“Thank you for your help in getting us started on our way toward building a stronger Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation with the capacity to help more families improve their housing situation.”       NeighborWorks® America recently received this upbeat message from Executive Director Ruby Mason as an update to one of its first contracted capacity assessments, conducted in late 2008.

“Columbia Cascade and its partners, Mid‐Columbia and Columbia Gorge Housing Authorities were at a crossroads, faced with several opportunities and challenges. They responded quite well to the assessment process,” reported Deb Price, Regional Advisor with Oregon Housing and Community Services, which sponsored four NeighborWorks® assessments including the one for this nonprofit organization serving an area along the scenic Columbia River. “The executive director and combined Boards of Directors of the three groups recognized the value of the tools and recommendations made by the NeighborWorks® consultant and ran with them!”

Since the NeighborWorks® capacity assessment, and with the continued support and guidance of OHCS senior staff Victor Merced, Bob Gillespie and Deb Price, the organization received the only HUD 202 grant awarded in Oregon during 2010 as well as a state‐funded capacity building grant. Columbia Cascade also is in final consideration for State and USDA financing of several additional projects.

Columbia Cascade’s Ruby Mason said, “We have been very blessed. With help from OHCS and NeighborWorks®, our vision of strengthening our or‐ ganization is starting to become a reality!”