Community Corner

Homelessness Initiatives In City Of Hillsboro

Even in the winter months, the number of beds is not enough to guarantee that no one will be turned away.

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Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

January 19, 2022

Homelessness Initiatives

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Reducing homelessness in Hillsboro and the surrounding region requires collaborative efforts on proven solutions, such as:

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  • Adequate year-round sheltering with rapid pathways to housing
  • Affordable housing and permanent supportive housing
  • Effective outreach
  • Homelessness prevention and diversion
  • Consistent coordination between systems and institutions that impact homelessness services

Addressing homelessness requires federal, state, county, city, nonprofit, and community partnerships in order to achieve system-wide impacts. Local governments like the City of Hillsboro and Washington County play an important role in response to this societal issue. The vast majority of funding for homelessness services in the Portland metro area is distributed to Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties.

Within Hillsboro, Washington County contracts with local nonprofits to address homelessness through a range of services, including emergency shelters and housing support. Beyond this, the City of Hillsboro dedicates additional resources to maintain Hillsboro’s livability for everyone.

The City of Hillsboro will continue to update community members — and share opportunities for community input — as we work alongside our local government and community-based partners.

Current Initiatives

Shelters

Seasonal Shelters

Washington County’s shelter system currently operates on a seasonal basis, with beds available from mid-November to mid-March. Even in the winter months, the number of beds is not enough to guarantee that no one will be turned away. As a result, a waitlist system is typically operated to manage the demand.

Current Winter Shelters in Washington County

Washington County's Winter Shelter Program opened five shelters on November 15 to offer a total of 187 beds to people experiencing homelessness.

In Hillsboro, Washington County's Cloverleaf Winter Shelter provides 50 beds and is located near the Washington County Fairgrounds. The shelter is operated by Open Door HousingWorks.

If you are seeking shelter or resources, please contact Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or visit Washington County's Homeless Resources webpage for more information.

Inclement Weather Shelters

Inclement weather shelters, or “pop-up” shelters, occur during extreme temperature events or during times of hazardous air quality. These shelters provide additional capacity at locations across Washington County.

Visit Washington County's Inclement Weather Shelters page to learn more.

Year-Round Shelter Planned for Hillsboro's Future

Responding to the community’s desire for long-term solutions to the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, the City of Hillsboro has acquired property on Hillsboro’s western edge — near the City of Cornelius and Dairy Creek Park — for a future, year-round sheltering site.

The property in the 300 block of SW 17th Avenue includes significant green space and two currently vacant structures. The immediate priority use of the property will be to bridge a critical gap in local year-round sheltering resources, while opening the possibility for additional future uses that also benefit the community.

Historically, shelters in Washington County have operated on a seasonal basis, with some beds available in winter months and during inclement weather events. This structure has limited sheltering options available throughout the remainder of the year.

“Accessible year-round emergency shelters play a critical role in the crisis response system,” said Mandy Gawf, Community Services Coordinator for the City of Hillsboro. “Individuals in a housing crisis need a safe and decent place to go that is immediately available.”

Strategically Located for Services

The SW 17th Avenue property’s strategic location allows its use for sheltering, with nearby access to a frequently serviced bus line and close proximity to complementary resources, such as Community Action and Open Door’s Day Center. In addition, sheltering programming would bring 24/7 staffing and management to the space, while increasing the visual appeal of the property through renovations.

Presentation to City Council

During a January 4 presentation to the Hillsboro City Council, Gawf informed the Council and the community with all details known to date regarding the project, including estimated timelines for renovation and rehab, as well as community engagement plans.

Supportive Housing Services

Voters passed the new Supportive Housing Services in May 2020 to provide historic levels of funding to address homelessness in the Portland Metro region. Funding through this measure is administered through Washington County and became available on July 1, 2021.

Plan and Goals

Local Implementation Plan

An advisory committee developed a local implementation plan to guide investments in supportive housing programs scaled to functionally end chronic homelessness and create a system of care led by racial justice.

Read the Supportive Housing Services Local Implementation Plan.

Goals

Supportive Housing: Create 1,665 placements with permanent housing and supportive services. The goal is to achieve 500 supportive housing placements during the first year.

Shelter: Create a shelter system that provides 250 beds of year-round, full-service emergency and non-congregate shelters that serve all parts of Washington County and connects people to housing solutions. The goal is to build out 100 year-round shelter beds during the first year.

Culturally Responsive Network and Services: Build a network of culturally specific services led by organizations of color that serve the diverse populations of Washington County with quality and culturally specific care.

Best Practices and Standard of Care: Create a standard of care among all service providers that is culturally responsive, based in Housing First principles, guided by people with lived experience, and informed by the best practices of trauma-informed and people-centered care.

Outcomes: Demonstrate housing placement and stability outcomes that advance racial equity — and functionally end chronic homelessness — with year-over-year system improvements and regional coordination.

Built for Zero

Built for Zero is a movement of more than 90 cities and counties working to solve homelessness one population at a time. The Continuum of of Care in Washington County implemented the initiative locally in 2020. Learn more about local Built for Zero efforts.

Affordable Housing

Lack of an adequate affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness. Oregon ranks fourth in the nation for the most households with extremely low-income and a severe cost burden. Among other affordable housing work, Hillsboro is implementing the Metro Affordable Housing Bond, which is anticipated to create 284 new affordable units in Hillsboro, including 117 deeply affordable units. Nueva Esperanza is the first Metro Affordable Housing Bond project to work toward these goals.

Visit our Affordable Housing webpage to learn more.

Businesses Caring in Hillsboro Tool Kit

The tool kit was created in 2018 and updated in 2021 to help businesses respond compassionately to our housing crisis while protecting their livelihood with practical tools to address situations.

Community Survey on Homelessness

The City of Hillsboro conducted a community survey on homelessness in English and Spanish that concluded in October 2021. The survey sought specific community input on:

  • Siting of locations for shelters or other overnight camping areas
  • How best to further engage the community
  • General questions about homelessness

Survey Results

In total, 832 survey results were received and analyzed. Community members received the survey through a variety of distribution methods, including online and in-person at community locations.

Here are five key takeaways from survey responses:

  1. 75% of survey respondents want to hear more regular updates on homelessness, with the majority wanting updates via email.
  2. The most preferred method for informing a neighborhood of a shelter or overnight camping area being sited or located nearby is a mailed informational flyer with project details.
  3. A one-mile radius around a proposed shelter or camping site is the most preferred distance for informing neighbors.
  4. The most common questions about homelessness that emerged centered on current services and resources, as well as the demographics of those currently experiencing homelessness locally. The second and third most common questions centered on camping and future or long-term plans and goals for camping policies.
  5. The top three suggestions for addressing homelessness included an increased focus on permanent housing options, alternative shelter options, and mental health or substance use resources.

View the complete Community Survey on Homelessness Results.

Hillsboro Police Department Crisis Intervention Team

The Hillsboro Police Department Crisis Intervention team, including a full-time Homeless Liaison Officer, provides an organized and dedicated response for issues surrounding homeless, mentally ill, and other at-risk populations. This team collaborates with law enforcement, government service providers, non-government organizations, other individuals and groups, and our business community.

Funding Programs

Past Initiatives

Concluded: Temporary Wood Street Camp

Camp Information

As the challenges of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic continue, vulnerable community members living outside also face a lack of shelter and safe sleeping options.

On July 8, the City of Hillsboro, along with community partners, opened a temporary camping site at 699 SW Wood Street near Downtown Hillsboro, with the goal of addressing this need by providing a safer, more secure environment with access to basic services.

The site hosted a maximum of 30 campers and operated at the Wood Street location through October 8, 2021, when project participants were transitioned to a temporary indoor space as colder, wetter weather moved into the region.

Participants from the Wood Street camp will remain at the temporary indoor location until November, when Washington County’s Winter Shelter Network will activate.

May 18 Work Session

A City Council Work Session to discuss homelessness, including this camp site, was held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

“We have heard from many community members that Hillsboro’s livability is suffering,” said Assistant City Manager Simone Brooks during the Work Session. “Unsafe conditions, threats to the environment such as garbage and poor sanitation, nuisance, criminal activity and business disruption are frequent topics of complaints. Perhaps with equal frequency, we receive complaints about the lack of access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, and resources for our unhoused community members to meet even the most basic needs of a place to eat, find water, use a restroom or sleep.”

City Manager Robby Hammond also noted that the City has been considering the best use of the City-owned property for more than a year.

Questions and Answers

Why was the Wood Street site selected?

The Wood Street property is owned by the City of Hillsboro and is currently undeveloped. Located next to the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve and the city-owned Public Safety Training Facility, the camp site was well situated to limit impacts on surrounding businesses and community members.

Businesses and residents in the area received information directly from the City of Hillsboro about the camp, which was managed by Project Homeless Connect. Some campers at the site were already identified and were willing to make the move after previously camping nearby.

What provisions did the Wood Street site offer?

Investments from the City and other partners made the site capable of hosting a maximum of 30 campers, and the site had the following facilities and services:

  • Portable restrooms
  • Hand washing station
  • Trash collection service
  • Security fencing
  • 30 designated tent sites
  • Sleeping bags
  • Sleeping pads
  • 24/7 supervision (from Project Homeless Connect)
  • Limited food and bottled water (from Project Homeless Connect)

The size of the site helped address the current sheltering needs in the Hillsboro community, and Project Homeless Connect worked to assist campers with transportation options to reach the site.

How long was the site operational?

The Wood Street camp site was operational from July 8 to October 8, 2021.

Why was Project Homeless Connect selected to manage the site?

Project Homeless Connect staff have a successful history of managing shelters and camp sites in Hillsboro, including at the Hillsboro Civic Center in Downtown Hillsboro, the Safe Sleep Village at the Washington County Fair Complex in central Hillsboro, the Shelter at Orenco Station, and the Salvation Army Shelter near Sunset Esplanade. Three Project Homeless Connect staff members were on-site at all times to provide services and care, and to ensure a safe and managed site.

How were plans for the tent camp site communicated?

Information about the plans for the tent camp site were shared directly with neighbors in the immediate area through a mailed letter. Additional communication via mail, social media, email newsletter followed to the entire community. Follow up communication with neighboring residents and businesses included phone calls, emails, door-to-door visits, and an in-person conversation forum. Staff remained available to listen and respond to concerns during the camp site’s operations.

Did the camp site require permitting or rezoning of the property?

This short-term use of the site for camping was allowed with a Temporary Use Permit and did not require a zoning change.

Was flooding a concern on this property?

The dry weather season camp was not within the 100-year floodplain. It was situated on the highest part of the property, with elevated tent pads.

What was done for pedestrian/vehicle safety in the area?

Project Homeless Connect staff provided transportation options for campers in order to minimize additional pedestrian traffic on Wood Street. Additionally, Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services. Staff coordinated with neighboring industries to maintain a high level of awareness. At the request of neighboring industries, a temporary gravel path was constructed connecting the camp entrance with the existing public sidewalk on Wood Street.

When the camp was full, were individuals allowed to camp outside of the camp site?

The camp accommodated up to 30 campers. Camping was not allowed outside the camp site, and Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services.

Were there concerns the camp would attract illegal RV parking along Wood Street?

Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services. RVs have not gathered outside previous service locations. Hillsboro Police Department officers provided increased patrolling of the area.

What initiatives were in place for preventing trash, pollution, and environmental impacts?

The site was created in response to an existing community need. Trash and pollution concerns are already impacting the nearby areas around Dairy Creek, McKay Creek, and Downtown Hillsboro. Project Homeless Connect staff monitored inside the camp and the surrounding area. Campers were expected to use trash disposal service. Staff remained available to listen and respond to concerns during the camp site’s operations.

Where did the funding for the project coming from, and how much did it cost?

Services being provided by Project Homeless Connect were paid for by the City of Hillsboro. The estimated funding was $170,000 to operate the tent camp site through November 2021.

Will the City compensate property owners for lost property value or security enhancements?

The site was created in response to an existing community need that was already impacting the nearby areas around Dairy Creek, McKay Creek, and Downtown Hillsboro. There is no plan to financially compensate neighbors for perceived loss of property value or additional security investments stemming from camp site operations on City-owned property.

What kind of security and police presence were provided around the area?

Project Homeless Connect staff performed regular perimeter walks of the site. Hillsboro Police Department officers provided increased patrolling of the area.

What can neighbors do if they experience issues now that camp operations have concluded?

Project Homeless Connect staff can be reached at 503-825-8970 for issues or questions specific to camp operations.

Please email our Wood Street Project Team at Wood.Street.Camp@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov with general comments or inquiries about the project.

Please call Hillsboro Police’s non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 for general non-emergency issues, and 911 should be called for emergency issues that require police or code compliance response.

Were campers required to provide a clean drug test?

No. While drugs and alcohol were not allowed on the premises, tenants were not be required to provide a clean drug test.

Were campers required to be actively seeking employment?

No. All Project Homeless Connect programs operate from a low barrier perspective. Project Homeless Connect welcomed campers to a community of people experiencing similar challenges, meeting them where they are at, and assisting those who are seeking and capable of employment.

Were campers required to police themselves?

Three Project Homeless Connect staff members were on site at all times to implement the guidelines for acceptable behavior. Campers were required to sign an agreement to abide by the camp guidelines in order to enter the camp.

Would campers removed if they didn’t follow the rules of the camp?

Yes. Project Homeless Connect staff endeavor to help guests live within the guidelines but campers were subject to eviction if they failed to do so. Staff members were to make a case by case assessment of each unique situation in order to maintain a safe and communal atmosphere.

Concluded: 2021 Winter Shelter at the Hillsboro Civic Center

Concluded: 2021 Winter Shelter Details

During the winter of 2021, Hillsboro had limited shelter availability due to COVID-19 risks.

In response, the City of Hillsboro partnered with Washington County, Community Action, and Project Homeless Connect to provide a winter shelter at the Hillsboro Civic Center. The shelter operated in the City-owned space above Outdoors In and the former Starbucks location from January 31 through March 15, 2021 and accommodated up to 30 adults 18 years and older.

The temporary use of existing space for the emergency shelter allowed for sleeping, meals, water, and restrooms. The team from Project Homeless Connect took the lead in providing coordinating care services.

The shelter helped reduce the risk of exposure among vulnerable populations who are unhoused, including people over 55 and/or with underlying health conditions.

Additional Concluded Initiatives

  • The City of Hillsboro collaborated with Washington County, the City of Beaverton, and the City of Tigard to bring Metro HomeShare to Washington County. This program connects Home Providers (homeowners) with Home Seekers (renters) to help stabilize communities and facilitate home retention. Visit the Metro HomeShare website for more information about this program.
  • The City of Hillsboro teamed up with Metro and other government agencies to distribute empty garbage bags to those with limited access to trash disposal and collect them when full through Metro's Trash Bag Pilot Program.
  • Participated in the 2018 Point-in-Time Count (PIT) and led the efforts for Hillsboro in 2019. We also provided volunteers and technological support in 2020.

Get Help: Find Resources

Contact our Community Services Coordinator

For questions, comments, or partnership opportunities, email our Community Services Coordinator or call 503-681-6271.

This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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