Michael Kane, for the Hermiston Herald
HERMISTON — The Hermiston City Council recently received an update on Project PATH, the temporary homeless shelter between Hermiston and Umatilla on Lind Road.
Jesalyn Cole, executive director of Stepping Stones Alliance, submitted a quarterly report to the city of Hermiston and addressed the council on Aug. 11. Stepping Stones Alliance is the Hermiston nonprofit that operates Project PATH.
Project PATH — Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing — is a local government effort to bring together services to assist individuals and families facing homelessness with the objective of moving them into and through transitional housing to permanent housing.
Cole said the individual shelter units are not fully occupied, but there are several guests who are waiting to move in.
“If they stay on track and hit their 14 days then we will have our individual shelter units full again next week,” she said.
The shelter’s 21 individual units, however, were fully occupied throughout April, May and June. The shelter had 411 guest stays in April with 13 new guests, 438 guest stays in May with 16 new guests and 414 guest stays in June with 13 new guests.
“Our numbers remain steady,” Cole said. “We’re seeing anywhere from four to 15 a night in the Sleep Center.”
Cole said the shelter sees very few homeless people from outside the area.
“Almost all of them have ties here, are local or have family in the area,” Cole told the council.
Hermiston City Councilor Roy Barron noted he has seen more homeless people visible in the area recently and asked Cole what can be done to help them.
“It is challenging,” Cole said. “We can’t force our services upon those who don’t want them.”
Cole said monthly outreach efforts are made to known encampments and offer sack lunches to individuals as well as medical assistance if needed.
“We want to make sure they know we exist,” she said.
During the past quarter, the shelter maintained five hourly staffers. Project PATH recorded 22 volunteer shifts at its Sleep Center in April, 24 in May and 21 in June.
The shelter’s mid-day shuttle service continues to operate at 12 hours per week, providing transportation during peak hours.
A temporary staffing gap due to a medical leave of absence resulted in Project PATH hiring an additional hourly employee who originally served in a volunteer capacity but has transitioned into an on-call role. The new employee will remain on board to provide coverage for staff absences due to illness or vacation. Project PATH received two grants of $2,500 during the past quarter — one from Roundhouse for transportation staffing and other from AgWest Farm Credit for parking lot improvements.
The shelter also has a pending $30,000 grant application to the Wildhorse Foundation for outdoor coverings, an awning on the Sleep Center and an outdoor common space. Project PATH’s annual fundraising gala takes place the night of Oct. 11 at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and tickets are on sale. For more information, call Stepping Stones Alliance at 541-561-3680.
Project PATH received several financial donations during the past quarter for its gala including $5,000 contributions from Atkinson Staffing and Amazon Web Services. The Kiwanis Club donated $1,000. Several businesses gave $500 donations.
Projects that have been completed in the past quarter include the installation of bathroom fans in the Sleep Center, the addition of three new outdoor water spigots, improvements to the area between the parking lot and Lind Road and raised garden beds that Hermiston High School students built.
The shelter purchased new commercial-grade washers and dryers for both the Sleep Center and the Navigation Center. The shelter also upgraded the Sleep Center’s computer and monitor that are used for its security camera. New mattresses, bedding and storage items were purchased for members. Community engagement activities in the past quarter included partnering with Umatilla Health to host a sexually transmitted infection testing day in April. Shelter personnel also participated in an I Love My City event by hosting free haircuts on site and coordinating transportation for homeless individuals.
Cole also said the shelter is providing a variety of educational and recreational classes for guests.
Plans for the quarter include:
1. Offering more classes for members, especially outdoors, to enjoy the weather and use new recreational items.
2. Moving forward with the next phase of ISUs in partnership with Marlette/Clayton Homes, as numbers continue to grow.
3. Improving the Navigation Center kitchen and outdoor common space through grant funding.
4. Installing an outdoor common space shelter before winter.
For more information, visit stepping-stones-alliance.org.
Read more at: https://eastoregonian.com/2025/08/17/project-path-reports-progress-in-latest-report/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMRrtFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvhQgysVbdRgqr2cDcBUijGzu4TOrCnXkV1iuzwzntPAsz57riihSlJvgv5Q_aem_Eh7nVEqEQBeKPhs2ajj-bg
