Community Conversations Features Hillsboro Shelter
Kim Marshall of Project Homeless Connect (PHC)
Shares Details & Updates With Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace
Kim Marshall of Project Homeless Connect Washington County joins Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace to share details & updates on the nonprofit's work to manage 24/7 operations at the recently opened Hillsboro Shelter and to help eliminate homelessness in Hillsboro.
The conversation highlights how the shelter serves community members experiencing houselessness with support from community partners, including:
The City of Hillsboro and Washington County worked together to build & open the 75-bed, pet-friendly facility. The Hillsboro Shelter is possible thanks to funding and use of the property provided by City of Hillsboro, funding through Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, and additional state and federal support.
How You Can Support Community Members
Experiencing Houselessness
Help support community members experiencing homelessness by donating:
- Warm & waterproof clothing, jackets, and hats
- New undergarments, socks, hand & feet warmers
- Hygiene items: Deodorant, shampoo & conditioner, hand sanitizer, body lotion, feminine products, toothpaste, etc.
- Fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable food
Please contact a local service provider to see accepted items and coordinate drop-offs.
You can also visit each organization's website to make a monetary donation or learn how to volunteer.
Washington County to Open
Central County Safe Rest Village in Aloha
Washington County's Department of Housing Services is engaging the community ahead of opening a new safe rest pod village at 3390 SW 209th Avenue in Aloha later this spring.
The location will provide 60 pallet shelters with meals, restrooms, and showers, as well as housing support and case management services. The pod village, which will help meet urgent & essential shelter needs, will be operated by Open Door HousingWorks with 24/7 staffing.
While the City of Hillsboro is not collaborating on this project, it may be of interest to Hillsboro neighbors and business owners due to its proximity.
To learn more and ask questions, please visit the project webpage, email Washington County Housing Services, or attend Washington County's next Neighborhood Meeting on April 8 at Tamarack Elementary School.
Amanda, Project Homeless Connect Outreach Manager
Metro News Article Highlights Street Outreach Team
Project Homeless Connect’s Street Outreach Team is making a positive impact in Hillsboro with the help of Metro Supportive Housing Services funding.
The foundation of the Outreach Team’s approach is building authentic relationships and trust. When they encounter people living outside, they offer snacks, water, hygiene supplies, and whatever support they can to connect folks with resources. Sometimes their job is just to listen compassionately.
“I love my job — I love seeing the success stories,” reflected Amanda, PHC Outreach Manager. “I’ve gotten to see so many people that were unsheltered, and now they’re housed, doing great, and clean and sober, and it’s really rewarding.”
Oregon Youth Find Housing
Through Direct Cash Assistance Program
With the goal of empowering youth to invest in their own well-being, Oregon's Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) provided 120 young adults experiencing homelessness with $1,000 a month in direct cash assistance, case management, and a one-time enrichment fund of $3,000.
After a two year trial, 94% of the participants reported that they were housed and many reported improved financial literacy skills.
One participant, Gabrielle, utilized the support to leave an unhealthy partnership, secure housing for herself and her daughter, and start pursuing school and homeownership.
With these overwhelmingly positive results, the program has been expanded and a second cohort is now underway.
Read The Oregonian article for an overview of the pilot program, listen to the OPB segment, or read Gabrielle's story to learn more.
2025 Point in Time Count:
Statewide & Washington County Results
Point in Time (PIT) Counts collect data from people experiencing homelessness on a particular day of the year to provide a snapshot of homelessness trends. The federal government requires regional Continuums of Care to complete a count of people in shelters and transitional housing every year annually with additional unsheltered counts completed every other year.
It is important to note that PIT Counts are not a fully accurate representation and often overlook people who are doubled up in housing, in and out of homelessness, and communities of color.
Statewide Results
Statewide results for the 2025 PIT Count recorded:
- 27,119 people from 23,330 households were experiencing homelessness
- 39.1% were sheltered and 60.9% were unsheltered
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Sheltered & unsheltered homelessness increased by 34.9% since the 2023 PIT Count — the increase also reflects improved counting strategies and changes in methodology
- Sheltered homelessness grew 49.3% since 2023 as a result of a large-scale, statewide investment in shelter infrastructure that added 3,902 beds
- 21,122 K-12 students — 4% of all students — were experiencing some form of homelessness as reported by school districts
- Like previous years, community members of color (especially Black and Indigenous community members), members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities were more likely to experience homelessness
- Oregon has one of the highest rates of cost-burdened renters in the nation, with 80% of renters with extremely low incomes paying 50% or more of their income in rent
For more details and results, read the 2025 Oregon Statewide Homelessness Estimates provided by Portland State University's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative and Oregon and Housing Community Services.
Washington County Results
The 2025 PIT Count in Washington County recorded:
- An increase of 167 individuals experiencing homelessness as compared to 2023
- Since 2023, increased resources for homeless services resulted in positive impacts, including:
- A 30% increase in the number of people who were sheltered
- 65% of people counted in 2023 have been housed through Washington County's housing programs or otherwise had a positive resolution to homelessness
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New households continue to experience homelessness at rates faster than services and resources can accommodate. This increase reflects broader economic factors like cost of living and unemployment
Read the Point in Time Count: 2025 Count and Context provided by Washington County's Department of Housing Services for more details and results.
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