order funding.
MWVCAA received a direct allocation of homeless prevention funding tied to the new Governor’s Emergency Order in 2023. This brought $2.56 million in emergency rental assistance to Marion and Polk counties.
The Emergency Order had a stated goal of keeping 667 households in Marion and Polk Counties from slipping into homelessness. MWVCAA surpassed this goal. As of January 1, 2024, 754 households have been assisted, preventing these households from experiencing homelessness. MWVCAA also provided more than $1,734,000 in stabilization payments to local renters, which is 113% of the regional goal.
MWVCAA is being awarded an additional round of homeless prevention funding through Oregon Housing and Community Services. This will allow MWVCAA and its sub contracted partners to continue providing crucial eviction prevention work and will be modeled after the three access points that have proved effective through the governor’s funding order.
The first was direct referral from community partners using the Unite Us platform sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.
The second avenue for assistance was directly at eviction courts. MWVCAA hosted staff at county courts to immediately sign-up households for assistance, preventing the eviction before the final ruling was placed. Using this format, MWVCAA works closely with court staff and appointed judges to help mediate cases staving off the eviction process related to non-payment of rents.
The final way to access services was via MWVCAA Resource Centers, whereby clients can seek walk-in
assistance at the locations below.
Salem Resource Center
Address: 2085 Commercial St. NE Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503-399-9080 ext 4600
Woodburn Resource Center
Address: 1560 Hardcastle Ave., Woodburn, OR 97071
Phone: 971-772-0002
Mill City Resource Center
Address: 280 NE Santiam Blvd., Mill City, OR 97360
Phone: 503-897-2327
MWVCAA was also awarded two contracts through the Emergency Order and Continuum of Care (COC) to provide Rapid Re-Housing supports and services to the unsheltered communities of Marion and Polk counties. Each contract was created with the goal to house 50 unsheltered homeless households in Marion County and 50 in Polk County, creating the total goal of serving 100 households.
MWVCAA and our contributing partners are nearing the completion of this goal with 51 previously unsheltered households being rehoused and an additional 20 preparing to move in.
Two brand-new programs were created based on proven innovations for success in getting residents into housing quickly and with support for success: extinguishing barriers such as previous property debt, locating secure housing and landlord negotiations.
The staff for this program are trained to be mobile, to go where the client is and connect them with medical, job placement and recovery services where the client is most comfortable.
MWVCAA was also awarded a contract through COC to create a Family Shelter for the unsheltered communities of our region, with the goal of remodeling the current MWVCAA Center Street facility to provide 36 shelter beds dedicated to serving households with dependent children. As of January 1, 2024, this facility is preparing for renovation is in the final stages of completing a historical site review.
Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency is Marion-Polk’s anti-poverty agency and the area’s leading non-profit social services provider. Our programs provide services in housing and homelessness, childcare and youth development, and incarceration reentry.