YCAP Faces Criticism Over Delay in Opening Harvest House Shelter

Community Wellness Collective Steps In, But Faces Funding Cuts  

By Rebecca Wallis
Newberg, OR – Jun 7, 2024

The Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) is under fire for failing to open the Newberg Navigation Center by the promised deadline, leaving a significant gap in services for the houseless population in Newberg. In response, the Community Wellness Collective (CWC) has been providing nightly shelter for around 40 individuals but faces imminent funding cuts that threaten to end this crucial support.

Residents of Newberg and surrounding areas were hopeful when YCAP announced plans to re-open Harvest House, as a navigation center and shelter, earlier this year. However, as the agreed-upon deadline came and went, Harvest House remains unopened, prompting frustration and concern among community members and local officials.

In the interim, the Community Wellness Collective (CWC), a separate nonprofit organization, has been filling the void by offering nightly shelter to approximately 40 individuals. CWC’s executive director, Kate Stokes, expressed her concerns at a recent Board of Commissioners meeting: “We are here representing Community Wellness Collective and the Newberg Emergency Shelter. As you know, CWC has hosted the Newberg Emergency Shelter since January 2021. As an organization, we stepped up at the request of community partners and opened the county’s only low-barrier shelter. By summer 2021, our organization was operating 7-nights per week.”

Stokes further elaborated on the consistency and reliability of their services: “In the last three years of operations, we have sustained this goal of nightly operation, closing for only a single night since opening. Most recently operating out of Northside Community Church, we have become a relied-upon, consistent service for not only Newberg but Yamhill County, as the ONLY 7-night-a-week shelter in the county.”

The CWC’s current shelter stopgap funding, extended through the Yamhill County Behavioral Health HHS housing grant, concludes on June 30th. Stokes emphasized the need for continued support: “When we were originally awarded this grant, the intent was to provide a 90-day transitional overlap between CWC and YCAP to achieve a hand-off of clients and ease any disruption to our community. This does not seem possible at this time, as we have had no communication from YCAP on their opening. We ask the BOC to consider any temporary, emergency funding to extend sheltering beyond June 30th.”

Dr. Jeri Turgesen, a board-certified provider in health psychology and member of CWC, highlighted the comprehensive services provided by the organization: “We are proud of the work we have done, maintaining consistent operations, providing two hot meals per day to guests, and offering low-barrier access to on-site medical and mental health services. Our willingness to collaborate has resulted in our organization being a trusted resource where local organizations and departments frequently call for collaboration or directly refer guests for sheltering needs.”

Turgesen also underscored the complexity of the population they serve: “Since November 2023, 96% of our guests have a current, active mental health diagnosis. Our shelter serves the lifespan, with guests ranging from children under the age of three to seniors over the age of 70. The needs of this population are deep, complex, and require a robust team willing to collaborate with community partners. I am extremely concerned about the wellbeing of our communities and the people we have served, knowing that after our shelter closes, 35+ individuals will be houseless and staying unsheltered in our communities.”

The city of Newberg is now moving forward with an alternative solution: opening a temporary campground for the homeless near the airport. This campground will be equipped with porta potties, but individuals will be required to leave each morning and will not be permitted to stay during the day. The city council believes this will offer at least some form of shelter, though many argue it is not an adequate solution.

City Council member Elise Yarnell Hollamon commented on the situation, stating, “Our community has come to rely upon and trust our night-by-night shelter over the last three years. As cities around us have seen the impact of COVID and the failures of measure 110 on housing stability in the form of tents and campgrounds, Newberg’s community based and faith-based organizations, supported by our city and county elected leaders, provided an actual solution. I look forward to state funding, allotted for low barrier sheltering, to start impacting our most vulnerable Newberg residents through YCAP’s Any Door Place. I expect YCAP to collaborate with leaders and volunteers that have established relationships with our homeless community to ensure a smooth transition and increase placement into stable housing. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, most would agree a campground is not an ideal overflow option, but I am confident in our community and city leaders’ abilities to work together to problem solve as challenges arise.”

Many in the community are dissatisfied with the temporary campground plan, arguing it lacks the stability and support services needed to truly help the homeless. YCAP has not provided a clear explanation for the delay in opening Harvest House, further fueling frustration and speculation. Critics argue that this lack of communication and transparency is a significant part of the problem.

Board of Commissioner’s attorney is waiting for detailed answers to a number of questions the BOC has posed regarding YCAP’s timelines for opening the still- shuttered navigation center / shelters in McMinnville and Newberg. The Commissioners have expressed concerns that YCAP, the recipient of large state and federal grants as well as city and county resources, is collecting grant funding without following through on the projects those grants were meant to support, leaving the small, local shelters to do the heavy lifting with few resources.

As June 30th approaches, the future remains uncertain for Newberg’s homeless population. While the city’s temporary campground may provide some relief, it is clear that a more permanent and stable solution is desperately needed. The community continues to call on YCAP to fulfill their promise and open Harvest House, while also seeking immediate solutions to prevent a gap in services once CWC’s funding runs out.

For more information on how to support the Community Wellness Collective and their efforts, or to get involved with local initiatives to aid the homeless, visit https://communitywellnesscollective.org. Concerned residents can also reach out to YCAP and city officials to voice their opinions and seek updates on the Harvest House project.