Mid-Columbia Community Action Council published its 2022 annual report, revealing that the agency invested more than $5.5 million in services, housing, rent, utility, and bill pay assistance to community members in Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River Counties last year.  The report highlights nearly $1 million more was spent by MCCAC in the community through the local workforce, businesses, contractors, and others for a total of approximately $6.5 million.  The assistance provided by the agency’s programs in 2022 helped more than 4,000 residents of Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties.  Nearly 1,000 people were helped by Community Action’s housing programs, and over 3,400 were assisted through over $1.42 million in payments to local utility companies on their behalf.  The report also highlights several key projects MCCAC was involved in 2022, including the recent groundbreaking of the Gloria Center to streamline access to essential services, beginning to convert the Oregon Motor Motel into The Annex for transitional housing and shelter, and creation of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative’s five-year strategic plan to improve the region’s coordinated system to prevent and respond to houselessness.