FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2025
City of Portland Launches Emergency Overnight Shelter Utilization Rate Data Dashboard
The City of Portland has launched a new Emergency Overnight Shelter Utilization Rate Data Dashboard, providing the public with transparent, real-time insight into how Portland's emergency shelter beds are being used each month. The dashboard visualizes reported utilization data from the City's network of emergency overnight shelters, helping city leaders, service providers, and community members better understand how shelter capacity is responding to need.
The new dashboard reflects the City's ongoing commitment to transparency, data-driven decision-making, and responsive resource management across the shelter system. This dashboard is the second of three new public dashboards being delivered by the City.
"Transparent data helps us make strategic, real-time decisions about how to deploy resources when and where they are needed most," said Mayor Keith Wilson. "By tracking utilization trends across our shelter network, we can flex beds in and out of operation as needs arise. We are ensuring that we're both efficient and compassionate in how we respond to Portlanders seeking shelter."
Key Highlights from the Dashboard's Initial Release:
- NW Northrup has seen strong early engagement, with a 75.33% utilization rate in its first month, significantly outpacing similar shelter openings.
- St. Stephens and Central Nazarene experienced softer openings in August 2025, as expected during initial ramp-up periods. Since then, both sites have shown steady increases in participation as operations and outreach expanded.
- The SAFES shelter saw a sharp decline in utilization between June and July 2025 (from 75.71% to 36.23%) due to the site's doubling of capacity during the warmer months. While utilization rates adjusted accordingly, total participation has continued to grow steadily throughout the summer and fall.
The dashboard, maintained by Portland Solutions, offers a continuously updated view of shelter utilization trends across the city.
"This level of data transparency is essential to public accountability," said Skyler Brocker-Knapp, Director of Portland Solutions. "The more clearly we can show how shelters are being used, the more effectively we can plan and adapt our system to meet community needs."
The Emergency Overnight Shelter Utilization Rate Data Dashboard is now available to the public at www.portland.gov/shelterdata. The dashboard will be updated monthly with the latest verified data from the City's emergency shelter network.
For more information, contact:
Media Contact:
Robert Layne, Senior Communication Strategist
City of Portland – Portland Solutions
rob.layne@portlandoregon.gov | 971-438-7943