December 1, 2009
Stimulus funds help struggling families
By RaeLynn Ricarte
for The Chronicle
Federal stimulus dollars have enabled the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council to help more low-income families from Wasco, Hood River and Sherman counties during 2009.
Jim Slusher, executive director of MCCAC, said the added funding has been needed by numerous clients during the economic recession.
“We are seeing more people now that have never before sought assistance with food, shelter and heat,” he said.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allowed Community Action to step up its weatherization program.
The private non-profit organization received $900,000 to help people who meet federal poverty guidelines make their homes more energy efficient.
“We make a one-time investment that will lower heating bills or allow the individual to purchase energy efficient appliances,” said Slusher.
He said there is a waiting list of about 1,000 households for weatherization help. By hiring another two inspectors with stimulus dollars, Slusher said MCCAC will be able to serve more people.
He said 200-250 houses instead of 50-60 are expected to undergo energy upgrades this year.
MCCAC’s funding to help people pay their winter heating gas, propane or electric bill has almost doubled due to an infusion of stimulus capital. About $825,000 is now available so struggling families can stay warm during the cold months of the year. That same amount of cash was provided last year by the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the first stimulus package.
“We went through all of the money last year and the same scenario is probably going to play out this year,” said Slusher.
He has mailed 1,400 energy assistance applications to qualifying senior and disabled citizens in the three counties that MCCAC serves. He is trying to make sure these individuals know that energy assistance is there if they need it.
The coffers of Community Action’s most flexible program, the Community Service Block Grant, have also been filled by stimulus money.
The fund has grown from $160,000 to $410,000 this year and is being channeled by MCCAC into a variety of local programs. These services include respite care, tax assistance, job coaching and transitional youth housing.
“We are definitely one of the best kept secrets around here,” said Slusher, who has been with MCCAC for 32 years.
He said the added federal funding will be gone within two years — unless Congress decides otherwise. He said it will be hard to go back to a smaller budget if the number of clients stays as high as it has been in 2009.
Slusher intends to put that worry aside for the moment and tackle the ambitious plan of ending homelessness within his jurisdiction. Toward that end, he intends to enlist the help of officials from all three counties and area human resource agencies.
He said there are currently between nine and 20 school-age children who are living from place to place, which qualifies as homeless. He recently found housing for a family with five children who were staying in a small camp trailer.
“Our communities need to decide how we are going to deal with poverty issues; how we can provide more employment opportunities for our work force,” he said.
Oregon’s 18 community action councils are funded by the state and federal governments. Their mission is to help people transition beyond basic survival into a life that is fulfilling and meaningful.
Not only does MCCAC help people with housing and energy needs, the organization distributes items from the Oregon Food Bank to 13 outlets in the three counties.
The 24 employees at Community Action’s two offices keep a bilingual resource list on hand that can help customers easily locate service providers for almost any need.
Mid-Columbia Community Action’s headquarters in The Dalles are located at 312 E. Fourth Street and can be reached via telephone at (541) 298-5131.
The Hood River office is located upstairs at 205 Oak Street and can be accessed at (541) 387-2189.
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