End the year making an IMPACT

Support CSC this Giving Tuesday

We've been serving and uplifting our region for almost 45 years! Over that time we evolved our programs and services to meet the changing needs of our communities.

A little bit about our work...

The number of people we impact annually can fill Reser Stadium nearly two times
We prevent thousands of people from eviction every year
We help tens of thousands of households their keep lights on and water running
We serve hundreds of community members with education programs, support services, and scholarships, from preschool to PhD
We provide pass-through funding and administrative support to many smaller local organizations and shelters
We collaborate and work closely with hundreds of community partners

Be a part of our impact! Make a tax-deductible donation online today or text "CSC" to 53-555. Visit our website to find other ways to give.

Do you know what a Continuum of Care (CoC) is? It has a direct impact on your local community and housing environment.

A CoC is a group of one or more counties, made up of real people and organizations like CSC, dedicated to ending homelessness. It is also the delivery structure of federal funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Currently, Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties are part of the Rural Oregon CoC (ROCC), all 26 counties in blue below. As the largest CoC in the state, it includes a massive range of communities and their respective needs. This makes it nearly impossible to compete for HUD funding, because CoC's have to apply and qualify as a collective group.

To dramatically improve housing funding and capacity for our local region, CSC is driving an initiative to break away from the ROCC and form the Linn Benton Lincoln CoC! In yellow below.

Click here or the button below to learn more about this transformational effort...

Across Oregon, food banks are reporting increased demand for food services and resources. Our Linn Benton Food Share program is experiencing the same trend in our region. This, in tandem with rising food costs and falling donations, has created major concerns for food providers and recipients alike.

As of September, Linn Benton Food Share reports the following emergency food box usage:

12,817 individuals
4,097 households

Donate today to Linn Benton Food Share and support our work with nearly 70 local food pantry and meal site partners!

Do you know a senior (55+) in need of food? Our senior food box program is open with limited space. Email us to learn more and apply.

We recently finalized our 2023-2026 strategic plan and want to keep the communities we serve informed of what we're prioritizing and investing in every step of the way.

Based on feedback from our team and community partners, we committed this plan to bolstering and transforming our operations internally to better support and sustain the external growth we've already experienced and new growth on the horizon. This led to the theme of INTENTIONALITY & INNOVATION.

Our strategic planning north stars are...

⭐️ Staff wellness, supports, and development
⭐️ Intentional organizational structure that supports innovation and collaboration
⭐️ Refocusing and reviving our mission and developing standards of excellence
⭐️ Succession planning and leadership development
⭐️ Deeper integration and leveraging of partnerships and funding opportunities

Keep an eye on our website for more updates as we work through the goals and milestones in our plan.

Andrea Langel, Head Start Director

After many years of dedicated service to children and families in Lincoln County, longtime Director, Dr. Suzanne Miller, has announced her retirement at the end of this schoolyear. Her successor, Andrea Langel, was the Program Education Manager for the last four years and comes with a strong history and educational background in Public Health and evidence-based program design.

"I thoroughly enjoy working with such dedicated and passionate people. I look forward to seeing our program continue to serve an important role for families in our community."

Our Head Start team is proud to welcome Andrea in this new role!

Call for volunteers for the Point in Time (PIT) Count this January!

Volunteer shifts available January 22 - 31, official count day is Wednesday, January 24.

The PIT is an annual nationwide count of all individuals experiencing homelessness. It is coordinated by CSC for Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, but relies on volunteers to help conduct counts. In order to count everyone in our region, we need local volunteers!

Volunteers are provided with training ahead of time and work in pairs or small groups using an app called Counting Us. See below to learn more about what the PIT impacts and how it works.

Can't volunteer but still want to help? Donations help provide meals, outreach resources, and more. Donate here or text "PIT" to 53-555.

To sign up to volunteer, email pitcount@communityservices.us or call 541-714-0065.

UPCOMING CSC CLOSURES

Monday, December 25, 2023

Monday, January 1, 2024

UTILITY ASSISTANCE OPENING
Utility Assistance is opening soon for the general public! Keep an eye on our website and social media platforms for updates and to download the application.

2023 HOLIDAY RESOURCE GUIDE

Guía de recursos para las fiestas

Pollywog Holiday Resource Guide for Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties with information about where to get food, clothes, and other resources for the winter. Click here and scroll down to "Recent newsletters" to find the English and Spanish guides.

DONATED HATS & GLOVES
We're collecting new, gently used, and homemade hats and gloves at our regional offices in Albany, Corvallis, and Newport. Exposure to the elements, specifically the cold, is the greatest threat to unhoused individuals. Every donation brings warmth and comfort to those in need. Click here to find our regional office locations and hours.

CORVALLIS OFFICE MOVING
Our Corvallis Regional Office is moving this January. We will be joining our partners at Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG) in a new building. Keep an eye out for more updates and our grand opening once we've officially moved.