Shelter Successes - July 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.

Bybee Lakes Hope Center 

• 2 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.
• 3 participants got their Oregon IDs
• 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.
• 11 participants gained employment
• 1 participant received confirmation of disability benefits
  • Often, getting disability income is a long and arduous process--especially for someone trying to survive outside while disabled. Case managers can assist participants in working themselves through the application process.
• 1 PT was awarded the E-bike incentive for program excellence
• 6 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.
• 1 participant 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 regained custody of their child
  • Shelter is a time to stabilize. Time in a healing, stable environment often encourages people to reconnect with their closest loved ones. 

Clinton Triangle 

• 6 participants referred into detox
  • 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.
• 7 participants ordered IDs
  • 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.
• 1 Participants received a referral to physical therapy
  • 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.
• 5 participants 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 received their flagging certification
  • Flagging is a stable and in-demand job. Helping participants find job opportunities that are sustainable long-term is a vital step towards helping some find stability long-term.
• 1 participant obtained employment
• 3 participants attended various job trainings
• 43 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.
• 1 participant received their SNAP Benefits
  • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, helps ensure food security for our most vulnerable community members. The process is often very complicated and overwhelming for someone surviving outside. Helping participants receive benefits that reinforce their stability, like regular access to nutritious foods through SNAP, is often another important part of a case manager's role once someone enters services. 

Menlo Park 

• All participants obtained Transportation Wallets
  • Transportation Wallets are offered through the Portland Bureau of Transportation. They provide credits for those with lower incomes to access a wide range of transport options, including bikeshares, scooters, and ride share. By giving participants access to those credits, they empower their participants to access resources on their own--resources that may have been challenging to reach with public transportation alone. 

Moore Street 

• The entrance to the shelter has moved.
  • Shelters must evolve over time as they learn how to better address the needs both of the people they are serving, as well as their neighbors. In this case, by moving the entrance, Salvation Army can expand some of their other services while providing the life saving support overnight shelter provides. Additionally, by moving the entrance to a less busy street, we are lowering potential disruption from the shelter and adapting based on feedback provided by the shelter's community. 

Multnomah 

• Urban Alchemy hosted a workforce training for flagging
  • Urban Alchemy emphasizes stable, career-making work for their participants. Flagging remains in demand, and by bringing classes onsite, it makes accessing that training for a career-level position that much easier for our participants. 

NE Weidler Village 

• 2 participants found employment
• 1 participant received their worker's permit
  • Often, our participants are people with various immigration statuses. As such, case managers will work with participants where they are at, and design a stablization plan that fits their particular needs. In this case, this participant needed to get their worker's permit before being able to find stable employment, which is vital for long term success. 

North Portland Rd

• 4 guests obtained identification.
• 2 guests obtained health insurance through the Oregon Health Plan (AKA Medicaid).
  • 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 enrolled in SNAP
  • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, helps ensure food security for our most vulnerable community members. The process is often very complicated and overwhelming for someone surviving outside. Helping participants receive benefits that reinforce their stability, like regular access to nutritious foods through SNAP, is often another important part of a case manager's role once someone enters services.
• 1 participants received housing through VA resources.
  • Veterans make up a large percentage of our unhoused population here in Portland. However, sometimes it can be challenging for those living outside to get access to their VA benefits. Case managers will design resource plans based on the individual life stories of the participant. In this case, this person was able to get resources because of their veteran status.
• 4 participants obtained ID
• 15 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. 

River District Navigation Center 

• 1 participant connected with healthcare services and received new glasses
  • Often, our unhoused neighbors do not have access to regular healthcare. Once a participant stabilizes in an environment, they are able to reconnect with vital medical services--like the eye doctor.
• 1 participant was in an ill-fitting wheelchair that was given to them while outside. This participant received a new wheelchair that properly fits.
  • Often, when one lives outside, participants make do with what they can find. Once in shelter, case managers can help participants find resources that better suit their needs.
• 2 participants exited to housing with a full set of furniture donated.
  • Often, many participants simply need a start. Furniture for an apartment can be cost prohibitive for many participants, and so being able to start fresh in a newly furnished home gives participants a great foundation to build a new life from.
• 1 participant was able to get their cat connected to animal health resources. 

Reedway 

• 2 participants received ID documentation
• 5 Wellness Center participants took part in weekly women's empowerment meetings
  • Time in shelter is not just about stabilization--it is about helping people develop independence. Shelters provide community, and we hope that participants rely on each other to encourage further healing and growth past the significant trauma they experienced from living outside. 

SAFES

• Expanded capacity to 100 beds
  • This shelter is serving our vulnerable women-identifying population. By expanding its capacity, more vulnerable people can have a safe place to sleep every night until they find more stable resources. 

Sunderland 

• 4 participants were connected to housing
  • As this site is set to be closed by the end of the September, we have been focusing our efforts on making sure that participants currently receiving services there are connected to other services or, ideally, into housing. 

SW Naito Village 

• 2 participants moved into housing!
  • This is the end goal for all of our shelter providers. While not mentioned in every shelter's wins, know that, every day, shelter providers are helping move participants into stable housing situations outside of shelter.