CCNO Seeks Union County Shelter Providers for State Grant Funding

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon has put out a call to Union County organizations that operate or could operate emergency shelter, asking them to make contact now so they can be included in regional planning tied to a new state funding stream.

CCNO was designated as the Regional Coordinator for Oregon's Statewide Shelter Program, a role that positions the La Grande-based social services organization to direct grant dollars and technical assistance to providers across Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Grant counties. The solicitation, issued Monday, is the first step in identifying who is already operating shelter beds in the region and where gaps remain.

The program is built around shelters serving adults, families, and survivors of domestic violence. Eligible providers can include nonprofits, faith-based congregations, tribal entities, and municipal partners, meaning organizations that have never pursued state funding on their own have a potential entry point through CCNO's coordination. In past iterations of statewide shelter programs in Oregon, allowable costs have included staffing, facility upgrades, transportation, and case-management support, with CCNO positioned to help local providers understand what the current program rules permit and how to apply.

For Union County, where emergency shelter capacity for adults and families has long been a documented gap, the opportunity is concrete: organizations that step forward could access reimbursement for existing operations, funding to expand bed counts, or support to develop warming and cooling centers. CCNO's mapping process will also document where overnight shelter is simply absent, which becomes the basis for advocating additional investment in underserved parts of the four-county region.

The timeline carries urgency. CCNO is asking interested providers to reach out promptly so they can be incorporated into regional planning before grant application windows open. Organizations that wait risk being left out of the initial funding rounds as the state moves to build out its shelter network.

Nonprofits, churches, and local government partners in Union County interested in learning more should contact CCNO directly to indicate their interest and get guidance on next steps.