Board renews community corrections housing contracts to continue transitional housing supports

The Wasco County Board of Commissioners approved personal‑service agreements Aug. 20 to continue funding transitional housing programs administered by Bridges to Change, including a men’s stabilization house and a program called La Casa Vida.

Fritz Buckman, Wasco County Community Corrections, told the board both contracts are renewals of programs the county has supported through biennial funding and that staff updated contract dates and capped amounts to match recently confirmed grant awards. Buckman said the men’s stabilization house covers housing, a certified recovery mentor and on‑site house management and carries a total budget not to exceed $171,360 for the biennium. La Casa Vida, described as stabilization housing that supports reunification and services run by Center for Living combined with Bridges to Change housing management, carries a not‑to‑exceed amount of $140,822 for the biennium.

Buckman said the La Casa Vida project is focused on fathers and other frequent utilizers of emergency services who need stable housing and wraparound supports such as peer mentoring, substance‑use counseling and case management. He said the programs have been operational and that staff have seen participants successfully reunify with children and move on to more stable housing.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about target populations and whether these contracts intersect with “aid and assist” legal processes (court‑ordered competency or forensic evaluations); Buckman said the housing targets frequent utilizers and fathers working toward reunification, not the more acute “aid and assist” population. After discussion a motion and second carried and the board voted unanimously to approve both personal‑services contracts.