In April, Portland City Council unanimously passed the Shelter to Housing Continuum: this ordinance changed our zoning code to allow for siting outdoor villages, and it instructed city bureaus to identify city-owned properties that could potentially be used for outdoor shelters.
Last month, City Council unanimously passed the Paving the Pathway from Streets to Stability ordinance, which codifies our approach toward outdoor shelters and provides the regulatory tools we need to build six Safe Rest Villages before the end of the year. Safe Rest Villages will be outdoor shelters—not tents—that provide a place for Portlanders to sleep, basic and necessary hygiene, access to case management and behavioral health services, and most importantly, dignity and stability that will lead to permanent housing.
Below is the list of city-owned properties that bureaus have identified as potential sites for Safe Rest Villages. Please note, this is a comprehensive list of city-owned sites that are under consideration—the properties on this list are NOT confirmed for use as a Safe Rest Village site, and they are subject to additional review by city staff to determine if they are suitable locations. Commissioner Ryan has also reached out to our jurisdictional partners and expects that additional properties will be added to this list, and the city is open to leasing properties from private landowners.
If you have a property that you would like to explore using for a Safe Rest Village, please send an email to SafeRestVillages@portlandoregon.gov with your contact information, the square footage of your site, and any pertinent utility hookup information.
Contact Margaux Weeke at margaux.a.weeke@portlandoregon.gov or 503-865-6405 with any questions.