Disability Support Services in Hood River, OR
Person-centered in-home attendant care for individuals and families across Hood River County, Wasco County, and the Columbia River Gorge.
Hood River at a Glance
- Services Available
- In-Home Attendant Care
- County
- Hood River County
- Local CDDP
- Community Living Case Management (CLCM) · 541-716-0135
- Nearest Day Support Activities
- Salem
Disability Support Agency Serving Hood River & the Columbia Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a place defined by dramatic geography — towering basalt cliffs, the nation's second-largest river, and a microclimate that has made Hood River the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the Pacific Northwest. But for families navigating intellectual and developmental disability services in this region, the same geography that draws tourists creates real barriers to accessing care. The Gorge stretches over 80 miles along the Columbia River, and the communities it connects — Hood River, The Dalles, Mosier, Cascade Locks — are often separated by significant distances with limited public transportation.
North Star Oregon provides in-home attendant care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hood River County and Wasco County. We coordinate with Community Living Case Management (CLCM), the state-contracted Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, to deliver person-centered support that meets individuals and families where they live — not where a provider happens to have an office.
Hood River County has a population of roughly 24,000; Wasco County about 27,000. Hood River's economy blends agriculture — the Hood River Valley is one of Oregon's premier pear and apple growing regions — with outdoor recreation tourism and a growing high-tech sector anchored by aerospace firms like Insitu. The Dalles, the Wasco County seat about 20 miles east, serves as a regional hub with healthcare and government services. Despite these economic strengths, disability support providers are scarce across the Gorge, and families here have long faced the choice between traveling west to Portland or going without.
Disability Support Services in Oregon's Columbia Gorge
Bridging the Gorge's Geographic Gaps
The Columbia Gorge region is larger than the state of Connecticut, yet it's home to only about 75,000 people spread across multiple counties on both sides of the river. For families coordinating disability services through CLCM, the lack of a robust public transportation network and the distances between towns mean that simply getting to an appointment can consume half a day. North Star Oregon eliminates that burden by bringing attendant care directly to homes in Hood River, The Dalles, and the smaller communities throughout the Gorge — so families spend their time living, not driving. Our services are coordinated through Oregon's K-Plan and the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). If you're already working with a service coordinator at Community Living Case Management, we integrate directly with your existing team. If you're new to services, we'll guide you through eligibility, enrollment, and building a support plan that works for your life.
Dependable Support in a Place That Demands It
In a region where winter ice on I-84, wind events, and wildfire smoke can disrupt daily routines for weeks at a time, consistency from a care provider isn't a luxury — it's a necessity. Every North Star Oregon support worker is trained, background-checked, and matched to the individual they serve. We don't rotate staff through a schedule; we build lasting relationships because the people in your home should be people you know and trust.
In-Home Attendant Care Services in Hood River & the Columbia Gorge
In-home attendant care is the core of what North Star Oregon provides in the Columbia Gorge. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hood River, The Dalles, or anywhere in between, attendant care delivers one-on-one support in the comfort of home — the place where people feel safest and most capable. In a region where the nearest specialized facility may require a 60-mile drive into the Portland metro, home-based care isn't just convenient; it's often the only practical option.
Our attendant care workers serve clients throughout Hood River and Wasco counties, adapting to the unique rhythm of life in the Gorge. Whether it's helping someone access community activities in downtown Hood River, supporting daily routines in a home outside The Dalles, or assisting with appointments at Mid-Columbia Medical Center, our team shows up — reliably, consistently, and with genuine care.
- Personal care and daily living support
- Skill building toward greater independence
- Community access and social engagement
- Assistance with medical appointments and errands
- Meal preparation and household task support
- Companionship and consistent, familiar support
Day Support Activities Near Hood River & the Columbia Gorge
North Star Oregon offers Day Support Activities (DSA) at locations in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent — but DSA groups are not currently based in the Columbia Gorge. For individuals in Hood River and Wasco counties, our in-home attendant care services are the primary way we deliver community engagement, skill building, and structured daily support.
If there is interest in group-based day programming in the Gorge, we want to hear from you. Community demand is what drives our expansion decisions. In the meantime, our attendant care team provides individualized, meaningful support to families across the region every day.
Ready to talk about care in Hood River?
A real person on our team will reply within one business day — no phone trees, no intake robots.
Services are typically at no out-of-pocket cost to families, funded through Oregon's K-Plan (Medicaid).
Columbia Gorge Disability Resources
- Community Living Case Management (CLCM) — The state-contracted CDDP for Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties. Your starting point for I/DD eligibility and service coordination. (office hours 8 AM-5 PM). After-hours crisis line: 1-844-959-1447.
Phone: 541-716-0135
- Eastern Oregon Support Services Brokerage (EOSSB) — Support services brokerage helping individuals with developmental disabilities achieve self-direction and community participation.
- Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) — Behavioral health services agency for Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties providing mental health, substance use, and crisis services.
- Columbia Gorge Health Council — Regional health coordination including the Bridges to Health Pathways program, connecting residents to healthcare, transportation, housing, and other services.
- Oregon Family Support Network — Hood River/Wasco/Sherman — Parent-to-parent support warmline connecting families of children with behavioral health needs to trained parent mentors.
About North Star Oregon
Founded in 2021, North Star Oregon has grown from a Willamette Valley provider into a statewide disability support agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Oregon — including the remote and underserved communities of the Columbia Gorge. Our founders bring over a decade of experience in residential support, case management, and program development. We believe the Gorge's geography should define your view from the window, not the quality of care you receive. In Hood River, The Dalles, and the communities in between, North Star Oregon is committed to being a long-term partner — not a distant provider with a phone number, but a team that knows this region and shows up for the people who live here.
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@northstarcaresQuestions about services in Hood River?
A real person on our team will reply within one business day — no phone trees, no intake robots.