Monday, 20 September 2010 15:02 Last Updated on Monday, 20 September 2010 15:12
Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center
Fall Newsletter
Goodbye April
April Pritchard's year as an AmeriCorps Volunteer is over. She will be going back to school to work toward a Master's degree in Renewable Energy. April has been fun, efficient, and a great pillar of strength in the Project Action Office. She has recruited and trained volunteers and always been there when a crisis came along. She has landed a part time job at the Boys and Girls Club to supplement her income. They are so lucky to get her. Since she will still be in Corvallis, April has promised to drop in and help us out once in a while. Everyone Loves April!
Hello Rick
Richard Kleinosky has agreed to step up and take responsibility as office manager for Project Action. He has been working as a volunteer in the office for several months so he knows the ropes. He is calm, easy going and good on the computer. He will be in the office Monday thru Friday from 10 to 12 so he can provide continuity and guidance to the daily volunteers. Project Action is grateful that Rick is willing to fill this important role. Their office is located downstairs under Starbucks coffee shop at 425 SW Madison. Project Action is a program of the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center Board.
Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center
The drop-in center continues to operate in the lower lever of the First Christian Church on the corner of 6th and Madison from 9 am to 2 pm weekdays. It provides a comfortable place for homeless and low income persons to have a cup of coffee, eat a snack , read a book, play cribbage, or talk to a volunteer.
In addition to being a safe place for homeless persons to relax, the drop-in center is so much more. It is a place for the homeless to bring their troubles when they are desperate. lonely or about to go over the edge.
When they are sick, they are connected to the Benton County Health Clinic. When they have decided to attack their addiction, there is a volunteer to drive them to detox services out of town. When their belongings have been stolen there is someone to talk to about what to do next. For every problem, there is someone to listen, ask questions, assist with problem solving, and arrange transportation to appointments.
We all know that the homeless often suffer from a combination of mental illness, medical conditions, addiction issues, and the stress that goes with acute poverty. The center is a place to figure out what to do about the most pressing problems for the day.
Barbara Thayer, the outreach worker, whose office is down the hall from the center, has helped several homeless persons with the paperwork and interviews needed to apply for disability benefits. In the first half of this year through the joint efforts of Barbara and other volunteers, nine homeless persons have moved into permanent housing. After they get an apartment, they need a lot of support adjusting to their new situation. Often they are very lonely.
Aleita, Board Chair and Center Coordinator is responsible for connecting homeless persons with medical services. She responds to emergencies, but works to see that everyone has a medical home and follows through to address ongoing conditions, whether they are physical or mental heath issues. She has developed a strong working partnership with the Benton County Health Clinic. She has a fund, supported by private donations to cover the access fee to the clinic for any homeless person and to cover the co-payment required for many medications. She is part of a task group that is developing systems to address communicable diseases among the homeless population. No drugs or alcohol are allowed at the center. A watchman works two hours before and after center hours to assure no use of banned substances is taking place in or around the church. The police are available on call if any one's behavior gets our of hand. While they are seldom actually called, their back up keeps both volunteers and guests feeling safe.
Celebration of Success
On Wednesday Aug 25 At the First Presbyterian Church the CDDC celebrated the success of 16 persons who have made special progress during the last year. This would include following through on medical procedures, getting into housing, maintaining a record as a good tenant, staying clean and sober, and other personal accomplishments.
Wish list: coffee supplies and volunteers.
Another way to help is to donate coffee, sugar , creamer, or paper coffee cups. Gifts of these essential supplies helps a lot. You can drop them off any time the center is open, from 9 am to 2 pm weekdays. If you have never visited the center, this is a good excuse to come by and see what is happening.
We also are looking for volunteers who would take a regular shift each week. The duties are simple: make the coffee, put out snacks, and chat with guests. The advantage of having a volunteer that can be counted on to take same shift in the schedule is that this frees up Aleita, the center coordinator, to take care of duties away from the center. If you want to find out more about volunteering, contact Aleita, 541-740-3235 or Dan Hallgrimson, 541 753-8581 to sign up for a time to visit the center.
Future Happenings:
The men's cold weather shelter will open in mid-November at the West Side Community Church. Open Daily from 7 pm to 7 am. Volunteers are needed so call Aleita Has Holcombe at 541 740 3235 if you want to help. The men's winter shelter is provided by the Corvallis Homeless Shelter Coalition.
The women's winter shelter will be located at Knoll Brook Community church again this year. If you want to help with food, laundry, or staying over night, call Wilma at Love Inc at 541 757- 8111 Volunteer training is provided. The women's shelter is coordinated by Love Inc.
Rent is Needed.
The City of Corvallis through the Community Development Block Grant funds pays a portion of the rent for the space every month. However we have to make up several hundred dollars in donations to be able to pay our rent. In addition, we must pay for the watchman to keep the church and the parking lot crime free and safe. The center itself is run completely by volunteers, The reality is that our rent fund has been depleted. We now must look to individuals and community groups that have helped us in the past to replenish our cash supply so we can pay our rent each month.
If you want to donate personally, use the enclosed envelope. If you are part of a faith or community group that might make a larger donation, please contact our board chair, Aleita Hass Holcombe 752-540-3235, or out vice chair, Dan Halgrinson, 541 753-8581 with details about who to contact and how to make an appeal.
The volunteers at the center cannot handle this expense alone. We must have your help.
Contribute today!
Thursday, 14 January 2010 00:00 Last Updated on Monday, 12 April 2010 08:52
December 2009
Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center
Thanks to the First Christian Church, CDDC has an extension for the use of McLean Hall as the site of the Drop-in till April 15th 2010 with hours still from 9am to 2pm, Monday through Friday. As always, we’re grateful for their patience and support!
The Drop-in Center continues to be a valuable place where individuals can socialize, rest, enjoy a snack and find a listening ear. It often serves as the place to start ones quest for information and referral to other community agencies.
Shelter Update
Women’s Cold Weather Shelter Update
Yes, you’ve read that correctly – this year a Women’s Cold Weather Shelter opened at Knollbrook Church on November 15. Wilma Van Schelven and Katy Weber through Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) are coordinating the volunteers and making sure that all the pieces come together. The windows at Knollbrook had to be replaced, smoke detectors had to be installed, mattresses ordered and picked up (thank you Aleita for picking them up!), supplies such as coffee and women’s personal hygiene items obtained, the police, neighborhood and school notified and all the other things that go into opening a new cold weather shelter.
For the last six months a small group has been meeting to make sure that all these things happened plus the biggest one of all – getting volunteers to run it for the four months it will be open. We now have only five more weeks to fill and then the volunteers are also all in place. God is good!! People are responding and women are starting to find us. We opened with one woman on the first night but by the third night we had 3 (hope it doesn’t keep growing that fast – it would be pretty full by the last night at the end of 4 months )
We’re learning as we’re going but so far it’s going really well. The women are glad to have a safe dry place to sleep and the volunteers have been happy to be there.
Men’s Cold Weather Shelter Update
November 15th marked the beginning of the fourth season for the Corvallis Men’s Shelter. Opening night came none too soon as the weather several weeks prior was quite miserable for everyone trying to sleep outdoors.
The Corvallis Homeless Shelter Coalition represents a group of many faith communities and other organizations including Veterans For Peace and The Corvallis Rotary that provide volunteers to facilitate the operation of the cold weather shelter. The shelter is open from 7pm – 7am. from November 15th trough March 15th. Over the 17 week season about 2389 hours of volunteer time is donated.
We’re learning as we’re going but so far it’s going really well. The women are glad to have a safe dry place to sleep and the volunteers have been happy to be there.
Project Action
CDDC: Project Action has been quickly expanding the last few months, helping many people with various needs. Additionally we are forming partnerships with many organizations around town, slowly becoming more well-known as we give and take referrals.
More exciting news from Project Action is the gradual but definite success of the Clean-up Team. More people are calling to hire our workers at 9/hr for odd jobs around town. Mike Whipple along with the support of Chuck Vanderwettering has been coordinating the program. Anyone who wants work done just has to call the Project Action office at 
541-738-7500 or Mike at 
541-250-1411. The AmeriCorps VISTA, April Pritchard, who started in August, has been working hard coordinating volunteers to help in the office, the community, and as advocates for individuals. Many of those who have received services have been glad to give back and volunteer to those who have helped them or help others who need assistance.
One of our greatest needs right now (besides the prevailing need for funds ) is for individuals willing to be advocates for those who are trying to work toward goals such as employment, medical health, mental health, housing, identification, or whatever they feel would better their lives. Anyone interested in helping should contact the Project Action office 541-738-7500.
Jennifer Ambrosius with Aleita Hass-Holcombe and Rick Klinowsky at our celebration event Jennifer is an active volunteer who works part-time, but still lives in a tent. She was selected to participate in a panel to help the City Council in November to discuss the selection of those who are homeless in our community.
Fundraising
On November 19th, the First United Methodist Church sponsored a very successful Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for CDDC and the First Christian Church, raising $1200 to be split between the two. Special thanks goes to Joan Collison for coordinating the event.
Joan felt strongly that the contribution of space and gracious welcome that First Christian extends should be recognized and in turn supported by the community through more than lip service. Joan said, “Being United Methodists, the first thing that comes to mind is…food! Let’s have a dinner! A spaghetti dinner!” The dinner was attended by over 200 people from at least 10 different churches. Joan said, “There was such good feeling…you could just breathe it in! Joan is hopeful that the idea of this kind of fundraising for good things going on beyond the walls of ones own church will catch on.
Please Help Us!
We need help covering medical expense. From appointment access fees to prescriptions, medical care is not cheap. It is urgent that we build up our medical fund so that when we are asked for help we can say yes. We want to encourage our homeless persons to the care of their heath, not ignore problems because there is no way to pay for care or prescription. Your donation can make all the difference!
Housing First:10 Year Plan and Partner’s Place
The Wednesday, Dec. 2nd Gazette Times article on the front page by Bennett Hall captured well the concept of housing first and the vision of providing such a facility here in Corvallis. Benton County’s 10 Year Plan supports the concept and a generous offer from Ed Epley to intentionally rebuild his apartment building that burned down on Harrison street in a way that can make housing first happen is making an idea move toward reality. The idea to intentionally provide year round permanent supported shelter for individuals who are chronically homeless in Corvallis is a bold and needed step in meeting the challenge of ending homelessness. Partner’s Place will be that step.
Featured Individual
Greg Elgin represents a very special guy who is doing a very difficult thing. Greg is facing every day the reality that he cannot participate in activities that our advertising media promotes as the way to kick back and enjoy life. The practice of accepting and promoting mood altering drugs in our culture is blatant. What is not so well advertised is the fact that many folks will develop addictions.
Greg is facing his reality everyday and has struggled long and hard to find his high from life itself. On October 15th, Greg was one of fourteen individuals who were recognized in a celebration of successes that was sponsored by the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center’s Project Action. Greg was recognized for being a brave patient having just gone through surgery for back and hip problems. Above and beyond his perseverance in overcoming chronic pain, we applaud Greg for overcoming every day a greater hurdle which is the struggle to reject the use of drugs in his life. Our highest hope for Greg is that he will find each day that sobriety brings a truer high in his life.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 15:24 Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 15:47
Project Action
A new program is being launched this year to facilitate progress toward improving
the life circumstances of the homeless in Corvallis.
Project Action provides two primary services to homeless clients. First,
information and referral is provided to all who have a need. This may be
enough to connect an individual with an agency or organization that can
help them. More importantly, the second service provides a connection
with a trained, volunteer mentor. This mentor relationship focuses
on goal-setting, encouragement, information resources, and
accountability to foster progress.
Goal-setting is tailored to each individual’s unique circumstance
and can address employment, mental health issues, housing,
and needed professional counseling and support, among other
issues.
The Project Action office is located below Starbucks and Noah’s
Bagels downstairs at 425 SW Madison Avenue, Suite Q.
Project action is open from 10:00 am to noon Monday through Friday.
Shelter Update
The winter-time shelter will close on March 15. As of the end of
February, over 80 people have spent the night in the shelter at
one time or another since it opened November 15, 2008.
The shelter can accommodate up to 40 men each night.
There has been tremendous support for the shelter. Churches
once again stepped up to provide volunteers for the operation
of the shelter. This year, a number of volunteer groups
dropped by to support the overnight residents of the shelter.
Some examples include a group from Corvallis High School
who brought burritos and blankets, the Red Hat Society who
brought Christmas bags for every bed, and a Girl Scout troop
who brought valentines and granola bars.
Special mention must also be made for special neighbors of the
shelter like Dave and Maddie. Thank you to everyone who
helped provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming space for
those in need.
Mid-Valley Housing Plus/COI Partnership
We are very grateful that Community Outreach was able to
incorporate Mid-Valley Housing Plus into its array of program
options. This program is now called permanent supportive housing
and the administration is located in the COI offices. Its services
still operate out the basement of the Benton Plaza - clients felt
no break in service. We want to recognize and say thank-you
to COI and Mid-Valley Housing Plus for their extraordinary effort
in making this transfer possible.
Corvallis Daytime Drop-In Center
The wandering CDDC has once again found a home - at least for
limited services. First Christian Church has generously agreed
to host a pared-down drop-in center in McLean Hall from 9:00
am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday each week.
The space will serve as a warming center staffed by volunteers
who will have coffee and other hot drinks available for those in
need. The volunteers will also be trained to provide information
and referral to other needed services. It is expected that
McLean Hall will play host to quiet conversation out of the
cold and rain long enough for the weather to improve.
The CDDC has experienced more than just a change in location
and services. The Board has restructured to try to fill
the gap from Paul Boling’s departure last October.
The new Board looks like this … Aleita Hass-Holcombe
(President Pro Tem), Jennifer Ambrosious, Joan Collison,
John Evans, Scott Gentry, Michi Gonzales, Dan Halgrimson,
Pauline McGinty, Rhonda Mueller Warrant, Barbara Ross,
Sue Schulz, Jesus and Laura Soto,
2022 NW Myrtlewood Way
Corvallis, OR 97330
We celebrate the success of the winter-time shelter, but can’t help but be very concerned for those
now left without a safe place to sleep as the shelter closes on March 15.