My Experience

During my first year in Newberg, our community tragically lost several young people to suicide in a short time. Many of us felt compelled to help. Providence and other local organizations joined forces to support youth and families dealing with anxiety and depression.

This led to the creation of the non profit, Community Wellness Collective (CWC), driven by the commitment to prevent youth suicides. Politics, religion, and personal opinions didn't matter; everyone came together—parents, friends, community groups, city government, and police—to support our youth.

Through this work, the community identified homelessness as a critical issue for our youth and families. As a small, nimble nonprofit, CWC was able to quickly fill the gaps identified by the community.

In January 2021, CWC was asked to take over the inclement weather shelter, establishing Yamhill County's first low-barrier shelter in partnership with YCAP in Newberg. While YCAP was renovating the house on College Street, CWC operated a temporary shelter at Northside Community Church, the only night-by-night, low-barrier shelter in the county. In 2024, we teamed up with 2nd Street Church to support the Community Drop-In Center, offering peer support, addiction and recovery services, case management, housing support, and job placement.

With the opening of YCAP’s ADP Navigation Center in June 2024, CWC transitioned to ceasing shelter operations by September 2024. Newberg has come together as community and faith-based organizations, with the support of our city and county government to provide an actual solution to sheltering. Although there were mistakes made along the way, CWC’s mission continues to be addressing needs without overlapping services. Our community is strongest when we come together to help others.