We recently had the opportunity to present at the Courageous Conversations Conference in Curry County, hosted in partnership with the South Coast Health Equity Coalition. We’re grateful to have been part of a space dedicated to honest dialogue, shared learning, and regional collaboration.
Through our partnership with Southern Oregon Coast Regional Housing (SOCRH), we shared the vision and progress of the SPARC Model—along with an important next step in this work: the launch of the Service Providers and Regional Connections (SPARC) Network.
Moving Beyond Programs
Across many communities, strong programs exist—but they often operate in isolation.
Housing providers, behavioral health services, outreach teams, healthcare systems, and local governments are all working hard. But without coordination, people still fall through the gaps. Services become harder to navigate, resources are underutilized, and outcomes remain inconsistent.
The SPARC Model was built to address that challenge.
It focuses on connecting the full system—housing, shelter, and services—into a coordinated framework that meets people where they are and supports their path toward long-term stability.
The Launch of the SPARC Network
The launch of the SPARC Network marks a meaningful shift from concept to implementation.
This network brings together partners across Coos and Curry Counties, including:
Housing Authorities
Service Providers
Healthcare and Behavioral Health Partners
Local Governments
Community-Based Organizations
The goal is simple: create a system that works as one.
Through the SPARC Network, partners are aligning efforts, sharing information, and coordinating services in a way that reduces duplication, improves access, and strengthens outcomes for the people we serve.
Learn more about the network here:
https://www.sparcnetwork.org/
A Regional Approach to Complex Challenges
There is no single program that can solve homelessness or housing instability.
It requires a system.
That system must be regional, coordinated, and designed to respond to the full range of needs—from outreach and shelter to permanent housing and long-term support.
What we’re building through SPARC is not just a collection of programs—it’s a connected pathway.
A pathway where individuals can move from crisis to stability without getting lost along the way.
Why These Conversations Matter
The Courageous Conversations Conference created space for exactly the kind of dialogue needed to move this work forward.
Progress begins with alignment.
It grows through partnership.
And it succeeds when communities are willing to come together, ask hard questions, and build something better—together.
We’re thankful to the South Coast Health Equity Coalition for bringing partners together in Curry County, and to everyone who is stepping into this work with a shared commitment to building a more responsive and connected system of care.
Looking Ahead
The launch of the SPARC Network is just the beginning.
As this work continues, we will keep refining the model, strengthening partnerships, and expanding coordination across the region.
Because at the end of the day, this work is about more than systems.It’s about people—and making sure that when someone reaches out for help, the system is ready to respond.
By Matthew Vorderstrasse, M.A., PHM