By Alexander Rich, Staff Writer
Monday, February 15, 2010
Bob More is retiring after 24 years working with the Oregon Coast Community Action housing office, advocating on behalf of low-income people needing affordable housing.
COOS BAY — No one would mistake Bob More for an idealistic college student these days.
His hair and closely trimmed mustache and goatee have turned snow white, fitting for a man hailing from Minnesota. He has spent 24 years at Oregon Coast Community Action. He’s had the same job, helping families keep roofs over their heads.
Get him to talk about affordable housing or the rights of disabled Americans and the passion in his voice echoes that of a twentysomething. He’s disappointed that so many people in our society can’t get basic necessities, but still More, 66, has no regrets about the path he took.
“I know I’ve helped thousands of people,” he said Thursday, the day before his last at Community Action. “I know I’ve made a difference for them.”
His enthusiasm hasn’t dampened much since he took on the task of creating the Housing and Emergency Services department in 1986. One of his first tasks was helping the homeless shelter THE House relocate to its present home on Koosbay Boulevard. He played a role in getting the Women’s Safety & Resource Center on its feet and recently oversaw the creation of Coos County’s 10-year Plan to End Homelessness.
He’s also brought in millions of dollars through federal grants, targeting drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness and problems leading families to lose their homes. Perhaps most importantly, he’s created partnerships throughout the South Coast, through the 10-year plan and the Homeless Council.
“Bob leaves big shoes to fill, but he has trained a new generation of housing advocates and instilled in them a passion for carrying on this vital work,” said Mary Schoen-Clark, CEO of Community Action.
He’s also helped bring together groups from up and down the South Coast to deal with homelessness.
“You don’t defeat homelessness as a Community Action organization alone,” More said. “You need to partner with all parts of the community.”
That’s not to say there weren’t problems. More’s first client was homeless and had mental health issues. After a stay in the state hospital, he got a gun and killed himself. And for every family More has been able to help, many others had to go away empty-handed because there wasn’t enough funding.
He’d get frustrated with state and federal bureaucracies that kept help from coming as quickly as he’d like. But he’d just remember the successful cases. One of his latest triumphs was helping get a man housing who’d been homeless for 16 years.
“There are some you can’t fix,” he said. “Just do the best I can.”
One of the department success stories is Karen Gallagher, who had been living under McCullough Bridge before she found a permanent home with help from Community Action. While she worked mostly with More’s subordinates, Gallagher saw that his concern for others was genuine.
“It wasn’t just a paycheck to him,” she said. “He was always interested in the homeless.”
With More’s departure, Community Action will consolidate its housing program into an emergency services department, including energy and weatherization assistance, said spokeswoman Hallie Winchell. Patricia Gouveia will head the new department.
More plans to travel, write, do some genealogical research and house work, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to the fray. He’s started a consulting business to continue doing the kind of work he did at Community Action and he plans to stay on the South Coast.
“I’ve always considered myself a public servant,” More said. “That role may be redefined, but will most likely continue in some new way.”
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