The Harbor Opens the Doors to Its New Home in Downtown Astoria

The Harbor has officially moved into its new home at 949 Exchange Street in downtown Astoria, marking an important new chapter for our organization and the survivors, families, and young people we serve throughout Clatsop County.

The building, which previously housed The Astorian for more than five decades, gives The Harbor significantly more space to provide advocacy, prevention, support, and other services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Our advocacy services officially opened at the new location on October 1. The move is about much more than a change of address. It gives our staff and community room to imagine what The Harbor can provide next.

More Room for Survivor Advocacy and Support

The Harbor’s former Advocacy Center at 801 Commercial Street had become too small for our growing staff, programs, partnerships, and the number of survivors seeking support.

At our new Exchange Street location, advocates have more space to meet with survivors, maintain confidentiality, and connect people with the resources that can help them move toward greater safety and stability.

The Harbor’s advocates start by listening to survivors and believing their experiences. Depending on what each person wants and needs, advocates may provide safety planning, housing support, legal or medical advocacy, or connections to other community resources. That support looks different for every survivor.

Some people may need immediate help finding a safe place to stay. Others may need assistance navigating legal, medical, housing, or social service systems. Some may simply need a confidential conversation with someone who will listen without judgment. At every stage, The Harbor centers each survivor’s choices and self-determination.

Expanding Safe Spaces for Survivors and Families

The additional room in the new building also creates opportunities to expand housing and shelter-related services in the future.

Housing can be one of the biggest barriers facing survivors of domestic violence, particularly when leaving an abusive relationship could mean losing a home, financial stability, or access to other basic needs.

For survivors who are ready or need to leave an unsafe situation, having somewhere secure to go can make an enormous difference.

The Harbor will continue operating its confidential emergency shelter for people facing immediate crisis situations. Our new building also gives us the opportunity to explore additional ways to provide safe and stable space for survivors and families experiencing housing instability.

Our goal is not simply to provide a roof overhead. It is to give survivors the time, support, and safety they need to determine what comes next.

Creating More Space for Clatsop County Youth

The move also opens new possibilities for The Harbor’s youth services and violence prevention work.

The Harbor currently partners with local middle schools, high schools, Tongue Point Job Corps Center, and other organizations to provide violence prevention education and help young people learn about healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and other protective factors.

Our vision for the new location includes creating more welcoming space where young people can spend time, connect with peers, participate in activities, and have access to advocates and other trusted adults.

Having a trusted adult to turn to can be an important protective factor for young people navigating relationships, identity, conflict, or violence.

Until the new youth area is ready, The Harbor will continue providing youth programming through The Dock.

Growing to Meet the Needs of Our Community

This expansion comes at an important time. Recent reporting in Clatsop County has drawn attention to an increase in serious domestic violence cases, including multiple strangulation arrests during the summer of 2026. For The Harbor, an increase in people reaching out for services does not necessarily mean violence itself is new. It can also mean more survivors know help is available and feel safe enough to ask for it.

As Executive Director Terri Steenbergen explained to The Astorian, The Harbor knows violence is happening in our community. What matters is creating an environment where people feel able to come forward and seek support. Our expanded home gives us more capacity to do exactly that.

A New Home for The Harbor’s Next Chapter

For nearly 50 years, The Harbor has grown alongside Clatsop County—from a group of volunteers and a phone line to an organization providing comprehensive and culturally responsive advocacy, prevention, and support.

Moving into 949 Exchange Street gives us more physical space, but its meaning goes much deeper.

It is a space to listen, advocate, build community, connect young people to trusted adults, for survivors and families to begin determining what safety and healing look like for them, and ultimately a space for The Harbor to keep growing alongside the community we serve.

Read More in The Astorian

The Astorian recently visited The Harbor’s new location and spoke with Executive Director Terri Steenbergen about the move, expanded survivor services, plans for youth programming, and the growing need for domestic violence support in Clatsop County. You can read more in “The Harbor moves in to The Astorian’s former location” on The Astorian website.