Project PATH

About Project PATH (Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing)

Project PATH brings together Umatilla County and the communities of Hermiston, Umatilla, Echo, and Stanfield to address the issue of homelessness in west Umatilla County. It is envisioned to be a model program implemented to provide a PATH from homelessness - to transitional housing - to permanent housing, and try to help address the possible reasons that an individual or family may be experiencing homelessness, including: lack of work, mental health, substance abuse, or other issues.

Contracting Stepping Stones Alliance

To implement a significant part of Project PATH’s Vision, the PATH Advisory Committee, through the City of Umatilla as the lead agency, has contracted Stepping Stones Alliance to manage facilities and provide the following PATH services:

• Facility Management of Project PATH- a property owned by Umatilla County within the City of Umatilla
• Provide 24 hour, 7-day a week, onsite staffing to support the project buildings that includes:
  • Offices,
  • Resident Showers,  
  • Food Pantry,
  • Community Kitchen
  • Individual Shelter Units that will sleep one to two members to include Emergency Overnight Shelters for identified homeless individuals- replacing the Hermiston Warming Station.
    • Users of these services will need to comply with the entire facilities operational rules but will also have a subset of rules specially for them. This will also be the section of the facility used by law enforcement and emergency responders to house individuals who may be illegally camping in right-of-way, along designated trails, or in parks or have been treated at a local hospital or urgent care.
• Educational Services including, but not limited to, coordination with members to receive their high school diploma or GED, counseling services to connect members with local or other traditional educational service providers (BMCC, EOU, and others), and connecting members with employer education services (such as CDL training, unemployment counselors, or workforce partnerships).
• Access to basic level medical, dental, and vision services.
• Access to transportation services to facilitate travel to work, educational programs, or other support services associated with Project PATH or deemed necessary for the member’s transition.
• Provision of, or connection to, services for persons with behavioral health conditions and/or substance use disorders.
• Care coordination and/or case management to support access to other needed services Project PATH 5-Year Strategic Plan Adopted Spring 2023 Page 6 of 16 that may include education, training, and onsite or offsite work.

Funding

Project PATH will be initially funded primarily through the Oregon Department of Administrative Services with funds from House Bill 4123 (2022). Future funding is anticipated to come from a variety of sources including funding from the Contractor, funds obtained through various granting opportunities, general fund sources of the partner agencies, and other funding sources identified to support the variety of services that will be offered. 

The Stepping Stones Alliance also brought to the project funds secured through the American Recovery Plan, Amazon Web Services, Good Shepherd Community Foundation Grant, a Fair Housing Grant, a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and individual donations. Ongoing funding will need to be planned for and obtained through grants, fundraisers, and work projects that can be developed. Projects throughout the country provide examples of funding opportunities through the creation of stores, service companies, and similar opportunities.

Project PATH and the Stepping Stones Alliance are all required to adopt annual budgets which will include funding for necessary annual activities or address how services of the Stepping Stones Alliance will be accomplished.

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