Neighbor Impact outlines regional programs and plans expanded services for Sisters

Scott Cooper, Executive Director of Neighbor Impact, gave an overview of the nonprofit’s regional operations and detailed activity in Sisters. He said Neighbor Impact manages about a $47,000,000 annual budget, serves roughly 60,000 unduplicated clients a year across its programs, and distributes millions of pounds of food annually through a regional food‑bank network.

Cooper said Neighbor Impact runs 12 major programs, including Head Start, weatherization, housing stabilization and eviction prevention, lending and rehabilitation loans, childcare resources, and a regional food bank. He described local figures for Sisters: the program served about 21,440 people in the Sisters area last year; housing assistance included $13,792 in eviction‑prevention payments and about $70,634 in rental assistance and case management; the organization also provided $15,000 to CORE and the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter. Cooper said energy assistance reached 94 households in the past 12 months (approximately $42,000 expended) and that demand has risen in recent months.

On local expansion, Cooper said Neighbor Impact plans to open an Early Head Start center in Sisters next year (subject to state funding) and seeks a local liaison office to help residents navigate services. He described a recent community disaster response pilot (the Flat Fire community chest) used to distribute emergency checks to families who lost homes. Several council members thanked Neighbor Impact and asked about application access; Cooper said applications are available online and via a paper process and noted a pipeline that may take up to about a year for some services.

Council direction: the council welcomed Neighbor Impact’s local emphasis and encouraged staff to coordinate on potential co‑locating space for a liaison office and partnership opportunities for outreach and client navigation.