Astoria City Council Work Session with Critical Resource Partners

On October 28, 2025, the Astoria City Council held a work session with five critical resource partners to discuss services, funding challenges, and community needs. The meeting included presentations from Clatsop Community Action (CCA), Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, The Harbor, and LifeBoat Services, followed by council discussion on homelessness, shelter capacity, and public safety. The meeting began at 6:00 PM and adjourned at 8:01 PM.

Clatsop Community Action (CCA)

• CCA serves approximately 30% of Clatsop County residents through housing, energy assistance, food distribution, and shelter programs.
• Rental assistance funding reduced by 40–50%; over 100 households were notified of potential assistance termination, with approximately 80% temporarily stabilized through alternative funding.
• Columbia Inn Shelter remains at full capacity with a waitlist; Esperanza Shelter reduced overnight staffing due to funding cuts.
• The Food Bank distributed approximately 1.3–1.5 million pounds of food countywide last fiscal year, with roughly 460,000 pounds distributed in Astoria.
  • 10,500 Astoria households served (28,000 individuals).
  • 73,000+ meals served locally.
  • 80% of food sourced outside the county.
  • SNAP benefit loss would strain capacity significantly.
• Key concerns: reduced prevention funding may increase unsheltered homelessness; continued instability in state and federal funding; inability to meet demand if SNAP benefits lapse.
• CCA asked the council to advocate at the state and federal level for the county’s needs.

Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers

• Operates a 65-bed shelter in Astoria and additional facilities countywide.
• Approximately 14,972 overnight stays in Astoria this year.
• Projected funding shortfall of approximately $260,000.
• State reimbursement delays impacting operations.
• Key concerns: potential service reductions if funding gap is not filled; need for increased advocacy at the state level.
• Alan Evans (founder) noted that the state funding distribution system is a “dumpster fire” and expressed frustration with the city’s $9,000 annual contribution relative to the $850,000 budget for the Astoria shelter.

The Harbor

• Operates a confidential shelter and provides survivor advocacy, prevention education, and housing assistance.
• 60% of funding derived from federal sources.
• 8% increase in Hispanic/Latinx survivors served, 5% increase in male survivors served.
• Staffing increased to meet demand.
• Key concerns: federal funding instability; need to reduce survivor stigma and maintain community awareness.
• Susan Prettyman Hartel (deputy director) asked the council to be mindful of stigma and treat survivors with dignity.

LifeBoat Services

• Operates a low-barrier overnight shelter (6 PM–6 AM) and peer support services.
• 549 individuals served during the biennium; regularly at capacity, turning away 5–15 individuals nightly.
• Working to relaunch daytime navigation services.
• Key concerns: 27% potential funding reduction under proposed county allocation formula; need for additional low-barrier shelter capacity.
• LifeBoat expressed willingness to operate a managed camp if the city or county provides a location.
• Oz (executive director) noted that a previous occupancy increase for 44 beds at 1040 Commercial was approved but then rescinded by the building official; he asked the council to help address this issue.

Council Discussion

• Councilors and providers discussed the impacts of rental assistance reductions on housing stability.
• Community concerns regarding unsheltered camping and downtown behavior were addressed; providers reported that most clients are local or have prior community ties, countering the perception that individuals are bussed in.
• Shelter capacity limitations and the mix of low-barrier vs. higher-barrier options were examined.
• The potential role of managed camping and expanded shelter capacity was debated, with providers emphasizing the need for more low-barrier options.
• Councilor Davis and Councilor Lump noted that the work session was originally intended to explore alternatives to a proposed camping ordinance; they expressed interest in continuing that discussion.
• Councilor Mazzarella (absent due to travel) submitted questions via text; she asked what the council could do to support providers in the coming winter months.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the meeting was informational.
• Providers were asked to email their budgets and expected funding cuts to the City Manager for distribution to the council.
• Council encouraged providers to speak at public comment and to advocate at the state and federal level.
• The council acknowledged the resignation of Councilor Lump, who stated this was his last meeting. Councilors expressed gratitude for his principled service.
• LifeBoat’s request regarding the occupancy increase at 1040 Commercial will be considered for a future meeting agenda, with the City Manager to follow up.