Shelter Successes - August 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, 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. 

We will also include updates from Portland Solutions' Street Services Coordination Center, as they provide invaluable outreach to our most vulnerable. They help coordinate referrals into overnight shelter, as well as work with various individuals to connect with services that fit their individual needs. They are vital to our efforts to end unsheltered homelessness, and we are thrilled to share their successes here. 

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.

Bybee Lakes Hope Center 

• 24 participants moved into housing
• 9 participants started an intensive outpatient program
  • Often, people who are homeless do not have health insurance or reliable access to medical care. One of the priority responsibilities of our shelter operators  is helping connect participants to vital health-related resources.
• 2 participants purchased cars and insurance
  • Having access to reliable transportation empowers participants to find work or housing across both the City and the State.
• 1 participant was able to get their car back from an impound yard
  • Being homeless often makes reliable transportation a challenge. Having the ability to get to an impound yard, for example, can be challenging using exclusively public transit, and often rideshare remains cost prohibitive. Shelter operators can often assist their participants in retrieving valuable possessions, like cars.
• 13 participants gained employment
• 2 participants started Mental Health Services, 2 participants graduated Mental Health Services
• 5 participants enrolled in Medically Assisted Treatment programs
  • These programs, which combine substance abuse treatment with behavioral health programs, are comprehensive healing responses to issues that often arise from prolonged substance usage. Once participants stabilize, their case managers will often encourage participants to find programs that fit their needs.
• 2 participants enrolled in a residential treatment program
  • Finding stability and sobriety within a shelter setting are common stories of the people we are serving. Helping people connect with an appropriate living situation that fits their healing journey is a big part of what our case managers do.
• 1 participant exited to a residential inpatient program
  • Sometimes, having a safe place to sleep allows participants to connect with services that better fit their needs. Case managers will help connect their clients to a variety of treatment programs, if needed, including inpatient programs that may better fit their needs.
• 1 participant had their record expunged.
  • Having charges on file can often prevent someone from accessing necessary stabilizing elements, like a job or housing. Helping nonviolent offenders get their record expunged allows for someone to more easily identify and remove barriers to stability.
• 1 participant received a scholarship for Customer Relations Management (CRM) training
  • Often, case managers will empower their clients to find opportunities that can improve their career potential. 

Church of the Nazarene 

• One participant worked with shelter staff to come right from their late-night job to the shelter to sleep. The overnight shelter is providing this person a safe space to sleep between their shifts. 

Clinton Triangle 

• 3 participants moved into housing
• 7 participants referred into a detox program, 4 participants are currently in detox programs.
  • Finding stability and sobriety within a shelter setting are common stories of the people we are serving. Helping people connect with an appropriate living situation that fits their healing journey is a big part of what our case managers do.
• 18 participants obtained various vital documents
  • Vital documents, including an ID and their Social Security Card, allows participants to access other necessary resources, like jobs and potential housing opportunities. Many homeless people lose or do not have access to their vital documents, so often it is the first step in the service process for case managers.
• 13 participants were referred into peer support.
  • Peer Support resources help keep participants accountable on their healing journey. Signing up for peer support shows that a participant is far enough on their stabilization journey to seek further resources.
• 6 participants were taken to job interviews at Alsco
• 4 participants received various referrals for employment opportunities
• 1 participant obtained employment
• 3 participants attended various job trainings
• 27 participants completed their housing waitlist applications
  • Often, the first step towards permanent supportive housing is putting one's self on the larger waitlist for the State of Oregon. Many participants do not have the capacity to handle bureaucratic work, like managing applications, while living outside. Case managers assist participants in completing seemingly overwhelming paperwork and helping advocate for their clients in an extremely limited resource environment
• 8 participants filled out housing applications
• 3 participants connected to InReach Housing Opportunities through Transition Projects
  • InReach is a program through the Homeless Services Department (HSD) where one organization (in this case, Transition Projects), provides housing support to select participants within another organization's sheltering system. Transition Projects can provide funding and administrative support to a number of participants as they continue on their housing journey.
• 1 participant connected to housing through Central City Concern
  • Central City Concern is one of the largest affordable housing providers in the City.
• 1 participant moved in with family.
  • Often, moving into an apartment alone is not the best path for a participant, for any number of reasons. We consider any return to stability, including a return to family, a successful exit.
• 1 participant is scheduled to sign a lease. 

Menlo Park 

• 3 participants moved into housing
• 2 participants have signed leases and are preparing their exit from shelter

Multnomah 

• White Grape Community Services will provide support at MSRV
  • White Grape is a behavioral and medical health provider that comes onsite regularly. They can help connect participants with necessary behavioral health services, as well as ensure our participants are insured and able to receive the medical care that they need.
• 1 participant signed a lease and is preparing to exit from shelter
• 1 participant has moved into housing

NE Weidler Village 

• 1 participant approved for Section 8 Housing
  • Section 8 provides long-term subsidized housing for low-income individuals, and the waitlist is often substantial. Finding long-term, affordable housing solutions is often the biggest hurdle for many participants.
• 3 participants moved into housing. 

North Portland Rd

• 3 participants left shelter into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
  • PSH provides wraparound support for formerly unhoused individuals who need higher levels of support to maintain their housing. The rent is often subsidized to their income, and staff are present onsite. Especially for participants who were previously chronically homeless, the transition to housing can be overwhelming when done alone. PSH provides a long-term solution for those who need the extra support and is an extremely limited resource.
• 3 participants obtained identification
• 16 participants were seen by the Central City Concern (CCC) Mobile Health Van
  • The CCC mobile health van is a triage service, providing basic wound and primary care onsite. Additionally, they also provide referrals to other clinics for further treatment, as well as assistance for people eligible in enrolling in the Oregon Health Plan. They are a vital part of the healing process for many of our participants, and we are grateful for their partnership.
• 15 participants were added to the subsidized housing waitlist
  • Often, navigating the complex system of housing resources and waitlists is challenging for someone to do on their own. Case managers will help participants navigate the housing waitlist system to find what best suits their individual needs.
• 2 participants obtained Social Security
• 3 participants attended job interviews
• 3 participants completed their résumés
  • Often, participants do come into services with some sort of job experience, but are not familiar with the process of putting together a résumé. Job skills training, like advice on putting together a résumé, are classes often provided by shelter providers to ensure the long-term success of participants.
• 108 participants attended a resource fair focused on supporting sobriety -- 75 participants put in requests for referrals
  • There are a variety of resources within the City of Portland designed to support the sobriety of individuals, and not every one is right for every person. Providing a variety of sources in one place for people to look at, and to meet the staff they would work with, can provide participants a sense of control in their own healing process.
• 4 participants received referrals into employment
• 4 participants had their criminal records expunged

NW Northrup

• Our newest overnight shelter, NW Northrup opened with an initial capacity of 40 beds. We plan for this shelter's capacity to increase rapidly over the next few months, with a maximum capacity of 200 beds. 

River District Navigation Center 

• 1 participant exited into housing
• Multiple participants submitted applications for Social Security
  • The process to obtain income through Social Security can be onerous and complicated, even when housed. For those that have been isolated from government services for long periods of time, it can feel impenetrable. Case managers will help their participants navigate the system.
• A former participant, who was experiencing a severe mental health event, was able to access services through Portland Police Bureau's Behavioral Health Response Team. They were then able to reconnect with family out of state. 

Reedway 

• 15 participants completed applications for various affordable housing programs
  • Care coordinators' main role is to find a variety of housing and service opportunities that fit the needs of their clients. Finding programs that are accepting applications and fit the needs of the client ensure that participants will be given the best chance of success once they leave shelter.
• 2 participants registered for forklift training.
• 6 participants obtained vital documents
• 2 participants went into detox services
• 5 participants exited shelter into housing
• 1 participant received a referral for services through the NW Pilot Project
  • NW Pilot Project is an organization dedicated to supporting housing insecure senior citizens. They are often an invaluable resource for older unhoused individuals, who often face extra barriers and discrimination in finding long-term successful housing placements.
• 1 participant began their new job 

SAFES

• SAFES now provides showers for participants

Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) 

• City Outreach was able to house 2 different families, both with small children. After many months of working together, our outreach team was able to activate Section 8 and housing insurance for both family groups.
• The Outreach Team hosted two separate events at Dawson and Delta Park. These events would connect unhoused individuals with our outreach staff and allow them to build a working relationship. Those events resulted in shelter placements for individuals, as well as referral into other services.
• City Outreach continues to work with the Multnomah County Jail system as a liaison into other services. The project has been successful and will continue to grow.
• 35 people have been sent home to family members or other loved ones

St. Stephen's

• St. Stephen's shelter staff were able to locate a previous participant who was just selected for housing. The individual, while in crisis at the time, was able to be deescalated by shelter staff and was able to connect with staff at Multnomah County to be connected to his new housing resources.
  • Often, shelter is not just about services - it is about de-escalation and safety. Helping vulnerable individuals feel safe requires extensive training that all of our shelter operators provide as a support for their participants in their healing journey. 

Sunderland 

• Staff continue to decrease participant levels as site moves closer to decommissioning.  
• Building assets at Sunderland are being repurposed at various shelter expansions and openings around the City.
  • The bathroom facilities, among other Conex Box assets, are being used to support new service opportunities the City is opening, like the Oasis in Old Town. This allows us to save money as a program, while continuing to provide services to our most vulnerable. 

SW Naito Village 

• A high-needs participant is receiving support through NW Pilot Project and is actively looking at various housing opportunities.
  • Often, formerly unhoused individuals have a variety of comorbid issues that can cause challenges for one organization to support. Working with organizations that specialize in certain populations, like NW Pilot Project, can help shelter operators ensure the participant receives the level of support they need in a way that is accessible to them.
• 2 participants enrolled in mental health recovery programs
• 5 participants had job interviews
• 1 participant received confirmation of employment
• 1 participant is heading back to school
  • Finding a job and an apartment right away might not be the most appropriate journey for every individual. Some participants want to receive different certifications that allow them a wider range of job opportunities, and our shelter providers can work with participants on various ways to make that happen.
• All shelter units have been replaced, and participants have settled in to their new surroundings.