Shelter Successes - December 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 

• 11 participants moved into housing
• 1 participant returned home to their family
• 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.
• 10 participants enrolled in intensive outpatient programs
• 6 participants set up medical and dental appointments
• 2 participants received dentures
• 19 participants gained employment
• 1 participant enlisted in the military
• 8 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
• 7 participants earned their food handlers' license
• 1 participant received a new copy of their Social Security card
• 1 participant passed the written drivers' exam
• 1 participant received their drivers' license
• 1 participant received their ID

Church of the Nazarene 

• 1 participant reunited with family

CityTeam Grand

• Completed expansion from 30 beds to 80 beds.
• 2 individuals who have been staying in the shelter applied and were accepted into the CityTeam Renew men's residential program.

Clinton Triangle 

• 28 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
• 25 participants were put on housing waitlists
• 11 participants moved into housing
• 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.
• 28 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.
• 1 guest referred to necessary legal services through the Clear Clinic 
• 1 guest had warrant lifted
• 1 participants obtained employment
• 4 entered inpatient detox treatment
• 2 guests completed enrollment in the Oregon Health Plan
• 1 guest received a referral for a subsidized electric scooter 
• 10 guests completed their SSDI applications
• 2 guests obtained verification for SSDI payments 
  • Homeless people are disproportionately disabled. Helping guests receive regular income, though programs like Social Security and Disability, are often necessary parts of ensuring someone can be stable long-term after shelter. 

Menlo Park 

• 1 participant received ID card
• 1 participant received approved for Home Forward waitlist
• 2 participant received applied for housing waitlists
• 1 participant starting receiving their SSI/SSD payments 
• 1 participant was accepted on to a housing waitlist
• 1 participant moved into housing
• 2 participants enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan
• 1 participant enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
  • Food insecurity is common in our unhoused population, especially as inflation continues to increase. Assisting participants for assistance programs, like SNAP, is often a major role of our case managers. All of our shelters work to identify and lower barriers for their participants to ensure their long-term success. 
• 3 participants applied for jobs

Multnomah 

• 15 housing applications completed
• 13 housing waitlist applications completed
• 1 guest approved for housing
• 2 guest completed housing intake appointments
• 3 guests moved into housing
• 4 referrals for peer support
• 1 referral to inpatient treatment
• 2 guests made necessary medical and mental health appointments
• 1 guest enrolled in health insurance 
• 2 guests enrolled in SNAP 
• 2 guests enrolled with Goodwill Job Connection
• 12 guests enrolled in flagging training
• 2 guest completed job applications
• 1 guest referred to detox
• 1 guest referred to inpatient treatment
• 21 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.

NE Weidler Village 

• 4 total permanent housing placements. 1 also enrolled in school.
• Central City Concern Mobile Health van now regularly visiting the shelter.
• 1 participant was able to get into detox.

North Portland Rd

• 8 guests completed housing applications
• 1 guest referred to Letty Owings Recovery Center
• 13 guests moved into housing
• 10 guests completed MSST Assessment
• 15 guests obtained birth certificates
• 26 guests received vital documents
• 1 guest entered the 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.
• 1 guest registered for Project Reset
• 1 guest attended and graduated a Rent Well class
• 1 guest registered for Rent Well classes
  • A Rent Well class is a free, 15-hour tenant education program in Oregon and Washington that teaches people the skills to be successful renters, covering budgeting, landlord-tenant laws, housing searches, and communication, and helps graduates overcome barriers like past evictions or bad credit with a certificate and access to landlord incentives like a guarantee fund. The program, available in-person, online, or via webinar, helps people build housing portfolios and find stable housing by addressing rental history issues.
• Paid for 1 guest's screening fee at the Madrona Apartments
• 1 guest was given a ticket to return to loved ones
• 2 guests had job interviews
• 1 guest got their food handler's certificate
• 2 guests referred to Urban League's Free Dental Clinic
• 1 guest registered for the Lions Club for free eye exam and eyeglasses
• 1 guest applied for and received Medicaid and SNAP benefits
• 1 guest registered for the Oregon Health Plan
• 1 guest did an intake screening for New Season Mobile Methadone treatment

NW Northrup 

• Averaged more than 100 individuals per night, sheltering up to 155 individuals during the last week of the year 

Moore Street Shelter 

• In partnership with Union Gospel Mission, they are providing a shower truck onsite once per week for participants. 

River District Navigation Center 

• Moved a participant into their own apartment who had been at the shelter for about 2 years. They are going to receive ongoing assistance through TPI for 6 months, as well as aftercare case management surrounding a disability claim that is in process and nearing the final stages.

Reedway 

• 4 guests obtained vital documents
• 1 guest enrolled in SNAP benefits
• 1 guest finished their resume and applied for employment
• 2 guests referred to Peer Support

Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) 

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

SW Naito Village 

• Hired new program manager.
• 1 participant received a housing voucher and is just waiting funding

• 1 participant received final approval to become a professional caregiver