Oregon Department of Human Services staff members serving Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties have found a new home base at the Seaside Outlet Mall.

The former Department of Human Services building, located on Marine Drive in Astoria, closed in March 2023 due to air-quality issues that prompted employees to complain of illness.

No single source was confirmed, but a compromised heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit that caused unburned gases to permeate the building and its location on petroleum contamination from a former Chevron bulk plant were the main suspects.

Since then, child welfare and self-sufficiency program staff had been scattered, with some working remotely, some in portable buildings, and others in a small space at the Port of Astoria, where a few still remain.

Now, staffers are working hard to develop the new space on Roosevelt Drive.

“Having a shared space, I think, is super-important, because, you know, sending things over email or (Microsoft) Teams isn’t always the best for communication,” said John Hudson, who works for the self-sufficiency program. “But I think it’s great that we have a space we can all gather in person and kind of collaborate on different things.”

The self-sufficiency and child welfare programs often overlap, with many families being served by both. Past the lobby of the new building are children’s play areas, a room for supervised visits, a lactation room, an interview room and an array of chairs and desks for people to come in and fill out paperwork.

Fresh produce items, delivered weekly from the Clatsop Community Action food bank in Warrenton, and donated clothes for infants and children are also available for anyone who needs them, along with a Little Free Library provided by the Northwest Early Learning Hub. Staff members also are working in collaboration with the Clatsop County Courthouse to set up a virtual courtroom in the building.

Parked outside is a mobile unit meant to reach people in rural areas and those who are unable to travel to the new office. It will also distribute services at community events and provide care at mass care response team events or deployments.

The exterior of the unit will feature images of trees, ocean and mountains, as well as a retractable awning for events. The interior is outfitted with solar panel-powered heating and a cooler for medications and other supplies.

“This van will be able to do everything,” said Kaylin Hammond, a social service specialist. “Anything we can do in our building, we can do out of here.”