ORCCA: Feed • House • Warm • Educate

Communities thrive when neighbors help neighbors, and organizations work together to provide the kind of holistic support that people need in times of crisis.  That has certainly been true for Michelle Humiston.  Only four years ago, she and her five children were alone in Coos Bay, staying at a shelter with nothing but their clothes.  Now she is working as a carpenter’s apprentice on Oregon Coast Community Action’s new Child and Family Resource Center.

Michelle knew what she wanted to do, but just couldn’t catch a break to get there.  Michelle was a TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) client barely getting by, when she walked through the doors at Oregon Coast Community Action (ORCCA).  Her case manager suggested she enroll in the EmPower program, an innovative energy assistance program.

EmPower offers intensive case management that works with motivated households to improve their circumstances.  Services go beyond energy use, and support a comprehensive approach including education, nutrition, employment, and medical resources to help clients achieve their goals.

Construction is underway for two new facilities in Coos Bay.  Oregon Coast Community Action’s goals to improve the community by working to strengthen programs that serve children, families, and individuals in need led to the development of two new facilities on LaClair and Thomas in Coos Bay.  

Combined the buildings will bring about $10 million in construction activity to the region, and generate about $16 million in economic activity.  Funding for the project has been developed over the past five years from private foundations, a USDA Guarantee loan, New Markets Tax Credits, and local donations that were from campaigns specifically for the new facilities.

The new 12,000 square-foot food bank will anchor Oregon Coast Community Action (ORCCA)’s food distribution infrastructure.  South Coast Food Share, a program of ORCCA, is the regional food bank for the Oregon Food Bank, and distributes food through pantries and meal sites along the south coast.  The new Food Bank will enable South Coast Food Share to deliver 1 million pounds more food and improve distribution throughout Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas Counties. It will also allow for placement of food in preparation for a natural disaster or other general emergency.