Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

What Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency does

Mid-Williamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1967 and headquartered in Salem, Oregon, designated as the anti-poverty Community Action Agency for Marion and Polk counties. The organization operates three divisions - Early Learning and Childcare, Energy and Weatherization, and Housing and Homeless Services - comprising 8 core programs and more than 50 subprograms. Service lines span Head Start early childhood education, child care resource and referral, low-income energy assistance and home weatherization, nutrition reimbursement for child care providers, and reentry support for individuals exiting incarceration.

Its largest service surface is housing and homeless services, delivered primarily through The ARCHES Project umbrella and including the Salem Navigation Center (a 24/7, 75-bed low-barrier facility), the ARCHES Nest (36-bed family shelter), Sequoia Crossing (60 supported housing units), Redwood Crossing, Taylor's House (10-bed youth shelter), David's House (5-bed youth transitional home), ARCHES Day Center (serving ~30,866 visits in 2024), the Woodburn managed camp, and network-wide warming/cooling centers. Service delivery is free to clients and accessed through walk-in resource centers, court-based eviction prevention stations, street outreach, and a coordinated entry system. Backbone coordination uses the Unite Us referral platform sponsored by Kaiser Permanente; no other proprietary technology platforms are disclosed.

MWVCAA is funded almost entirely through grants and government contracts (federal, state, and local) plus individual and corporate donations, with major recent awards including a $5 million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund grant (November 2023), $2.56 million in emergency rental assistance through Governor Kotek's 2023 emergency order, $1.8 million for Navigation Center operations from Oregon Housing and Community Services, and $800,000 for the Housing 360 Pilot Program (2025). It is governed by an independent Board of Directors, led by Executive Director Jimmy Jones and Deputy Executive Director Ashley Hamilton, and operates with 101-250 staff across 20-plus physical sites in Salem and surrounding communities.

Name

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

Legal name

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

Website

https://mwvcaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MWVCAA is the federally designated Community Action Agency anti-poverty nonprofit serving Marion and Polk counties, Oregon, providing housing and homeless services, early childhood education, energy assistance, and reentry support through 8 core programs and 20-plus sites from a Salem headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)

Keywords

• Anti-poverty services
• Homeless services
• Emergency housing
• Early childhood education
• Community action programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: MWVCAA operates as a nonprofit funded primarily through federal, state, and local government grants. Major grants include $5 million from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, $2.56 million in emergency rental assistance through Governor's Emergency Order funding, and various contracts through Continuum of Care (COC) and Oregon Housing and Community Services.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting specific programs and projects, including fundraisers like the annual Community Action Gala and direct giving campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) is a nonprofit community action agency that delivers free anti-poverty services across Marion and Polk counties in Oregon. Its portfolio includes emergency shelter and housing programs (ARCHES Project, ARCHES Nest, Taylor's House, Sequoia Crossing), early childhood education (Head Start), youth services, energy assistance and weatherization, reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals, and eviction prevention/rental assistance. Services are funded by government grants, private foundation gifts, and donations and are delivered free of charge to eligible low-income community members.

Product overview

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency operates as a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized into three main divisions: Early Learning and Childcare, Energy and Weatherization, and Housing and Homeless Services. The core programs include The ARCHES Project (homeless services), Head Start (early childhood education), Youth Services/HOME (youth shelters), Child Care Resource & Referral, Energy Services, Weatherization, Reentry Services, Nutrition First, and Emergency Services. These programs work together to address poverty through housing assistance, childcare, education, employment support, and emergency response, serving Marion and Polk counties in Oregon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The ARCHES Project: Comprehensive homeless services program including day center, emergency shelter, eviction prevention, and street outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness in Marion and Polk Counties.
• Head Start
• HOME Youth Services
• Child Care Resource & Referral
• Community Action Reentry Services (CARS)
• Weatherization Assistance Program
• Energy Services

Products and services

• The ARCHES Project Comprehensive homeless services program providing day shelter, emergency shelter, case management, housing navigation, eviction prevention, and street outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness in Marion and Polk counties.
• Head Start Early childhood education program providing early learning, parent and family education, and child care partnerships for children ages 3-5 in Marion and Polk counties.
• HOME Youth Services Services for homeless and at-risk youth providing shelter, safe space, mentorship, employment support, and access to Taylor's House and David's House.
• Child Care Resource & Referral Resources for child care seekers and providers including referrals, education, and training services across multiple offices in Salem, McMinnville, and surrounding areas.
• Energy Services Assistance for low-income households unable to pay energy bills, helping with utilities through the Low Income Home Utilities program.
• Weatherization

Quantifiable outcome

• 52% permanent housing placement rate at Navigation Center, compared to ~25% in other Oregon programs and 3-11% in Los Angeles
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Trinity United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026MWVCAA acquired the Trinity United Methodist Church properties at 590 Elma Ave. SE in East Salem for redevelopment into approximately 100 affordable homes. The partnership preserves the church as a community meeting space and continues the existing food pantry, which is the only food pantry on the east side of I-5 and the only one in Salem open every Saturday, serving 13,220 individuals in Q2 with 41% children.
• First Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for warming center operations in Salem. MWVCAA works with the church to provide warming shelter when temperatures drop below freezing, serving homeless individuals and families.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaiser Permanente sponsors the Unite Us platform used for direct referrals to MWVCAA services, enabling coordinated care across healthcare and social services providers.
• JD Health & WellnesscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner providing personalized behavioral health assessments for every individual participating in the Housing 360 Pilot Program cohort, integrating healthcare services with housing assistance.
• NEONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Community Health Worker certification training program. NEON provides course materials and owns the State Approved Training Program, while MWVCAA instructs the training. Graduates earn 90 CEUs through Oregon's Office of Equity and Inclusion.
• Chemeketa Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for workforce development programs including welding training and warehouse certification. Programs offered at vastly reduced rates for individuals with criminal convictions in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, and Linn counties.
• Willamette Workforce PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for workforce development programs including the Emerging Welders Program and warehouse certification training through WorkSource Oregon connections.
• Continuum of Care (COC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal housing program providing Rapid Re-Housing contracts to MWVCAA for serving unsheltered communities. COC also funds family shelter construction (36 beds for households with dependent children).
• Central School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for David's House transitional youth home in Monmouth. District collaborates on educational support for the 5 youth served, including transportation to school and homework help.
• Polk County Family & Community OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for David's House and general youth services in Polk County, working together to support homeless and at-risk youth.
• United Way of the Mid-Willamette ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mobile shower trailer serving homeless communities throughout Marion and Polk counties, launched through United Way campaign led by local student.
• Marion County Sheriff's OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarter-century partnership with MCSO for reentry services. MCSO Transition Center closure in August 2024 prompted MWVCAA relocation and expansion of Community Action Reentry Services to new location.
• City of SalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Salem Navigation Center, a 24/7 facility with 75 low-barrier shelter beds. City works with MWVCAA on homelessness response efforts including opening warming/cooling centers.

Scale indicators35 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Salem Housing Authority: Salem's local public housing authority administering Section 8 vouchers and operating affordable housing — and an existing MWVCAA partner at Sequoia Crossing. Directly comparable in affordable housing operations within MWVCAA's own service geography.
• Lane County Community Action Agency: Lane County's designated Community Action Agency providing anti-poverty services in housing, energy assistance, and early childhood education across a comparable Oregon county footprint. Direct structural peer as a CAA serving similar program mix in the same state funding ecosystem.
• Northwest Housing Alternatives: Portland-area nonprofit developing and operating affordable rental housing and supportive housing for vulnerable populations. Direct peer in affordable housing development and supportive housing operations across Oregon.
• Home Forward: Portland's housing authority operating public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and affordable housing development. Direct peer in affordable housing operations and HUD voucher administration in the Oregon market.
• JOIN: Portland nonprofit providing street outreach, shelter, and housing navigation services to people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable in mission, service delivery model, and Oregon geography, though smaller in scale.
• Central City Concern: Portland-based nonprofit operating integrated housing, healthcare, and employment programs for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Directly comparable integrated Housing First + behavioral health + workforce model serving Oregon's homeless population.
• Multnomah County Department of Human Services (Joint Office of Homeless Services): Portland metro area's lead public agency coordinating homeless services, affordable housing investments, and poverty programs. Direct peer in Oregon homeless services delivery with comparable Navigation Center and emergency shelter models serving a similar population.
• Human Solutions: East Multnomah County nonprofit providing housing, family services, and economic opportunity programs to low-income families. Comparable anti-poverty mission with integrated housing and social service model in a neighboring Oregon geography.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Large multi-service Catholic Charities affiliate operating housing, refugee, aging, and family services across Western Washington. Broader-scale regional peer demonstrating a comparable faith-rooted integrated anti-poverty service model across the Pacific Northwest.

Others

• Community Action Partnership of Oregon: State association representing Oregon's Community Action Agencies and providing training, advocacy, and coordination. Network-level counterpart that channels federal CAA funding and convenes peer agencies including MWVCAA.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SalemARCHES
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-action-headstart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency