On December 2nd, crews working with a crane unloaded prefabricated mobile buildings that will support the residents and site operators of Harrison Community Village at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue. This installation marks a significant milestone as the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department (HSD) prepares the site to house a new sober shelter operated by nonprofit Do Good Multnomah. Principal work on this project began in August, when demolition crews razed the single-story sales office and shop, last used as an RV sales location and later purchased by Multnomah County to become Montavilla’s second shelter site on 82nd Avenue. Work will continue during the 2025-2026 winter season to prepare the site for 38 single-occupancy shed-style shelter units.
The blue metal buildings, made from shipping containers that specialists recently craned into place, will house sanitation facilities, offices, cooking facilities, and other shared spaces. Previously, electricians and plumbers installed underground utilities to provide services to the temporary buildings on the site. Fencing installers have begun setting posts for a new seven-foot-high chain-link fence with plastic privacy inserts meant to obscure visibility into the property. Further work phases will create an outdoor pet relief area, green space, and covered seating for residents. Crews will also construct a trash enclosure and complete new perimeter barriers, including a new wood fence along the eastern edge of the property to create a buffer between the shelter site and the adjoining single-family residence.
Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2.015 million. This 34,000-square-foot parcel was the second Montavilla location the County bought that year for temporary shelter services. The other shelter, Oak Street Village at 333 SE 82nd Avenue, opened in February and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services — now renamed the Homeless Services Department — has held several community meetings, including one in April that announced that Do Good Multnomah would operate the site as a sober shelter. Presenters explained that residents and staff are subject to drug testing, and policy strictly prohibits the possession of non-prescribed intoxicants on the property. Selecting a sober format meets a specific need for people transitioning into stable housing who are in recovery from substance use disorder, and it better matches community desires for the site, which is near two Portland Public Schools.
Homeless Services Department staff will continue to collaborate with community partners on a Good Neighbor Agreement. People can expect to see much more above-ground work at the site, leading up to an early 2026 community tour of the property, followed by the first group of residents beginning to move into the sober housing, where they will receive on-site support every hour of every day, with operators providing wraparound services that aim to move people into stable housing. People interested in knowing more can visit the Harrison Community Village website.
Feb 2025 Design – courtesy HSD
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