The Hoodland Senior Center agreed to a two-year lease with Clackamas
County to remain in the building they’ve called home for ten years, including
the last six months without a lease. The new lease still needs approval from
the Clackamas County Commissioners, although it is not yet on an upcoming
agenda.

“We still don’t have much security,” said Ella Vogel, the senior center’s
director, noting that the county has the right to sell the building during the
term of the lease.

Vogel added that the center has been particularly busy in recent years, with a
number of governmental offices such as the Department of Motor Vehicles
being closed and seniors relying on the center’s computers to get things done
such as renewals of licenses and registrations or apply for social security.
“They come here, and they still do,” she said. “(Assistant Director) Leita
(Bibler) and I did our best. What we didn’t know, we learned.”

The county also awarded a grant for $11,860 to the center to assist low-
income seniors and the disabled with home repairs and other improvements.

Projects likely to be approved include heating/cooling system repairs, roof
repairs, snow removal, fixes to decks/steps and other projects that enhance
safety, health and livability.

There is a limit of $600 per applicant, with income limit requirements.
Vogel noted that many seniors on the Mountain are living in trailers, and that
some have had trouble finding contractors to perform small projects.

“Furnaces go out, toilets go out,” she said. “These are things that we need to
be able to help them with that other people can’t. We’re trying to take care of
those lower income people and whatever they need.”

The grant was secured with the help of volunteer grant writer Brittany Kintigh.
All money must be utilized by June 30, 2023.

For more information, contact the Hoodland Senior Center at 503-622-3331 or
hoodlandseniors1@gmail.com. The center is located at 65000 Hwy. 26 in
Welches.