community
2016
Community Action Team:
Houselessness continued from front page
She came to CAT last month to get
some guidance because she did not know what
to do to prepare for her anticipated life change.
The good news is that the housing case man-
ager had some ideas and resources to provide.
The bad news is that the most significant re-
sources, a subsidized Section 8 voucher and
low-income housing units, have very long
waiting lists. In some cases the wait may be
two or three years. At least now Muthersbaugh
knows she needs to get her name on all the
waiting lists. She also learned about the re-
cords she needs to gather in order to get the
maximum deposit refund from her current
landlord.
There were a few more concrete re-
sources CAT could present. When Muthers-
baugh does need to move, she will probably
qualify to receive financial assistance with the
deposit expense for her new home. At her level
of income she will also qualify to receive occa-
sional financial assistance with her utility bills.
Most importantly, CAT will meet with her
again to help her create a plan. CAT’s goal for
all clients is to help them create and follow a
plan that provides stability within their means.
They assist with creating budgets and identify-
ing other avenues to either increase income or
decrease expenses.
The inflated housing market in North-
west Oregon is making it even harder to find
a home. Housing of all types is in such high
demand that affordable and market-rate rental
units are nearly impossible to find. In a small
housing market like Columbia County, it’s
even tougher. If a rental unit does become
available, it is far more expensive than it was
as little as six months ago. Now, previously
stable households with two incomes are find-
ing themselves unable to make ends meet. As
august18
a result, the number of extended families liv-
ing together has drastically increased in recent
years. In addition, the benchmarks for who
qualifies for benefits have been raised to better
cover the most vulnerable populations. For ex-
ample, unless someone is over 62 years old, a
veteran, an adult with a disability, or a survivor
of domestic violence, they cannot even apply
for Section 8. Given the nature of the current
rental market, CAT’s first priority is to prevent
houselessness.
As with all their services, CAT’s ap-
proach is holistic. Housing is one of the many
puzzle pieces needed to create an accurate pic-
ture of a client’s situation. CAT has many wrap-
around services to help people. Other puzzle
pieces include transportation, food, mental
health, and social supports. Across the county
and beyond, CAT partners with many govern-
mental, community, and faith-based agencies
that mutually strive to implement a “No Wrong
Door” policy. So even if a family’s needs are
outside the scope of support that agency can
provide, their case manager can point clients
in the right direction and help them navigate
an often confusing landscape. CAT is always a
good place to start.
9
Where Do You
Read the Voice?
Vernonia
friends
Veronica
McGrane,
Randal Harvey
and Roxana
Sherman-
Heath,
reading
the Voice at
Wallowa Lake,
Oregon.
* Name and identifying details have been
changed to protect the privacy of individual
featured.
To find out more about how Community Action
Team might be able to help, please call 503-
397-3511 or visit www.cat-team.org. Office
hours at 125 N. 17 th Street in St. Helens are
8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Barney Hayes
reading the
Voice during
a recent
vacation in
Alaska with
wife Lynn.
Leanne Murray is the Program Operations
Coordinator in the Human Investment Depart-
ment for Community Action Team.
V ernonia C hristian C hurch
Everyone is welcome in our vibrant & active community!
A Professional Power Line Clearance Company
Sunday
Worship Service
Dale Olson
(503) 867-9770
11:00 am
Mike Grant
(503) 429-1157
(971) 201-1533
Pastor Sam Hough
Arborist on staff
Tree Trimming and Removal
Land Development
Residential or Commercial
Mulching/Mowing
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
OR CCD #204414
WA North LC CCB #857BZ
Marie Krahn
Massage Therapy
lic#5495
mariekrahn@frontier.com
• Home Study Groups
• Outdoor Ministry
Christian Bow Hunters of America
Annual Sportsman’s Banquet
office@VernoniaChristianChurch.org
503-429-6522
PO Box 676, Wilsonville, OR 97070
Dale@NorthwestLineClearance.com
Bighorn Logging
since 1981
• Accepting: Medical Benefits Cards
503-429-5180
4th-6th Grade
Junior & Senior High
410 North St.
Vernonia
Auto injury recovery/medical billing
• Medical Massage Cupping
• Swedish Massage
• Reiki • Deep Tissue
• Reflexology
• doTerra Aroma Touch
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Myofacial Release
• Youth and Adult Sunday School
• Evening Youth Groups
Contract Logging
503-324-2422
Free Estimates
Timber Purchases
Timber Management
Oregon Professional Logger certified since 1996
Owned and Operated by
Don & Kim Wallace
DON WALLACE, PLS
Professional Land Surveying
1224 E. Alder St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
Phone: 503-429-6115
FAX: 1-866-297-1402
Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com
CORPORATE
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