Shelter Successes - April 2025

Each month, we will provide updates on the "smaller" wins usually hidden by the biggest goal of all--housing. These include managing the barriers that prevent someone from accessing housing or job resources, and can include such seemingly simple items as identification and social security cards. Some wins will be major, but are not considered "housing"--such as moving into drug treatment or moving in with family.  Every month will be different, and each shelter within our system has a different method of managing the housing process for participants. As such, some months some providers will have lots of updates--some less so. But our shelter operators are all working tirelessly to help support all of our participants every day--this is only a small highlight of their work. These also are only a small reflection of the work shelter providers are doing. We are serving over 1,000 people every night, and each of them are moving forward on their individual goals. 

Have questions? Or have suggestions on other wins we should share? Reach out to shelterservices@portlandoregon…. If you want more detailed information on our exits, and the demographics of our shelters, we always encourage you to look at our data dashboard, which is updated quarterly.

Clinton Triangle 

• 10 participants obtained social security card, driver's license and birth certificate
  • These documents are vital for one's ability to apply for housing. Many chronically unhoused people lack their documents, posing a significant barrier to housing. Becoming "document ready" is often one of the first and most important steps case managers do with their clients.
• 1 participant is now debt free
• 1 participant made a budget
  • Financial strain can prevent many people from accessing housing. Debt, for example, can impact one's credit score. Identifying the barrier, and working towards resolving it, is another major victory towards stability.
• 1 participant able to register their car
  • Being able to legally register one's vehicle allows for better parking access and less likelihood of tickets--a major financial burden on one already living outside.
• 1 participant received a cell phone
  • In today's connected world, access to a phone is vital, for job applications, housing applications and any other number of things. Connecting participants to phones has often been vital to their long-term success.
• 1 participant moved into sober living
  • While this exit would not be counted as "housing" in our management system (the Homeless Management Information System-HMIS), it still is a meaningful step forward in that person's life towards stability.
• 1 participant was able to temporarily rehome their dog while they seek treatment
  • As for many of us, pets are a major source of comfort. Being able to find support for one's animals is often a necessary step before someone is willing to make the choice to seek treatment and resources.
• 1 participant moved in with family.
  • This exit is another that would not be considered "permanent housing" within HMIS but is still an important step forward. All of our shelter operators develop individual plans for each participant that best fit their needs. 

Menlo Park

• 1 participant had an eviction expunged.
  • Evictions remain on one's credit report and can affect their ability to apply to other apartment buildings. Having an eviction expunged makes the process of getting into an apartment much easier.
• 1 participant started a job
  • Building economic independence is vital for one's long-term success, both in and out of shelter. Jobs are one path of reaching independence.
• 1 participant has a job interview
  • Building life skills, such as job interviewing, is often a part of one's time in shelter. Building a successful resume and being prepared for job interviews is a very important service provided by many shelters. 

North Portland Rd

• 5 participants enrolled in bartending school
  • Participants often have dreams that get sidelined when surviving outside. Our goal is to not just house participants - it is to help them thrive.
• 2 participants paired with peer support mentors
  • Peer support specialists are staff who provide general logistical and life support training to clients. Having a confidante through the system can make the process feel less overwhelming to those who have existed without support for long periods of time--sometimes for decades.
• 1 participant received their driver's license
  • Being independent is often a point of pride for participants. Helping them achieve those goals can be a major part of their case management schedule.
• 1 participant enrolled with the VA
  • Getting reconnected with health services is often a vital part of successful stays within shelter. Many of our unhoused neighbors are also veterans, and so connecting them with those services can provide them access to other important supportive services for them.
• 2 participants enrolled at the methadone clinic
  • Living outside is traumatic, and can lead to behaviors that can help keep someone in trauma, like addiction. Being able to stabilize and seek treatment is a major part of our sheltering model.
• 1 participant enrolled in a rentwell class
  • Rentwell classes, designed to help build life skills for those not used to living in an apartment, are often a tool shelter providers can use to help their participants build a more competitive rental application.
• 2 participants enrolled at Central City Concern's Mental Health program
  • Central City Concern is a major medical, housing and mental health provider in our region. Connecting our participants to their services provides them access to a much larger and well-resourced service provider. 

Reedway 

• 3 participants received vital documents
• A participant made a medical appointment at Providence
  • Often, access to medical care can be a burden when living outside. Shelter operators can help participants schedule and provide transportation to medical facilities.
• Participant was able to refill 10 prescriptions, and the shelter operator was able to pick them up for the participant.
  • Similar to medical care, getting prescriptions refilled can be complicated--especially when one lives outside. Shelter provides a stable place from which people can refill their prescriptions, and operators can support pickup, if permitted by the participant.
• 2 participants received received flagging certification
  • Flagging is important and stable work. Helping connect participants with desirable, long-term job opportunities is often a part of case management. Finding the right job for each person is a challenge, and case managers are adept at supporting each client
• Helped a participant clean their unit
• 1 participant got their honored citizen Hop Card
  • When one is living outside with limited resources, the normal cost of a fare can be a burden. Having access to significantly reduced, or even free, TriMet service is often vital for people's ability to access reliable transportation.
• 1 participant received a referral to Stone Soup's employment and training program
  • We cannot succeed in this work alone. Helping participants connect with other, available resources ensures that they have a wide support network invested in their success. 

River District Navigation Center

• 1 participant is signing their first lease after 20 years being chronically homeless. He also went through an intake for medical care for the first time in those 20 years.
  • Being chronically homeless prevents access to so many basic necessities. Being able to provide access to these services is one of the most important parts of managing cases successfully.
• 1 participant got a second job to supplement their Social Security income
  • Often, Social Security income is not enough for someone to live on alone. Having the time to find a second job that can support longer-term stability is an important part of helping our participants succeed.