Portland Adds 7th Safe Rest Village, An RV Site In Northeast Portland

PORTLAND, OR — As Portland moves closer to opening its first of six planned Safe Rest Villages by the end of the month, the city is moving ahead on adding a seventh site that would be different from the other six, according to city documents.

Unlike the current six planned villages — which are collections of tiny homes that share amenities, have support services and are intended to help people transition from the streets into housing — the seventh site will be an RV Safe Park Village for people living in their recreational vehicles, the city said.

The city said it plans to turn a large paved lot at 9827 N.E. Sunderland Ave. currently controlled by the Portland Bureau of Transportation and convert it into a space where as many as 60 RVS will be able to park.

The site will have "case management, amenities, and mental and behavioral health services for those living in their RVS," according to the city. The amenities will include kitchen spaces, laundry, showers and restrooms. It will be staffed 24/7.

The transportation bureau will be moved from the site to a location nearby.

"There has been significant community support for use of this location as an RV Safe Park, dating back before the Safe Rest Village program existed," the city said in a statement.

Funds for the site will come from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the city.