The Homeless Services Department and provider Straightway Services on Feb. 19 is celebrating next month’s planned opening of a new village-style shelter in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland. Oak Street Village will provide 29 shelter pod units with a capacity to serve up to 40 people experiencing homelessness.
The shelter is planned to begin welcoming guests next month. The project responds to the critical need for safe and supportive shelter options as more permanent affordable housing options come online.
“Moving as many people as possible off the street and into housing is one of my highest priorities and the focus of Multnomah County’s work everyday,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “This space provides stability and community for people who otherwise might be sleeping in their vehicles this winter in a part of the County that deserves more options like this.”
The upcoming opening of the shelter is one step toward accomplishing the goals of the Homelessness Response Action Plan and the Homeless Services Department’s Community Sheltering Strategy. The sheltering strategy, jointly developed by the County and City of Portland, commits to opening 1,000 additional shelter beds over the next two years — including the 29 beds planned for the Montavilla Community Village.
The City and County share a shelter system with nearly 3,200 year-round and winter-only beds.
“Oak Street Village is another step toward accomplishing our goal to ensure everyone has a path off the streets to safety, basic services and housing,” said Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards. “We’re making incremental progress when we still have thousands of individuals living every night without shelter or housing. So we have more to do.”
The capital costs of the project were funded by the State of Oregon. Operating costs will be funded by the Metro Supportive Housing Services measure, marking the latest example of the voter-approved dollars making a difference in the community.
Last fiscal year, the Homeless Services Department spent every dollar it received from Metro for the first time. Those funds not only supported the County’s shelter and street outreach systems but they also helped pay for rent assistance and supportive services to help more than 2,200 people leave homelessness for apartments.
“The Supportive Housing Services measure is making a real difference across our region, helping thousands of people avoid and escape the trauma of homelessness,” Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang said. “Shelters like Oak Street Village are an integral part of the system we’re building, often serving as a steppingstone from the street to long-term housing stability.
The shelter, on the lot of a former RV dealership, will prioritize serving people currently living in passenger vehicles. There will be wraparound services on-site, with the goal of helping people transition into permanent housing. The shelter will offer a kitchenette, bathrooms and showers, laundry services, and places for people to store their belongings, ensuring residents have access to essential amenities and resources.
“This shelter will be more than just a place to sleep. It will be a holistic community where people can become self-sufficient," said Pastor Dwight Minnieweather of Straightway Services. "It means the world to us to operate this shelter. We can't wait to welcome the guests and begin supporting them on their path to stability."
The shelter will be staffed 24/7 and will be available through reservations only, meaning there won’t be lines to get in or large groups of people leaving. Participants will be able to stay in the program while they work with case managers to plan their next steps toward permanent housing.
Straightway Services and the Homeless Services Department will also be following robust safety protocols, including 24-hour supervision and clear communication channels for neighbors, to ensure that the village operates in harmony with the surrounding community.
The Homeless Services Department led a Good Neighbor Agreement process with the surrounding community. The agreement was finalized in December 2024 and was agreed upon by the Homeless Services Department, Straightway Services, the Montavilla Neighborhood Association, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association and the City of Portland.
“I’m very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with community members to build a Good Neighbor Agreement that represents a broad spectrum of interests, and I’m very appreciative that Commissioner Brim-Edwards helped make sure the County was able to listen to the needs of the community. The process was very educational for everybody involved,” said Neil Mattson, president of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association. “But the work begins now. And we’re looking forward to continuing our work to ensure the success of the site from the perspective of the business community and residents.”
Source: Multnomah County