Our Community: Brookings CORE Response Winter Shelter

Curry Coast Community Radio

This week, Our Community host Candice Michel is joined by Brookings CORE Response Executive Director Diana Carter to talk about winter challenges for the homeless, the organization’s shelter programs, funding changes, and community projects aimed at improving local housing and support services, and the new low cost veterans housing project ground-breaking ceremony in Gold Beach.

Key Takeaways

• (00:36) Diana Carter describes her challenging drive to Brookings, highlighting the difficulties posed by rainy weather and road hazards like hydroplaning and fallen trees.

• (01:42) Diana expresses mixed feelings about the end of daylight saving time, appreciating the extra hour of sleep but lamenting the loss of daylight.

• (03:40) Winter is a busy time for Brookings Core Response as many people face crises, particularly those new to homelessness. Diana emphasizes the need for long-term solutions over short-term fixes.

• (05:16) The winter shelter program involves renting motel sections to provide temporary housing. This initiative began during COVID with funding from the Oregon Health Authority.

• (09:06) Diana reflects on her eight years of experience in shelter work, noting the learning curve and the ability to now organize shelter operations efficiently within a week, pending state approval.

• (10:05) Changes in funding streams and new leadership in Oregon’s housing services have impacted their operations, with a shift towards a more housing-focused approach.

• (11:00) Direct funding from the state during COVID allowed the organization to manage their shelter effectively, although some funds were returned due to unused capacity.

• (12:36) The organization is preparing for the 2024-2025 funding cycle, emphasizing the need for grant writing and the energy required to run shelter programs.

• (14:14) This year, the shelter will offer peer support instead of on-site case management, providing residents more freedom while still offering necessary support services.

• (19:34) The organization is hiring for their transitional shelter and anticipates needing additional staff for the new shelter once state approval is received.

• (21:16) A veterans project in Gold Beach will provide 18 units of affordable housing, utilizing local tax money that has been unused for decades.

• (21:38) The project aims to offer vouchers to reduce out-of-pocket costs for veterans, with hopes of securing HUD funding.

• (29:32) The speaker emphasizes the importance of community engagement and education about the challenges of low-income housing development in rural areas.

• (31:20) Statistics indicate that a significant portion of the homeless population in Curry County is over 55 years old, highlighting the need for better resources for the elderly homeless.

• (37:19) The speaker discusses the importance of building trust with clients who have experienced long-term homelessness and the need for understanding and patience in these interactions.

• (48:22) The new office, the House Navigation Center, includes a day center for the homeless, providing a space for individuals to simply be without the pressure of constant engagement.

• (51:06) The Peer House has a membership application process to ensure it serves those in need, allowing members to participate in planning projects and contributing to the space’s design.

• (54:25) The organization frequently promotes volunteers to paid positions, encouraging community members to get involved and support their initiatives.

• (41:18) The groundbreaking ceremony for the veterans project is scheduled for November 8th, aiming to honor veterans and their sacrifices.

Host: Candice Michel; Guest: Brookings CORE Response Executive Director Diana Carter; Producer: Candice Michel

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The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program.

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Intro and end music: The Best Is Yet to Come, licensed from audioblocks.com.