Shelter Successes - October 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 

• 6 participants moved into housing
• 2 participants moved into a residential inpatient 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.
• 5 participants enrolled in intensive outpatient programs
• 15 participants gained employment
• 4 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 reached their 60 day sober milestone - the first time in 20  years
• 2 participants enrolled in Community College courses
• 9 participants earned their food handlers' license
• 2 participants received their drivers' licenses

Church of the Nazarene 

• 1 participant moved into a sober living house
• 1 participant moved into an apartment

Clinton Triangle 

• 22 MSST Assessments were completed
  • The Multnomah Services and Screening Tool (MSST) helps assess the vulnerability of unhoused individuals as they enter services. It is an important step in accessing a variety of services within Multnomah County, and is commonly part of the initial intake process.
• 3 participants added to Coordinated Access priority pool
  • Coordinated Access (CA) is a system among service providers and government agencies that help people move from homelessness into transitional or permanent housing. Multnomah County's Homeless Services Department (HSD) maintains a database that tracks applicants within the program and available housing. Being in the database then prioritizes those applicants for housing resources that fit their individualized needs.
• 25 participants were put on housing waitlists
• 4 participants working with Central City Concern housing navigation
  • Central City Concern is one of the largest social services, health and housing providers within the City of Portland. Urban Alchemy, as well as all of our shelter operators, partners with other organizations with housing resources to provide as many potential avenues as possible for housing.
• 6 participants moved into housing
• 1 participant moved into clean and sober housing
• 5 participants received referrals for various mental health services
• 6 participants were referred into a detox 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.
• 4 participants enrolled in outpatient treatment
• 25 guests are participating in onsite Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Providing services onsite is one of our highest priorities for alternative shelter. By being able to bring services to participants, it lowers barriers previously faced by our participants in accessing those services.
• 15 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.
• 8 participants obtained employment
• 7 guests started classes for various certifications
• 4 participants enrolled in SNAP

Menlo Park 

• 5 participants moved into housing
• 2 participants were approved for housing
• 1 participant signed their lease
• 2 participants received eyeglasses
• 1 participant has started treatment and is on medication support
• 1 participant is working with Multnomah Public Defenders to get expungement support
• 1 participant gained employment at PDX Saints Love
  • PDX Saints Love is a SE Portland-based organization that provides invaluable services, ranging from their day center in Lents to outreach and case management services. Often, shelter providers network across the City to find work or educational opportunities that fit the needs of individual participants.
• 1 participant is now established with a new Primary Care Physician
• 1 participant received vital medication through Central City Concern medical van
• 5 participants received vital documents
• 1 participant received a HOP card
  • Access to transportation can be a burden when living unsheltered. Case managers help participants find ways to live independently, including paying for public transportation.

Multnomah 

• 2 participants received referrals to housing providers
• 1 participant started a debt repayment plan
• 1 participant received a referral to peer support
• 1 participant connected to services that will expunge records
• 7 participants received vital documents
• 14 MSST Assessments were completed
  • The Multnomah Services and Screening Tool (MSST) helps assess the vulnerability of unhoused individuals as they enter services. It is an important step in accessing a variety of services within Multnomah County, and is commonly part of the initial intake process.
• 9 participants received referrals to detox 

NE Weidler Village 

• Cascadia Behavioral Health's Behavioral Health team has started weekly visits to the shelter, on Sundays
  • Partnering with other organizations to bring services onsite is a high priority for both the City of Portland and our contracted providers of alternative shelter.
• NW Pilot Project and NARA are speeding up the timeline for many participants' housing journeys
• One participant connected with family for housing
• 8 participants received housing referrals
• 3 participants received medical referrals
• 2 participants received recovery referrals
• 2 participants received referrals to mental health services
• 10 participants received employment-related referrals
• 1 participant received a referral for legal services

North Portland Rd

• 2 participants added to Coordinated Access priority pool
  • Coordinated Access (CA) is a system between service providers and government agencies that help people move from homelessness into transitional or permanent housing. Multnomah County's Homeless Services Department (HSD) maintains a database that tracks applicants within the program and available housing. Being in the database then prioritizes those applicants for housing resources that fit their individualized needs.
• 3 participants completed housing applications for various apartment complexes
• 5 participants completed their Section 8 applications
• 1 participant reconnected with the VA for housing services
• 1 participant received a cell phone through the Central City Concern medical van
• 1 participant cleared their warrant
• 1 participant accepted VA housing
• 1 participant moved into subsidized housing
• 1 participant moved into market-rate housing
• 3 participants gained employment
• 1 participant signed up for classes to receive their Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification
• 1 participant received their food handler's card
• 2 participants signed up for work at a staffing agency
• 1 participant is going back to school

River District Navigation Center 

• A participant transferred into a residential recovery program
• 2 participants secured housing
• 1 participant reunited with family

Reedway 

• 1 couple received a copy of their marriage certificate
• 15 vital documents obtained
• 2 participants enrolled in detox
• 1 participant did their intake at rehab
• 1 participant completed detox
• 2 MSST assessments were completed
• 2 participants received referrals to peer support
• 1 participant received an employment referral
• 1 participant gained employment
• 5 participant moved into housing

Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) 

• 37 people have been sent home to family members or other loved ones

SW Naito Village 

• 2 participants have developed their shelter transition plans

• Sunstone Way has been working with nursing students to provide service onsite. They are working with the students to increase quality of care provided, as well as best ways to provide treatment.