Shelter Successes - April 2026

Some Highlights Across Shelter: 

• One family in our shelters was moved into a hotel, just in time for the birth of their daughter. 
• 1 participant received a daycare voucher. Daycare is expensive for everyone, but it is particularly burdensome for low-income individuals. Providing access to vital services, like daycare, allows our participants to access opportunities, including attending job interviews and working, which would not be possible otherwise. 
• 1 participant finished Cultivate Initiatives' Cultivate Hub Internship Course. The internship program first starts with a participant signing up to meet with a Job Connections Coach from Goodwill. From there, they will then be given a 5 day work schedule to work with Cultivate Initiative's Beautification Team and are paid $105 per day for their labor. After completing the initial 5 days, they then meet with an Employment Specialist employed by Cultivate Initiatives to get support in creating their resume and applying for jobs. Helping participants grow independent life skills that will allow them to thrive independently once they leave the shelter. 

JOIN

• JOIN is working closely with Urban Alchemy to house some participants from alternative shelters. Started with 5 guests from 4 UA sites to begin with. All intakes have been completed at the JOIN Day Space and work is underway! UA reported that one guest from Clinton Triangle has been housed through this partnership with JOIN!

Family Shelter

• A family moved into a program with long term services for families
• One of the families was able to get into a hotel just in time for the arrival of their baby girl.

Bybee Lakes Hope Center 

• 4 families moved into permanent housing
• 14 participants got into permanent housing
• 1 participant left to work abroad
• 1 participant enrolled in a residential treatment program
• 12 participants joined the Intensive Outpatient Program.
• 8 participants begin MAT treatment.
• 13 participants gained employment.
• 1 participant received a voucher to get their children into our daycare.
• 1 participant got dentures. 
• 1 participant purchased their first car.
• 1 participant passed their test to get their contractor's license.
• 1 participant left for residential treatment.
• 2 participants got their birth certificates.
• 3 participants got their driver's license. 
• 3 participants got their food handler cards. 
• 1 participant reunited with their child.
• 1 family regained visitation with their children.
• 1 participant joined the military
• 1 participant completed their probation. 
• 1 participant got braces on their teeth
• 1 participant purchased a used car.

Church of the Nazarene 

• 1 participant entered a recovery program
• 1 participant finally got keys to a new apartment! 

CityTeam Grand

• 2 participants moved into 24 hour shelters 
  • The overnight shelter system can serve as an entry point into other services, including the 24 hour shelter system. People begin their journey into shelter from all directions, and we want to enable rapid access to services to those who are interested. 
• Started an early check in process, where participants can enter as early as 5:30pm.
  • By allowing for early entry, we allow our participants more time to rest, as well as lower the amount of time people are waiting in public. This thus serves dual purposes of helping bring people inside, while giving them a safe place to rest. 

Clinton Triangle 

• 21 participants received assistance for transportation, either through a rideshare or a provided bus ticket
• 11 participants received job training onsite
• 1 participant received life skills training 
  • Life skills training includes tasks like grocery and meal planning, house keeping, and budgeting. These are essential life skills many participants may not have or have forgotten in their time living outside. Stabilizing individuals in shelter does not only mean providing shelter--it means providing services that ensure a better life long-term. 
• 3 participants were able to access benefits 
  • Benefits range widely based on the individual participant. Case managers can help participants access their SNAP benefits, health insurance, or other individual programs that fit each participant's needs. 
• 62 participants received client assistance 
  • Client assistance are funds used to support smaller needs that can be barriers from someone procuring housing. These costs could be moving costs, getting ID costs taken care of, or other smaller expenses. 
• 31 participants received access to medical care
• 21 participants received care for their mental health
• 1 participants attended sessions with a Peer Support Specialist

Menlo Park Safe Rest Village 

• 2 Participants signed up for Ride Connections
• 3 Participants received their Real I.D.
• 1 Participant applied for an apartment
• 3 Participants received their IDs
• 1 Participant received their Social Security Card
• 1 Participant went into recovery
• 1 Participant received  their Birth Certificate
• 1 Participant completed the MSST
  • The Multnomah Services and Screening Tool (MSST) Assessment is the beginning phase of coordinated access to housing. Completing the assessment allows service providers to assess how vulnerable any one participant is, what barriers they face, and determines where they fit in the overall affordable housing waitlist. 
• 1 Participant completed work initiative at Cultivate Hub
  • Cultivate Initiatives also runs a very significant workforce development program. By completing the program, participants are creating opportunities for themselves to become self-sufficient through income. 
• 1 Participant has been consistently seeing their primary care doctor and got a phone
• 1 Participant applied for an apartment
• 2 Participants applied for a job
• 1 Participant has an appointment with Social Security Administration
• 1 Participant got their court case dismissed
• 1 Participant was released from the hospital and is doing well
• 1 Participant has an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon and has upcoming surgery scheduled
• 1 Participant was referred to the cross sector case conferencing and Homeless Mobile intake team/ARDC
• CHAT and Cascadia Health came to the village meeting to talk with participants about services they provide

Multnomah 

• 4 participants received legal services
  • Legal support can include navigating processes for all sorts of potential barriers to housing: immigration documentation, record expungement, or any other potential legal issue a participant may find themselves experiencing. 
• 51 participants received assistance for transportation, either through a rideshare or a provided bus ticket
• 3 participants received access to benefits
• 76 participants received substance use disorder treatment
  • Treatment options vary depending on the individual. It can include services like counseling, behavioral therapy, or medically assisted treatment.
• 12 participants attended sessions with a Peer Support Specialist
  • A peer support specialist is a trained professional with lived experience in mental health, substance use, or trauma recovery who provides non-clinical, personalized support to others facing similar challenges. They are often a vital support for our guests as they stabilize, and can often provide much needed accountability outside of a purely clinical setting. 
• 14 participants received client assistance

NE Weidler Village

• 3 participants moved into permanent housing.
• 1 participant approved for Section 8 housing and awaiting a move in date.
• Providers NARA, Urban League, 4D Recovery, and Goodwill came onsite to provider services to guests.

North Portland Rd

• 66 participants received assistance for transportation, either through a rideshare or a provided bus ticket
• 7 participants received medical care 
• 1 participant received care for their mental health 
• 57 participants received various substance use disorder treatments
  • Treatment options vary depending on the individual. It can include services like counseling, behavioral therapy, or medically assisted treatment.
• 5 participants attended sessions with a Peer Support Specialist

River District Navigation Center 

• 2 participants secured housing

Reedway 

• 58 participants received assistance for transportation, either through a rideshare or a provided bus ticket
• 1 participant received job skills training
• 4 participants received life skills training
• 2 participants received medical care 
  • This can include visiting any sort of qualified, medical provider. Often, people come into shelter with chronic illness or other physical ailments that have remained untreated because of lack of insurance or other barriers. Our shelter providers work closely with participants to help get them on insurance and connected into medical care. 
• 1 participant received services for their mental health
• 35 participants received substance use disorder treatment
  • Treatment options vary depending on the individual. It can include services like counseling, behavioral therapy, or medically assisted treatment 
• 2 participants attended sessions with a Peer Support Specialist

SE Grand Recovery 

• 9 participants connected to housing while staying at the shelter.
• 2 transfers to 24 hour shelter programs.
• Opened the 2^nd floor of the building, allowing for more bed capacity and an area for frequent guests to better connect for services.
• 2 participants were referred into detox from shelter. 
  • SE Grand Recovery is a recovery-oriented program. We work regularly with  participants to connect them with further recovery supports while staying in the shelter. 

St. Stephen's

• 1 participant received employment

SW Naito Village 

• 1 participant moved into permanent housing
• 3 participants connected to job skills training
• Staff hosted a BBQ attended by all participants, with food donated by shelter neighbor The International School