New Vision for Upgraded Facility
St. Vincent de Paul Social Services of Bend (SVdP) has been in the business of helping people for more than 33 years in Central Oregon. SVdP operates on a 24/7 basis and is managed by a relentless director, Jeff Rickman, who was recently hired to do the job that so many others have come and gone by the wayside.
“It’s a very difficult position because of the daily stress brought before you from people who deal with so many unbelievable issues in life,” Rickman states.
“One minute you are facilitating a family who has lost everything in a catastrophic loss, the next minutes you’ll see someone paralyzed by the duress of unemployment or maybe battling some sort of addiction from alcohol or drugs. Homelessness is such a huge issue because of the displacement of the working poor and senior citizens who can’t afford the soaring rents being forced upon them while living here in Bend. Basically it’s the invisible people in our society who are just trying to survive on a daily basis.
“I certainly couldn’t do it alone. I work with a great board of directors and of course 50 of the most compassionate volunteers with whom I am pleased to be affiliated. They work tirelessly, either interviewing clientele or filling food orders in our pantry.”
SVdP is one of the most sustainable non-profits in Central Oregon. “We are a member of the Oregon Food Bank and a top-level agency supported by NeighborImpact. SVdP served over three million meals since opening its doors in 1982 and offers many services to people in need in Central Oregon. Last year we served 274,875 meals comprised of 11,134 adults and 7,306 children,” Rickman continued.
St. Vincent de Paul of Bend almost shut down its rental property in 2006 due to a lack of funding to upgrade the 10 cottages rented monthly to low-income families.
Then along came a retired Hewlett Packard sales manager, Stan Brock, who sits currently as board president—a position he has held for the past seven years. He had recently retired to Bend and immediately wanted to get involved in helping people less fortunate.
Brock developed a vision for the downtrodden property. He rolled up his sleeves, along with a few other volunteers, and literally cleaned the place up from one end of the campus to the other.
“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the City of Bend and working with Jim Long, the affordable housing manager. We received a sizable grant to completely remodel and upgrade all of the property, which included the rentals. We hired a new director, completely eliminated the problematic renters and found renters who really wanted to change their lives,” Brock explained.
Today, SVdP operates 12 rental cottages that are comprised of one- and two-bedroom units, and it owns one rental house and leases a building to a commercial clothing store called the Elite Repeat, which is owned and operated by Steve and Pam Boatright.
“We are so pleased to be a part of this organization and thank SVdP for the recent upgrade and remodel of our store. It turned out better than expected, and we look forward to our growing business,” reported Steve Boatright.
St. Vincent’s recently hired Aaron Alexander Construction, Inc. to re-side the aging building that once served as a hunting lodge in the early 1940s.
Lisa Burley, grant writer for SVdP, received four large grants to re-side and re-paint the Elite Repeat store, located at 950 SE Third Street. Kevin Spencer Masonry was contracted to build a new retaining wall and planter to support the front grounds of the storefront.
“It really turned the property from the beast to the beauty,” Rickman said. “For years the place was symbolic of the past attitude of management of the property and it reminded me of a haunted house. Today the storefront energizes the Third Street corridor and offers a new look to the boutique nature of the store.
“St. Vincent de Paul of Bend is growing by leaps and bounds. We are seeking to acquire more properties to build on in the Bend area and to continue our commitment to affordable housing. We are currently looking into other enterprises and opportunities that we believe are solutions to a growing population that has many needs here in Central Oregon. Not only affordable housing, but employment opportunities and building a larger pantry and social services building to handle those increased needs that pressures our society.”
How SVdP Works
A client comes to the Social Services building on Third St. and is greeted by a receptionist who enters the client into a file system and provides a needs form to fill out while sitting in the lobby waiting for one of two qualified volunteer case workers to interview the client and help analyze what services can be provided.
Usually, the clients receive a Five-Day Food Box that supplements their monthly food budget, which is usually not met by food stamps or other providers.
Another type of assistance is a Utility Assistance Program to help those families who qualify and are facing a shut-off due to non-payment of the current water, electric or gas bill. (Limited to funds at a cap rate of $150 maximum per family.)
SVdP also helps with:
Propane Vouchers—up to five gallons every 60 days for clients living in tents or trailers. This helps with heating and cooking.
Prescription Drugs for those who qualify at up to $30/cap rate per individual who can’t afford the deductible for much-needed meds.
Warm winter clothing, (i.e. gloves, hats, coats, blankets, sleeping bags and tents—if in supply…)
Help with clothing for job interviews depending on fund availability.
St. Vincent De Paul of Bend is open Monday through Thursday, from 10am to 2pm.
541-389-6643
If you would like to make a donation or volunteer to make a difference in people’s lives, then we encourage you to call today!
(Photos above | Courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul)
