FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
COMMUNITY
Winter weather strains local social services
personal questions and it
takes a lot of paperwork,”
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There
As temperatures dip and
Hamilton said.
are a lot of things available in this
with snow almost surely
Continued from Page 1A
Those who are literally
community. Anyone can do it. They
on the way, Baker County
Kercheski has worked in the past as a
homeless must have an in-
second-grade teacher at Harvest Chris-
services will be stretched
come that is at or below 80%
just have to ask for help.”
tian Academy and taught preschool at St.
thin in an attempt to meet
of the area’s median income,
the needs of those without
Stephen’s Episcopal Church for a year. She — Katelyn Kercheski, single mother of
which starts at $32,200 for
two toddlers who had to move out of
a warm place to stay for the
had planned to teach again this year, but
one person and increases for
her Baker City home earlier this year
night.
because of her circumstances that didn’t
each additional person in
Some help, through a
work out.
the household. The annual
variety of different funding
She currently is working part time as a
community was diffi cult, Kercheski said.
income level for a family of
streams, is available from
sales clerk at the Sycamore Tree.
Even moving into her new home was
four to qualify is $46,000,
Community Connection. The
With her experience in education, her
delayed because of minor issues that kept it
Hamilton said.
agency receives state and
long-term goal is to secure a position with
from meeting HUD requirements.
The Elderly Rental As-
federal money that is used
the school district, she said.
Finally, those problems were resolved
sistance program (ERA)
locally throughout North-
She learned about the housing help
and she and her boys once again had a
requires that one individual
eastern Oregon.
available through Community Connection home of their own.
in the household is older
The agency recently
after fi rst walking into the Department of
Kercheski recognizes the good fortune
than 58. That funding source
received a grant total-
Human Services offi ce at 3165 10th St.
that has allowed her to make it on her own
provides one-time assistance
ing $55,790 from Oregon
There she signed up for food benefi ts
— albeit with the help and prayers of her
for those at-risk of being
Housing and Community
through the Supplemental Nutrition As-
family and friends, along with individual
homeless or who are unsta-
Services. That money will
sistance Program (SNAP), formerly known and group grief counselors, who are helping
bly housed with an income
as food stamps, and inquired about HUD
be used to upgrade a Union
her deal with the loss of her marriage.
at or below 50% of the area
housing and Oregon Health Plan insur-
County warming shelter,
She urges others to take that fi rst step.
median income of $20,150
said Rochelle Hamilton, the
ance.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she says.
for one person or $28,750 for
Homeless Services manager
DHS workers next referred her to Com- “There are a lot of things available in this
a family of four and adjusted
for Community Connection.
munity Connection.
community. Anyone can do it. They just
for more or fewer people in
Although La Grande has
Finding HUD-qualifi ed housing in the
have to ask for help.”
the household.
had a warming shelter in
Those who qualify for ERA
the past, it is not operating
funding may receive money
yet this winter because of
counties.
must fi rst complete an
condition or someone who
for rent, including fi rst- and
land-use planning issues
Lori Barker, Commu-
intake packet and then
has plans to move into an
last-month payments if
involving a new location the nity Connection assistant
Community Connection staff apartment, but who might
that’s what it takes to get
shelter had hoped to move to manager for Baker County, members help determine
need an extra day to fi nalize them into a housing unit,
by Nov. 15. Nevertheless, La oversees the local homeless which services best fi t their details, Hamilton said.
Hamilton said. The program
Grande is 42 miles away and programs.
needs, Hamilton said.
“It’s not meant to be hous- also will pay past-due rent,
it would likely not be a prac-
Certain criteria must
For those who are truly
ing emergency services,” she utility arrearages and utility
tical solution for those from be met before a person or
homeless, funding comes
added.
payments and deposits.
Baker City who are seeking family qualifi es for housing through SHAP (the State
Community Connection
Emergency Housing As-
a warm place to stay.
assistance, Hamilton said
Homeless Assistance
works with other agencies
sistance (EHA) provides a
The next closest warm-
during a recent visit to the
Program). Baker County is
in the community to help
one-time payment for those
ing shelter in operation in
Community Connection of-
allocated funding to provide people consider different
who are homeless or at-risk
Northeastern Oregon is in
fi ce in Baker City.
a brief respite from the
solutions as well, she said.
of becoming homeless.
Pendleton.
Hamilton reviewed a long elements for those in need,
That could range from mov- An EHA allotment also is
Hamilton works in the
list of acronyms attached to Hamilton said.
ing in with family members, available for veterans who
Community Connection
programs designed to assist
All funds are available
reaching out to New Direc-
were honorably discharged
administration offi ce at La
those who need help putting on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served tions Northwest, if mental
from their time in military
Grande. The agency serves
or keeping a roof over their
basis, she said.
health issues are a barrier
service.
Baker, Union and Wallowa
heads. There is money avail-
The SHAP money can
to securing housing; the
To qualify for those
able, but there are specifi c
only be used to make a fi rst- Northeast Oregon Com-
programs, applicants again
requirements tied to each
month rent payment or to
passion Center, which also
must have an income that is
program and each appli-
secure up to two nights in a provides motel vouchers; or at or below 80% of the area’s
What’s New At
cant’s particular situation,
motel. Three nights might be MayDay, if domestic violence median income. The funding
including
the
number
of
provided to those with spe-
is an issue in their particular covers rent, past-due rent
The Library
people in each household,
cial circumstances, such as
situation.
and utility bills, security de-
• 2400 Resort St.
and family incomes, she said. families with small children
“We look to see what their posits, motel lodging, utility
Those seeking services
or a person with a medical
plans are. We ask a lot of
payments and water bills.
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
FICTION
• “The Starless Sea,”
Erin Morgenstern
• “Olive, Again,” Eliza-
beth Strout
• “Where the Light
Enters,” Sara Donati
• “Smoke Screen,”
Terri Blackstock
• “Hunter’s Moon,”
Philip Caputo
NONFICTION
• “The Enemy of the
People,” Jim Acosta
• “Finding Chika,”
Mitch Albom
• “Edison,” Edmund
Morris
• “Home Work,” Julie
Andrews
• “The End is Always
Near,” Dan Carlin
DVDS
• “Freaks” (Drama)
• “Hustlers” (Comedy)
• “Oh, God” (Comedy,
1977)
• “Once Upon A Time
In Hollywood” (Comedy)
• “Scramble The Sea
Wolves” (Documentary)
HOURS
• Monday through
Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
PRIDE
ASSISTANCE
Continued from Page 1A
There is plenty of funding
available at this point. Hayes
urges residents to call the
Senior Center to schedule
an appointment to sign up
or to check eligibility for the
program.
Transportation
Thanks to the state trans-
portation improvement fund,
bus fares in Baker County
have dropped from $2 per
boarding to $1 per board-
ing. Other special rates and
routes may be found on the
website at ccno.wp.iescentral.
com/publictransit/baker-
county-2/
For example:
• A commuter service runs
between Baker City and La
Grande; call for information.
• Rides from the Haines/
Keating areas on Tuesdays
and Fridays; $2 one way; call
541-523-7433.
• Baker City to Hunting-
ton to Ontario for shopping/
appointments, Thursdays; $5
round-trip; call 541-709-5777.
• Sumpter to Baker City
shopping/appointments,
Fridays; $5 round-trip; call
541-894-771.
• Weekly service from
For More
Information
The Baker County
Senior Center is at 2810
Cedar St. The phone
number is 541-523-6591.
Halfway and Richland to
Baker City
New rates are made
possible by the Legisla-
ture’s approval of a state
tax that assesses one-tenth
of 1 percent of wages of all
Oregon employees to pay for
transportation improvements
statewide.
The white bus and the trol-
ley that can be seen traveling
through the community are
the only fi xed-rate transport-
ers, Hayes said. They run
from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday and from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The 30-seat trolley is
limited to special-occasion
use only, such as for children’s
birthday parties, parades and
other events, Hayes said.
The trolley, which is used
mainly during the summer, is
expensive to drive, expensive
to maintain and the parts are
hard to fi nd, Hayes said.
A new bus to add to the
who can demonstrate some
reason why they can’t come
to the congregate meal site,
Hayes said. Extra meals are
delivered to the housebound
on the weekends on request
In-home care
so they have food available
In-home care services
on days when the center is
offered through Commu-
closed.
nity Connection are aimed
The meal service also is
at helping aging people to
provided at the New Bridge
live independently in their
Grange on Thursdays, from
homes for as long as possible. noon to 12:20 p.m., and Meals
Services range from help
on Wheels are delivered to
with bathing, dressing, meal residents of Baker County’s
preparation, grocery shop-
Panhandle area on Thursdays
ping, light housekeeping and as well.
respite care.
The Harvest Share
Health services such as
program provides fruits and
blood pressure testing, foot
vegetables, which also are
care clinics and medical
delivered at Head Start,
equipment loans also are
The Salvation Army and
available.
the Department of Human
Services, every Thursday
Nutrition
morning. They are offered on
The nutrition program
a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis
includes a hot meal served
until the goods run out, which
daily Monday through Friday is usually by about noon on
in the Community Connec-
Friday.
tion dining hall at 2810 Cedar
During the growing season,
St. Lunchtime is from 11:30
Baker County residents bring
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The sug-
produce such as apricots,
gested donation for those 60 plums and strawberries to
and older is $4.50 per person.
Those younger than 60 are
asked to make a donation of
The Grove Team
$6.75.
Meals on Wheels are
delivered to homes of those
regular transportation fl eet is
expected to arrive soon, paid
for through Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation
grants, he said.
share with others as well,
Hayes said.
About 1 million pounds of
produce is distributed during
the year, he said.
Other activities and
volunteer opportunities
The Senior Center also
offers volunteer opportunities
and activities every day the
center is open, Hayes says.
Volunteers help to make
the daily luncheon run
smoothly as well as to staff
the Center’s “Clothes Closet,”
which provides used clothing
at minimal prices.
Bingo is played every
Tuesday and Thursday at 1
p.m. There’s pinochle at 6 p.m.
Friday, party bridge at 12:30
p.m. Monday and duplicate
bridge at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Information about other
activities such as Tai Chi
and line dancing, Tai Ji and
Stretch & Flex or any other
programs is available by call-
ing the center at 541-523-
6591 or dropping by 2810
Cedar St. Monday through
Friday.
Welcomes
Jaclyn
Foss
DEC 20-26
ELTRYM
HISTORIC THEATER
1809 1st Street, Baker City
www.eltrym.com
to the
team!
STAR WARS:
THE RISE OF
SKYWAKER PG-13
FRI-SUN: (12:30) (3:30) 6:30, 9:30
MON-THURS: (3:30) 6:30, 9:30
no late show Christmas Eve
JUMANJI: THE
NEXT LEVEL PG-13
FRI-SUN: (1:00) (4:00) 7:00, 9:40
MON-THURS: (4:00) 7:00, 9:40
no late show Christmas Eve
LITTLE WOMEN PG
Baker City
OPENS CHRISTMAS DAY
WED & THURS: (3:45) 6:45, 9:35
( )Bargain Matinee
Show Times: 541-523-2522
Offi ce: 541-523-5439
The funding is aimed at
preventing homelessness
and providing rapid rehous-
ing, Hamilton said.
Emergency Solutions
Grant money is federal fund-
ing provided through the
U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
(HUD).
The program is more
restrictive than others, and
requires the income of appli-
cants to be at or below 30%
of the area median income.
That amounts to $12,100 for
one person and $17,250 for a
family of four.
They also must be at-risk
of homelessness or fl eeing
domestic violence.
Home Tenant Based
Assistance also is avail-
able through HUD. It is a
six-month program that in-
cludes intense case manage-
ment and rental assistance.
Community Connection
has a HUD-certifi ed fi nan-
cial counselor to help people
navigate the requirements of
the program, Hamilton said.
The Housing Stabilization
Program partners with the
Department of Human Ser-
vices to help people who are
eligible for Temporary Aid to
Needy Families. They must
have an income at or below
150% of federal poverty
guidelines: $18,735 per year
for one person and adjusted
for each additional person in
the household; for a family of
four, that would be $38,625.
To qualify as HUD hous-
ing, fair market rent for a
place with no bedrooms has
been set at a maximum of
$516 per month; one bed-
room, $617; two, $790; three,
$1,140; and four, $1,323 per
month, Hamilton said.
More information is avail-
able by visiting Community
Connection in Baker City at
2810 Cedar St. or by calling
541-523-6591.
www.communitybanknet.com
Member FDIC
1190 Campbell St
541-524-7667
Holiday Design by
Addalyn Pointon of
Lewiston, ID.
845 Campbell St.
PO Box 762
Baker City, OR 97814
Jaclyn Foss, Broker
Cell
541-519-7066
Email
Jaclyn@Th eGroveTeam.com
Website
www.Th eGroveTeam.com