Clatsop Community College alumna Camille Leavitt has overcome extraordinary odds to become a leader in local behavioral health and housing services. Her story is one of transformation, perseverance, and the power of community support.
In 2017, Camille lost her brother, Brandon, to a cruel drug-related murder. Then just two months later, Camille’s family endured another devastating loss when their mother passed away from colon cancer. Overwhelmed by grief and without the tools to cope, Camille turned to substance use that left her homeless and with little hope. That painful chapter now drives her passion for supporting people who are where she and her brother once were not long ago.
Her turning point came in 2019 when her father found her, and she agreed to start recovery. Through Clatsop Behavioral Health’s Substance Abuse Program and an art therapy group, Camille began to rediscover stability and hope—sparking the idea that she could one day help others heal, too.
With assistance from Clatsop Community Action, Camille and her loyal dog, Royal, secured housing. “Housing was the starting point for stability and a chance to start again,” she said. Just two months after quitting substance use, Camille enrolled in a Life Transitions course at Clatsop Community College.
Unsure about her abilities to be successful in college, Camille was encouraged by the words of her Life Transitions class instructor Tammy, “She said that anyone can get their master’s degree. You do it one class at a time and one assignment at a time,” Camille said. That mindset carried her through her educational journey and beyond.
While at CCC, Camille flourished—becoming Associated Student Government President, a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and a graduate of CCC’s Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer program in 2023. She went on to earn the prestigious Ford Opportunity Scholarship from The Ford Family Foundation and graduated summa cum laude from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Now surrounded by family, friends, and purpose, Camille reflects on her journey with gratitude. “I want to thank my friends through college—for the late nights and belief that we could do hard things.”
Today, Camille is a Housing Program Manager at Clatsop Behavioral Health, where she collaborates with partners to provide wraparound services for permanent supportive housing. She is pursuing her Master of Arts in Counseling through Eastern New Mexico University as part of the United We Heal/CBH apprenticeship and expects to become a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) by 2028.
“In our community, 21 out of every 1,000 people are homeless,” Camille said. “I’m proud to be part of the CBH team at the Hawks Eye Apartments in Seaside that is serving this population with supportive housing—and excited for the Baker Building to open in Astoria next year to house 32 people and get them safely off the streets.”
Camille’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the role education and community support play in helping people rebuild their lives. Her journey is guided with her words, “Healing begins where courage meets compassion—in the quiet choice to turn pain into purpose.”
