Washington County Looks To Multnomah County For Shelter Guidance

BEAVERTON, OR — Like many other areas in the state, Beaverton and Washington County are trying to deal with the issue of a growing number of people living on the street. While daunting, there is some positive news.

With the state having passed a new budget that provides a record level of funding, local and county governments are looking into new ways to address the situation.

On Friday, Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty and Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington traveled to Portland to look at a shelter as they try to adjust.

"We're really starting from scratch," Beaty said. "We don't have the infrastructure that Portland and Multnomah County have for dealing with this problem.

"We can all agree this is a humanitarian crisis."

They were led on a tour of the Laurelwood Center in Southeast Portland by Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson. She represents the district where the 120-bed shelter is located.

"We want to share our learnings with our partners," Vega Pederson said. "We know this isn't just a Portland problem.

"It's a regional problem."

The center, which has provided shelter for more than 1,000 people since it opened in 2019, serves veterans, the disabled, women, and couples, and people over 55-yers-old.

It has a courtyard with a dog run, statues, and plenty of outdoor seating. It has a large, commercial kitchen where volunteers prepare meals for guests, a clinic area, sleeping areas, and computer areas where guests and staff can work on arranging benefits, find jobs, and housing.

"We're working as hard as we can as quickly as we can," Vega Pederson said. "This is a step in the system.

"We also know, and research has shown, that getting people into permanent supportive housing, where they not only have a roof over their head but have support services to be successful, is the best way of addressing this crisis."