 Our shelter programs at the City of Portland are growing and evolving and we have so much to share! Read all about it in this issue:
- Stories Matter! That’s why we’re launching a new blog!
- Video: "Why Tiny Home Villages?"
- From Homelessness to Housing - our Data Dashboard tells the story
- Resource Fair Brings Support, Services, and Success
- Highlighting our Partners at 311 & the City Outreach Team
- Our Program (and shelter capacity!) continues to expand
Today we are launching our new Streets to Stability blog, where you’ll find compelling stories of current and former shelter guests, highlights about site staff and community events, and insightful articles breaking down complex homeless services topics. While our program is data-driven, focusing on metrics and outcomes to improve our operations, it is the unique and deeply personal journeys of the individuals our shelters serve that truly define our success. Every data point represents the varied, complex backgrounds of people whose stories are often filled with trauma, disappointments, and setbacks, but also resilience, hope, and transformation.
Dive into our first blog post featuring Jessica, a young woman who transitioned from one of our shelters into stable housing after over a decade of living unsheltered.
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66 Days - Charlene's Story
 On January 9, 2024, Charlene awoke in her tiny home pod at Clinton Triangle surrounded by blurred faces.
Charlene’s friend, another guest at the shelter, held her body as she gained consciousness.
Charlene, 49, learned that she’d overdosed after injecting a “shot of clear” (Methamphetamine) that was, unknown to her, tainted with Fentanyl. Urban Alchemy staff acted quickly after finding Charlene, lifeless and blue, inside her pod during a routine wellness check. It took six rounds of Narcan and chest compressions to revive Charlene.
During the March 14th Resource Fair at Clinton Triangle, Charlene was proud to say she hasn’t used since.
“You really can’t hit rock bottom much more than that,” Charlene said. “I don’t want to die. It’s been 66 days.”
Charlene put herself into outpatient treatment and attends appointments three times per week, always being sure to ask for a copy of her Urine Analysis, eager to show the “negative” results to her care coordinators at Clinton Triangle.
Charlene’s substance use, exacerbated by trauma and mental health challenges, was a factor in the circumstances that led her to unsheltered homelessness nearly 20 years ago, when she entered a cycle of recovery and relapse.
In July 2023, while out at 122nd & Burnside collecting cans for redemption (her sole source of income to support the debilitating addiction), Charlene was contacted by an outreach worker. There was a space available at the new alternative outdoor shelter across town, Clinton Triangle. She took up the opportunity.
Since moving into the village, in addition to the safe environment allowing her to take the next steps in recovery, Charlene has acquired an Oregon ID and Social Security card, a common barrier for those experiencing chronic homeless to access basic services. At the Clinton Triangle Resource Fair, she signed up for Goodwill’s Job Connection program, which will help her prepare in searching for employment. Her next step: housing.
Charlene also adopted a dog, Charlie, who is registered as an Emotional Support Animal. The Border Collie mix is now pregnant, expecting puppies in April.
Story shared with permission, based on interview from March 14, 2024.
Note: as of this newsletter publishing (5/24/24), Charlene has been sober for more than 130 days and is approved to move into her new apartment in mid-June. Charlene’s also expected to start working a job with Central City Concern soon. In late April, her dog, Charlie, gave birth to 12 puppies; they will be up for adoption through the Oregon Humane Society in the coming weeks.
Video - Why Tiny Home Villages?
Our Tiny Home Villages with services are regularly at capacity, and we've heard from outreach workers that they're in high demand among those experiencing homelessness. We asked staff and guests why this model works. Here's what they said, in their own words. We put this video together last year with our partners at local production company KLiK Concepts for the 2023 annual report to Portland City Council. Check it out.
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From Homelessness to Housing!
Portland State University's recent study revealed that village-style shelters are more effective at transitioning residents into permanent housing compared to congregate shelters, and our updated Shelter Services Data Dashboard corroborates these findings. Eight out of our nine sites follow this low-barrier village model, with tiny home pods and wraparound services on site. Our model is one among many. We recognize that all shelter types are incredibly vital to the network of care, as different approaches offer varying opportunities to fit the diverse needs of the homeless population.
 Our dashboard presents the latest data from the 21-month period our program has been active (7/1/22 - 3/31/24). This includes the timeframe when partnerships with the State and Multnomah County, through Oregon All In and Housing Multnomah Now funds, expedited housing placements in early 2024.
Resource Fair Brings Support, Services, and Success
Portland’s City Outreach Team Director, Kim James, along with members of the Street Services Coordination Center and Urban Alchemy staff, organized a Resource Fair, hosted on Gideon Street outside Clinton Triangle on March 14, 2024. As Portland’s fickle Spring weather turned in their favor, the gloriously sunny afternoon felt like a block party with the grill smoking, staff dancing to music from speakers and dozens of dogs frolicking about.
More than a dozen service providers and low-barrier employers set up booths, including Rapid Response, Transition Projects, Clean & Safe, Goodwill, Worksource Oregon, Mainspring Pantry, Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, and Cascadia Health.
 Guests at Clinton Triangle, along with those at two other Urban Alchemy-run shelters, Peninsula Crossing and Reedway, were invited to interact with service providers, access services and sign up for employment opportunities.
“This was a team effort that came together as part of ongoing service provision and in response to requests made by those soon to be housed seeking supports around employment and self-sufficiency as they move forward in their individual journeys,” said Kim James. “We appreciate the opportunity to continue thinking “outside of the box” as we create opportunities for those folks we are serving!"
Update: Since the resource fair, 26 people have found employment through Goodwill Industries.
Partnership Expands Access to City Outreach Workers
PDX 311, the first point of contact for the City of Portland and Multnomah County, helps people connect to local government and can assist in connecting to a city outreach worker. Call 3-1-1 or 503-823-4000, or fill out a form online to request assistance from a city outreach worker.
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 Growing Our System
Given the urgent need, and the continued interest in our tiny home village with services model, the City and County are expanding our system to meet the need. In alignment with the Homeless Response Action Plan, we are expanding two shelters in the City's system, as well as building another. By the end of the year, we will be able to accommodate 1,000 people on any given night. See the chart below for details.
Our System - by the Numbers
Multnomah and Reedway Expansions Underway
Acting on the urgency of our homelessness crisis, and after discussion about how to expand sites in a way that would best work for neighboring communities, the City is moving forward with site expansion at two existing shelters. Reedway in Southeast Portland and Multnomah in Southwest Portland. Both sites were identified as having extra space on the properties where development was possible.
Phase one of the expansion project at Multnomah – moving the current 23 guests to new units – has been completed successfully as of this newsletter publishing (5/24/24). The site will expand from 28 to 100 units, utilizing a section of the property next to the Sears Armory building, which will serve as offices for the site operator, All Good NW, and a community center for guests to connect with service providers. At Reedway, construction should begin shortly, with the permit expected soon. It will double its capacity, from 60 shelter pods to 120.
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Coming Soon: City’s 10th Shelter Site
We're excited to announce that the City’s Shelter Services program is in the process of developing our 10th shelter, which will be our N. Portland Road Shelter, in North Portland. Once open it will accommodate up to 200 people who are seeking a safe space to transition from the streets to stability and, ultimately, permanent housing.
Earlier this month, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality approved the City's plans to safely develop the property at 10505 N. Portland Rd. while preventing human and environmental exposure. Since then, we've begun site construction of the shelter on a six-acre portion of the 22-acre lot owned by the Bureau of Environmental Services. It will include 90 tiny home pods, and 70 parking spaces for RVs. Urban Alchemy will be the site operator.
(Image: Three of the septic tanks needed to service the restroom / shower structures are in place.)
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