The annual PIT Count is a federally mandated survey of people experiencing houselessness in communities across the country. The count, which occurs in late January of every year, plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness.

While officials are still figuring out the cause of death for Shana Marie Henry, 45, of The Dalles, her passing on a 23-degree night next to the railroad tracks in TD has spurred volunteers into action in providing a warming shelter for the chronically houseless.

“It is so disheartening that some believe that a solution to shopping carts around town is charging people criminally - people that are so desperate that they have to have a shopping cart to contain all of their worldly belongings,” Ellis said this morning, Oct. 27. 

I found myself perplexed lately by the contentious issue in The Dalles of where to open a shelter for the houseless… I experience this sort of dilemma often. When I am able to empathize with both sides of an issue, I  realize how complex some decisions really are. At times there's no right answer.

This is the Youth Empowerment Shelter or YES House, and it's making a comeback after the pandemic temporarily closed its doors. We are the only ones to have a shelter like that east of Multnomah County and East of Deschutes County all the way to the Idaho border. The YES house is our number one diversion from the juvenile justice system.” said Molly Rogers, Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities Director.

There is hope on the horizon for those seeking to eke out an existence living on the streets of The Dalles while experiencing other problems such as mental health and addiction challenges. A local Agency has secured property and $2.8 million in an effort to get people off the street, build careers, and create stable homes.

Local garbage service provider The Dalles Disposal Service is asking The Dalles City Council for a 5.05% increase for city residents to offset rising operational costs and disposal fees. Councilors are set to discuss the request at their regular meeting tonight, Dec. 13 at 5: 30 p.m. Read here to see everything on the agenda.

Mid Columbia Community Action Council is preparing for 10,175 shelter bed nights from November through March: more than double the number of shelter bed nights that were available last winter.

Twelve more shelters will be added to the current village for the houseless at the end of Bargeway Road in The Dalles. Once the units are delivered and erected in weeks to come, the shelter village will have grown from 6 units to 18, with the ability to house, at maximum, 36 houseless people from The Dalles.