Role: primary care, mental-health assessment, and individual or family therapy; geography: general public; St. Helens clinic; cost/eligibility: accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP; discounted fees for people who qualify; call to confirm coverage and screening; emergency limit: not emergency care or a hoarding-specialty provider
Lions Wellness Center — Columbia Health Services
The clinic lists primary care and mental-health services at 2370 Gable Road, St. Helens. It says it serves all patients and does not deny services based on inability to pay; ask about an appointment, services, insurance, and discounted-fee screening before traveling.
Role: application and renewal assistance for Oregon Health Plan; geography: Columbia County; local assistance through Columbia Health Services; cost/eligibility: the state determines OHP eligibility; contact the clinic or state to confirm current rules and help available; emergency limit: not health coverage itself or emergency care
Columbia Health Services — Oregon Health Plan Help
Columbia Health Services identifies itself as a local community partner for OHP application and renewal help. Ask how to connect to a certified assister and verify current eligibility directly with the state.
Role: housing and utility stabilization for some Oregon Health Plan members; geography: eligible renters in Columbia County; cost/eligibility: requires OHP plus additional criteria; qualifying support may last up to six months; confirm intake and documents; emergency limit: not an emergency program or immediate rent relief
Columbia Health Services — Housing HRSN
The clinic says its Health-Related Social Needs program may help eligible OHP members facing housing instability with temporary rent, utility, or stabilization support. Its page describes a decision period of 7–21 days and directs people with an imminent eviction court date to contact CAT immediately.
Role: housing stabilization, eviction prevention, rental and deposit assistance, and homelessness supports; geography: Columbia County; call the Housing Team; cost/eligibility: programs, documents, funding, and eligibility are limited and change; call to confirm current intake; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or a guarantee of rent assistance
Community Action Team — Housing Solutions
CAT lists housing programs and says funding and eligibility may be limited. Call about current openings and documents before relying on help, especially if there is a court date or a deadline.
Role: energy and utility-bill assistance; geography: Columbia County households meeting current program criteria; cost/eligibility: income thresholds, utility provider rules, funds, and open/closed status change; its page currently says regular LIHEAP is closed; emergency limit: not an emergency shutoff response; call the utility about an urgent service risk
Community Action Team — Utility Assistance
CAT lists electricity and heating assistance and limited water support when funds allow. At review, its page said regular LIHEAP assistance was closed; ask about other programs or mailing lists rather than assuming funds are open.
Role: Housing Choice Voucher and project-based housing information; geography: Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties; cost/eligibility: waitlists and eligibility vary; the Authority currently says its HCV waitlist is not open to new applicants; recheck status; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or immediate housing placement
Northwest Oregon Housing Authority
NOHA's current pages describe its housing-assistance programs and waitlist status. Check again before applying because openings change, and ask about separate project-based waitlists and requirements.
Role: public pantry and food-resource connection; geography: St. Helens and Columbia County; cost/eligibility: the pantry posts public hours and current closures; call about availability, service rules, and items; emergency limit: not emergency response or guaranteed food delivery
Columbia Pacific Food Bank
The pantry is at 1421 Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens and publishes open-to-the-public hours. Confirm current hours, weather closures, and available food before traveling; inventory can change.
Role: public-health information, WIC links, and health-program navigation; geography: Columbia County; office at 230 Strand Street, St. Helens; cost/eligibility: ask Public Health about program eligibility, appointments, and current services; emergency limit: not urgent care or emergency response
Columbia County Public Health — WIC and Community Health
The county's Public Health office links to WIC and other health programs and lists 503-397-7247 for contact. Ask which services fit your household and whether an appointment is needed.
Role: aging/disability information, options counseling, and case-management referrals; geography: Columbia County older adults and adults with disabilities; families may call for navigation; cost/eligibility: CAT lists some services for adults 60+ and people with disabilities 18+; ask about fit, fees, and availability; emergency limit: not emergency response or immediate placement
Columbia County Aging and Disability Resource Connection
Community Action Team's Area Agency on Aging lists local aging and disability resources, options counseling, and case management. A Senior Case Manager can help identify programs for which a person may be eligible; call to ask for the appropriate path.
Role: meal delivery and community café information for older adults; geography: Columbia County service areas; primarily age 60+ with need and homebound/isolation criteria; cost/eligibility: program criteria and local service area apply; contributions are welcomed, and the provider says inability to contribute alone does not bar eligible people; capacity varies; emergency limit: not emergency food delivery
Community Action Team — Home-Delivered Meals
CAT says meal eligibility includes age, help with meal preparation, homebound or isolated status, and service-area limits. Ask about local availability and assessment; meals are offered only as funding and delivery capacity allow.
Role: VA claims and benefit navigation for veterans; geography: Columbia County veterans; St. Helens office by appointment; cost/eligibility: open to veterans residing in Columbia County; ask about appointments and any third-party cost; emergency limit: not emergency support or a guarantee of VA benefits
Community Action Team — Columbia County Veteran Services
CAT's accredited Veteran Services Officer provides information, advocacy, and referrals related to VA claims and benefits. The page lists appointments Monday–Friday and the VSO's direct contact number.
Role: peer-led support and education groups for adults and families; geography: online for Oregon residents age 18 and older; cost/eligibility: check current schedule, registration, and any costs with NAMI Oregon; emergency limit: not a crisis line, therapy, or emergency response
NAMI Oregon Online Peer Support Groups
NAMI Oregon lists online Connection and Family Support groups for adults around the state. The groups are peer-led and not specific to hoarding; check which group is currently open and fits your situation.
Role: fixed-route public transportation; geography: Columbia County communities with connections to Portland and Kelso/Longview; cost/eligibility: confirm current route, schedule, fare, stop, and service calendar before travel; emergency limit: not emergency or medical-response transportation
Columbia County Rider — CC Rider
The transit provider describes service between Rainier, St. Helens, Scappoose, and other county communities, with some trips to Portland and Kelso/Longview. Use the current route pages and call to verify a trip.
Role: scheduled curb-to-curb shared transportation; geography: Columbia County; dispatch must confirm each trip; cost/eligibility: registration and request confirmation are required; ask about priority, availability, fare, and advance notice; emergency limit: not an emergency ride or guaranteed same-day transportation
CC Rider Dial-A-Ride
CC Rider asks riders to complete its guide and registration steps; dispatch confirms whether the requested time, date, and locations can be served. Plan ahead and arrange any personal help between the curb and destination yourself.
Role: public library and community access to information; geography: St. Helens; 375 S. 18th Street; cost/eligibility: ask about library-card eligibility, computer access, current hours, and any equipment or printing charges; emergency limit: not a warming-center activation or shelter placement
St. Helens Public Library
The library lists public services at the Columbia Center. Its posted hours have changed recently, so call or check the city's latest notice before traveling; ask about internet and computer access if that would help with forms or job searches.
Role: city water/sewer utility account and bill-payment information; geography: City service addresses; verify whether an address is inside City service territory; cost/eligibility: standard utility charges apply; assistance eligibility and providers differ; City FAQ points people needing bill help to CAT; emergency limit: not a public-health emergency or immediate utility-response line
City of St. Helens Utility Billing and Bill Help
The city's utility FAQ and payment links can help with account questions. If a bill is hard to manage, the FAQ directs residents to CAT; confirm the service address and any shutoff or repair deadlines with the relevant office.
Role: paid self-haul solid-waste disposal and recycling information; geography: 1601 Railroad Avenue, St. Helens; confirm county/resident rules for special materials; cost/eligibility: fees apply to many materials; current rates, load rules, and accepted items must be checked before transport; emergency limit: not a home cleanout contractor, moving service, or free disposal program
Columbia County Transfer Station
The county publishes current hours, material rules, and self-haul fees for its St. Helens transfer station. Ask about a particular item before loading a vehicle; the station does not provide in-home sorting or hauling.
Role: seasonal disposal events for listed household hazardous materials; geography: Columbia County residents; St. Helens is a listed event location; cost/eligibility: county residency, scheduled event, accepted materials, and quantity limits apply; confirm current instructions; emergency limit: not routine trash collection or a hoarding cleanout service
Columbia County Household Hazardous Waste Events
The county posts event dates and accepted/unaccepted materials. Check the current schedule and limits before traveling; some items need advance arrangements and not all household items are accepted.
Role: approved volunteer litter pickup on public roadways, waterways, and other county areas; geography: Columbia County public areas only; cost/eligibility: registration and county approval are required; supplies and fee waiver require prior coordination; emergency limit: not assistance with a private home, apartment, hoarding-related sorting, or indoor cleanup
Columbia County Volunteer Litter Cleanup Program
This county program is for litter volunteers in public areas. The county says approved participants may arrange supplies and transfer-station drop-off for collected litter; it is not a residential cleanout or private-property service.
Role: collection-service and accepted-material information; geography: Columbia County; provider depends on city or service address; cost/eligibility: collection rules, account arrangements, and charges depend on the address and service provider; emergency limit: not bulk-item pickup or private home-cleanout labor
Columbia County Garbage and Recycling
Use the county's Solid Waste pages to identify collection and recycling information that applies to an address. Confirm accepted items, pickup arrangements, and fees directly before setting materials out.