By Mary Owen
The Santiam Outreach Community Center in Mill City opens Aug. 1.
SOCC is a new rural resource center of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency and Recovery Outreach Community Center, two entities collaborating to foster positive change in the Santiam Canyon community.
“MWVCAA has vested interest in addressing rural poverty in the Santiam area,” Ashley Hamilton, program manager of the ARCHES project. “For a while, there was even an outpost resource center in Stayton. However, when the recession hit, services were scaled back, one of them being closing the Stayton office. Unfortunately, even as the economy recovered, we lost sight of our focus and never fully re-invested in the community, despite our best intentions to do so.”
As resources became available, everything began to shift in 2016, Hamilton said.
“This was attributed to a renewed rural poverty agenda set forth by the state, as well as promoted internally at MWVCAA,” she said. “This spark was further ignited by the Santiam Service Integration Teams which continually advocated for the area, stressing for the needs of the community that were routinely being bypassed by current service delivery structures.”
Hamilton said this was highlighted by the annual Point in Time Count homeless count facilitated by MWVCAA. The count includes Marion and Polk counties.
“Traditionally, numbers in this region were low,” she said. “However, this was not because of a lack of need, but mainly attributed to there being a historical lack of rural planning or foresight.”
Hamilton said during the most recent count in January, MWVCAA partnered with local providers and leaders for a more focused approach. As a result, 115 unsheltered households were identified.
“This was a drastic increase over previous years,” Hamilton said.
“While MWVCAA was gaining insight, the ROCC was working on a plan to expand services into the Santiam. They caught wind of MWVCAA’s vision of service expansion and offered to partner on a joint venture – a resource center to house both MWVCAA and ROCC services, missions and values.”
This spring, Hamilton said efforts were fulfilled when the ideal location became available, 280 NE Santiam Blvd., Mill City. Now a reality, SOCC will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
“The center is a community center with the goal to be a place for people to build relationships with each other through peer-led groups and activities going on throughout the day, including yoga, guided meditation and art groups,” Hamilton said.
The center will also be a place to get assessments for the ARCHES housing programs, for emergency assistance, and for support groups such as the Now What? for early recovery and the Four Agreements for life wisdom. People can receive hygiene kits or get mailboxes. All services are free.
The Santiam Service Integration Team has been the primary driver in helping MWVCAA and ROCC identify the true need and vulnerability of the area, Hamilton said.
MWVCAA has committed a variety of state funds offered through Oregon Housing and Community Services to this project, Hamilton said.
“They are also seeking additional opportunities for financing through private foundation grants,” she added. “ROCC has also invested their share of private and grant financing.”
The site will be a hub for rotating community partners and be an activation site during inclement weather as a warming center, Hamilton said.
“SOCC looks forward to partnering with area providers to help fill the vast need presenting in Santiam,” she said.
“This includes building on the long-standing relationship with the Canyon Crisis Center to generate new and exciting pathways to service for the community.”
ROCC Executive Director Christina Korkow, who has lived in Mill City for almost seven years, sees the needs in the community every day.
“I believe the services that ARCHES and SIT partners will provide coupled with ROCC’s ability to foster a safe and nurturing environment where people can feel they belong, feel encouraged and empowered by their peers, is going to be an amazing combination,” Korkow said.
“Each organization is great and can do a lot on their own, but together we have the potential to be phenomenal and influence positive changes in the lives we touch.”
SI program coordinator Melissa Baurer expects a drop in travel and home visits because, she said, “households more likely will be able to get a ride to SOCC or walk or take the bus.”
“I will be refocusing some of my work to enhancing the SI program, specifically coordinating a training day for service providers/community members to learn the ‘ins and outs’ of organization’s services,” Baurer said.
“We also will continue to build awareness to Salem-based service providers of the need in the Santiam region as many of the providers’ mission is to serve all of Marion County.”
Baurer added, “ROCC coming to the Santiam Region will have an enormous impact.”
She said those recovering and healing from alcohol, drugs and fotmer former trauma will have access to peer-led support groups, healing from trauma courses, and peer-led activities.”
Hamilton commended Mill City and Gates for welcoming SOCC, allowing the center to put area expertise and resources to work.
“It’s going to take a community approach to make this initiative work, addressing the impacts of poverty one household at a time,” Hamilton said.
Individuals interested in helping can donate feminine hygiene products, shampoo/conditioners/soap, pet food, toothbrushes/paste, adult and child diapers, formula, baby wipes, art supplies, and monetary gifts. Donations are accepted during SOCC business hours.
For questions on services, or how to help, call ARCHES, 503-399-9080.
