Welcome to

The Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center

The CDDC prides itself as a place where needs are met. We provide a variety of services to people in our community who find themselves in need.

The mission of the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center is to respond to the significant needs of individuals, especiallly those who are experiencing homelessness, low income, mental health or dual diagnosis issues by providing dignified personal assistance and advocacy.

Location

Hours

Contact phone

What is the CDDC?

The Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center (CDDC) is a 501(c)(3) that has a long history of providing a variety of services to persons who are homeless and/or low income. Initially, the CDDC was a peer-run center known as The Circle of Hope, and was established to provide a socialization place for people with psychiatric disabilities.

As time went on, the CDDC attracted a variety of people including persons with dual diagnosis, individuals who were homeless, and other low-income members of the community. In the last few years, the center has accepted support from recognized community leaders and its organizational structure has been changed to reflect a stable base of community leadership.

The CDDC board has been working to expand the vision of the center to meet the significant mental, physical and social needs of the people who come. The center is staffed by volunteers. Each week approximately 150 hours of community volunteer time is donated to provide the services of the CDDC.

What We Do

The drop-in center is located at 530 SW 4th Street
in downtown Corvallis. Our Project Action office is also located at this location.

The CDDC is open weekdays from 9 AM to 2 PM (summer hours 9 AM to noon). We offer a variety of services to meet immediate needs:

PROJECT ACTION

This program offers assistance to homeless individuals in obtaining or replacing official documents, gaining access to health providers, pursuing a GED, or completing official paperwork.

EMPLOYMENT

Under the umbrella of CDDC is the Homeless Employment Launching Project (HELP). This service connects homeowners and businesses having work to be done, with clients eager to work. Through HELP, clients receive job training, learn good work habits, develop a work history, earn a paycheck and Social Security credit, and most importantly, experience a renewed sense of self-worth.

PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE

If funds are available, the CDDC helps many individuals who would otherwise be unable to obtain needed medications.

COUNSELING

The CDDC counseling program provides skilled responses to issues that can impact a person's safety and well-being.

SAFE HAVEN

The CDDC rents space in a local church and is able to offer a few hours each day during which the homeless can socialize, snack, and receive information from local health and social organizations, receive mail and make phone calls.

BASIC NEEDS

The CDDC helps the homeless with personal hygiene by assisting in the provision of weekly supervised showering at a nearby church. In addition, CDDC also assists the homeless in obtaining funds for emergency transportation to other cities.

PET ASSISTANCE

The CDDC’s Advocates for Pets of the Homeless project provides limited veterinary assistance and advocacy for pets of individuals who are homeless or have very low income.

HELP

The purpose of our Homeless Employment Launching Project is to provide work opportunities to our workers by connecting them with (a) area residents who are in need of someone to do small day-labor jobs around their homes such as yard work, painting, gutter and window cleaning, help moving, etc.; or (b) local businesses who need short term help with filing, cleaning, etc.

At HELP, we strive to create an opportunity for individuals in need, to earn money while building a positive work resume. Our work force consists of people who are homeless, near homeless, or food insecure/low income, all of whom are in search of a better life.

HELP does interviews and background screening of our workers, as well as providing liability insurance to protect the homeowner. We also take care of workmen’s comp insurance and payment of employee taxes through a local accounting firm.

The HELP office is located at 134 B SW 4th Street in downtown Corvallis, at the back of the parking lot between Sinbad Market and Masdison Avenue Collective. To discuss the possibility of using a HELP worker, please contact the HELP desk at (541) 740-8131.

Advocates for Pets of the Homeless

If you think about how much you value the emotional support and security that your pet provides you, consider what it means to someone who has no home and is living on the street with his/her pet. During the cold wet months many individuals are faced with the harsh choice between overnighting in a cold weather shelter that doesn't allow pets, or camping out with their pet. If they choose the former, they have to put their pet up for adoption; so most will choose to stay with their animal friend in an uninsulated tent or less. Naturally, the weather takes its toll on both the tent camper and his/her pet.

To meet these needs of persons living on the street or the edge of poverty, the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit program in Corvallis, Oregon offers, as one of its services, its Advocates for Pets of the Homeless project. When funds are available we provide limited financial assistance with veterinary services, including surgery. We also provide dog and cat food, ID tags, help with pet licensing, and pet advocacy. In addition, we work with area pet lovers to find temporary housing for pets of persons who are homeless or near homeless during their hospital stays or while they are searching for new housing.

December 2018 Status

October 2018 Status

Stories

UPDATES: Time moves on and so do the lives of our guests at the center. Instead of new people to highlight, we've decided to share updates on the stories we currently have posted.

Meet AS

She visits the CDDC daily. Last year, she was homeless and spent many nights outside. When the women's shelter, Room At The Inn, opened in November 2016, she was able to find shelter for five months. In addition to shelter she found case management resulting in a search for housing. For many months, it seemed there was no long-term solution. She tried several housing options that didn't work well. Throughout the challenging months, she found the CDDC to be an oasis of safety and hope. She volunteered to help at the CDDC with computer check-ins once week and she met regularly with her case manager at the center. Eventually, a promising housing arrangement was found. She continues to help at the drop-in center, and at this season's Room At The Inn she helps serve food and then leaves to walk a few blocks to her new home.

July, 2017 update: AS continues to have stable housing. While her husband was in prison, they faithfully communicated. His release was a happy day! Unfortunately, however, her housing cannot accept him. So, each morning at the center we get to see their joyful reunions. Finding housing together that they can afford in Corvallis is unlikely.

Meet WC

He visits the CDDC daily. Last year he was homeless and spent the winter at the men's cold weather shelter. He demonstrated an easy-going temperament and an ability to diffuse potential conflict situations... so, he was invited to become the resident supervisor at Partner's Place. At the CDDC, he also shares his calming presence by welcoming guests to his table where an engaging card game is always to be found.

July, 2017 update: At this time, WC continues to have a constant presence at the center where he engages guests to join him at the card table. He is no longer at Partners Place. His life is in transition as he is getting married on August 21st (yep, the day of the eclipse).

Meet DN

Upon release from prison she found herself without a viable plan for housing. In order to maintain the vision for a better future, she knew that she needed to connect to something solid. Fortunately, she has several faithful support people who continue to hold her up and provide a safety net. Currently, the women's shelter will provide safe housing for five months. During that time, her support people will work hard to establish a winning case for SSI which she truly deserves. In the meantime, she is finding meaningful work and encouragement from volunteers at the CDDC.

July, 2017 update: DN has stable housing. She acquired a housing voucher at about the same time that a friend passed away, and was able to obtain the friend's apartment. She is still hoping to obtain SSI, but for the moment she is safely housed. DN also enjoys the company of her old dog and a new puppy.

Contact Us

Community Support

As a 501(C)(3) non-profit, the CDDC depends on contributions from people like you. The generosity of our volunteers and doners makes it possible for us to keep our programs going from month to month. We operate on a shoestring budget which covers our building space, one part-time paid staff member, background checks for our HELP workers, and transportation and office expenses. Your generous donation of time or money is always welcome and greatly appreciated.

WAYS TO GIVE

Any financial assistance that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We accept monetary donations by check, credit card, and PayPal. For other kinds of contributions, conversation with Aleita Hass-Holcombe, CDDC President, is welcomed.