Tag: Multnomah County

Community, Construction, Demolition, New Business

Upcoming 82nd Ave County Shelter Meetings and Vote

On March 20th, the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) held its first widely attended public meeting regarding shelter plans for the Multnomah County-owned property at 333 SE 82nd Avenue. The second County run meeting on April 3rd will continue the community conversation with JOHS staff, City of Portland representatives, and site operator Straightway Services in attendance. On April 8th, the Montavilla Neighborhood Association (MNA) will dedicate a significant portion of its meeting to the  Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) for this site in cooperation with the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA). Then, on April 11th, the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners plans to vote on authorizing funds to demolish the existing RV sales office on the site and construct the required trash enclosure, plumbing, and electrical connections for the modular structures.

JOHS officials began working on a usage strategy for the shelter site in 2022, giving it the working title Montavilla Community Village. Multnomah County purchased the former RV sales lot and another site several blocks south to create shelter services along 82nd Avenue. Resident selection for Montavilla Community Village will prioritize unhoused individuals with passenger vehicles from the Montavilla area. Shelter operators will then accept people living unsheltered on the nearby streets, working with established services groups to locate potential residents with ties to the neighborhood. The site’s design provides space for 29 Pallet shelters, 33 onsite parking spaces, trash services, showers, restrooms, laundry, and a communal kitchenette. Montavilla Community Village could house up to 40 people with 24-hour wraparound support from Straightway Services staff.

KGW’s coverage of Multnomah County March 20th community meeting

At the March 20th meeting, Montavilla residents asked questions and voiced concerns. Comments focused on the proposed shelter’s location and effect on the surrounding blocks. Some attendees expressed support for the project, while the most vocal in the group asked for more consideration for the impact on neighboring businesses and residents. Leaders of JOHS and Straightway Services clarified some assumptions about the site operation, saying that they have no intention of bringing in new unhoused people to the neighborhood. They explained that they intend to support those people already living unsheltered in the area who want to come in from the streets. They recognize that not everyone wants to follow site rules or join the community. Instead, they will concentrate on people looking to change their current living situation by providing supportive services and access to stable housing opportunities.

Montavilla Community Village site rendering courtesy Multnomah County

The site is on SE 82nd Avenue next to a McDonald’s restaurant and a new day services provider. Six single-family homes share the block with the 333 SE 82nd Avenue property, and one of the homeowners in attendance at the March meeting expressed concern over site orientation with the trash enclosure abutting her property. The JOHS has not submitted permits for this project to the City of Portland, and they will provide an opportunity at the April 3rd meeting to hear suggestions for the final layout. Some community members asked questions to JOHS leaders on March 20th that did not have immediate answers. Staff notetakers at the meeting recorded those questions so presenters could provide answers at the April meeting or through the Montavilla Community Village Newsletter. People who want to attend the Wednesday, April 3rd meeting should RSVP. The in-person event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Montavilla United Methodist Church at 232 SE 80th Avenue.

The following Monday, April 8th, residents and business people can attend the MNA meeting to hear the latest information on the project and receive updates on the JOHS’s timeline. MNA leaders will provide an overview of GNA focus points already identified, and the community will have time to provide feedback. METBA members involved in the GNA joint committee will attend the meeting for the conversation. The Montavilla United Methodist Church will host this MNA meeting. Organizers plan to offer online access to the meeting, but they encourage in-person attendance.

Julia Brim-Edwards, Multnomah County Board Commissioner for District 3, speaking at March 20th Meeting

On December 7th, the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to postpone the two agenda items related to Montavilla Community Village, asking JOHS for more community engagement before breaking ground on the SE 82nd Avenue site. District 3 Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards endorsed the initial pause due to requests from her Montavilla constituents requesting better communications from JOHS. Four months and several meetings later, those agenda items are in front of the Board of Commissioners again. The county already owns the land but needs Board approval to spend money demolishing the 2,328-square-foot office building and constructing sufficient power, sewer, and water to support the new residents. The 29 shelter pods are surplus from a Creating Conscious Communities with People Outside (C3PO) site decommissioned in 2021. Each shed-style shelter has electricity, heating, and air-conditioning. Even with those project cost savings, the County staff need $2,273,611 to redevelop this site and will seek authorization for those funds at the April 11th Board meeting.

The JOHS and MNA meetings are open to the public, and organizers encourage community members to participate in the GNA process. Anyone interested in watching the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners vote can view the live stream via the MultCoBoard YouTube channel. People intending to provide comments before the vote can testify in person or virtually by completing a request form. Even if County Commissioners approve the funding, residents will not move into Montavilla Community Village until late December, allowing months of continued work on the multi-party GNA.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Business Association Board which will be an invited signer of the GNA

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, New Business

82nd Ave County Shelter Meetings

On March 20th and April 3rd, the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) will hold meetings regarding shelter plans for Multnomah County-owned property at 333 SE 82nd Avenue. The Montavilla United Methodist Church, located nearby at 232 SE 80th Avenue, will host public gatherings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Event organizers ask that people RSVP for the meeting they plan to attend.

JOHS officials began working on a usage strategy for the shelter site, now called Montavilla Community Village, in 2022. Multnomah County purchased the former RV sales lot and another site several blocks south to create shelter services along 82nd Avenue. However, it was not until officials selected 333 SE 82nd Avenue’s operator, Straightway Services, that the County announced the shelter’s format. Resident selection for Montavilla Community Village will prioritize individuals living in passenger vehicles. The site provides Pallet shelters, 33 onsite parking spaces, trash services, showers, restrooms, laundry, and a communal kitchenette.

Montavilla Community Village site rendering courtesy Multnomah County

In late 2023, JOHS staff prepared to secure approval for the alternative shelter with 29 sleeping pods offering space for up to 40 people. On December 7th, the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to postpone the two agenda items related to this project, asking for more community engagement before breaking ground on the SE 82nd Avenue site. Since then, the JOHS began working with the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association, Montavilla Neighborhood Association, and 82nd Avenue Business Association to create a Good Neighbor Agreement. The two upcoming public meetings will inform engaged community members about the shelter project and allow people to share feedback.

The JOHS encourages neighbors to complete an email sign-up form to receive communications regarding Montavilla Community Village’s progress and asks those who can attend a meeting to RSVP for March 20th or April 3rd.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Business Association Board

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Renovation

Gregory Heights Library Reopens after Remodel

On January 4th, Gregory Heights Library at 7921 NE Sandy Boulevard reopened after a five-month-long closure for renovations. The bond-funded work included new paint and carpets throughout the building’s interior. Other enhancements include increased book-handling efficiency through automation, faster internet service, and contemporary furniture. This branch is the first of 11 Multnomah County Library locations to complete the refresh process.

Gregory Heights Library kids section

Since Gregory Heights Library closed for updates on July 20th, Montavilla residents relied on the Belmont branch for services even though it was not the closest location. In December 2022, Multnomah County began significant renovation at the Midland and Holgate Libraries, keeping those locations closed to the public until summer 2024. Construction-related disruptions throughout the library system are inconvenient to patrons, but County officials feel the temporary hardship will ultimately provide better facilities ready to meet modern community needs.

Gregory Heights Library computer tables with faster connections

People returning to the Gregory Heights Library will see significant updates inside and out. Painters changed the red exterior to a gray base color on shingled walls with large Vintage Vessel blue painted segments on the building’s protrusions. Crews replaced the wood-shingled mansard roof with dark metal cladding. New interior paint and carpet modernized the library’s appearance, which the county had not updated since 1999. The staff replaced center bookshelves that once towered over the tallest visitors with shorter units that provide better sight lines across the main room.

Gregory Heights Library Teens section

Gregory Heights Library staff selected the building’s colors and furniture from several proposals. The remodel features enhanced youth activity areas with dedicated sections for teens and younger children. Larger library locations receiving updates will have dedicated rooms for each group. However, Gregory Heights could only accommodate dedicated sections. The Kid’s space is near the front entrance and features size-appropriate furniture, tactile education boards, and engaging colors. Designers placed the Teen section along the back wall with comfortable seating geared towards completing homework and hosting small group gatherings. In the center of the one-room library, a sea of books shares the space with public computers sitting atop new tables. Each station connects to the internet through a faster link provided through a City of Portland partnership.

Faster internet access is not the only technical improvement to Gregory Heights Library through this bond-funded work. Members can now check out books through automated kiosks, skipping the line and freeing librarians to concentrate on material questions. The classic book drop is fully automated in this new library. Borrowers insert returned items into a slot that reads the barcode while conveyors transport them to a four-way sort table. The item then drops into an appropriate bin based on whether it needs to be re-shelved, placed on the hold shelf for a waiting customer, or transferred to another location to fill a request. Books deposited after-hours can also run through the automated sorting process, fed from another conveyor in the back room.

Gregory Heights Library is now open from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Eastside library users once again have this vital location available with its many enhancements. Later this year, Montavilla residents will have access to the expanded Midland location and the wholly rebuilt Holgate Library.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Government, Infrastructure

County to Vote on SE 82nd Ave Shelter

On December 7th, the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners will hear from Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) staff regarding the alternative shelter planned for 333 SE 82nd Avenue. The presenters are seeking approval to begin building a 29-Pod micro-home facility to shelter up to 40 people experiencing houselessness. Individuals can provide testimony about the project in person, virtually, and in writing before County Commissioners vote. People interested in sharing their perspectives must register by 4 p.m. on Wednesday the 6th.

Montavilla News first reported on Multnomah County’s shelter plans for the former RV sales lot in December 2022. Within the following year, JOHS and the site’s services provider, Straightway Services, adjusted the shelter’s format from a vehicle-based housing arrangement to now include Pallet shelters and onsite parking. Titled Montavilla Community Village, the site will use 29 micro-home buildings with eight units configured with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access. The site’s Kitchen, laundry, offices, and hygiene facilities will reside within six 8-by-20-foot shipping-container-style buildings. All of those structures will be ADA accessible, with the majority of them placed along SE 82nd Avenue, creating a safety buffer for residents.

Site rendering courtesy Multnomah County

County contractors will install privacy slats in the existing 6-foot-high chainlink fence around the site and build a new 8-foot tall wood fence on the western edge of the property between the other residences on the block. The site will feature two covered outdoor seating areas and a green space for pet relief. The existing auto-sales-office structure on the property is in poor condition, and demolition crews will remove it ahead of site redevelopment.

Site plan courtesy Multnomah County

The JOHS proposal includes several community engagement recommendations, including forming a Good Neighbor Agreement with community stakeholders and hosting a public meeting. It also encourages the JOHS to assign a staff person to be the face of community engagement. It recommends many ways for project planners to become more communicative and transparent in the development process through mailings and website communications. County staff need $2,273,611 to redevelop this site as a Community Village shelter and will seek authorization for those funds at this meeting.

The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners meets at 9:30 a.m. this Thursday and will hear this agenda item after general community comments. Board meetings occur in the Multnomah Building at 501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard in Boardroom 100. People who register for virtual testimony will receive a link or phone number to participate remotely. Anyone interested in watching can view the live stream via the MultCoBoard YouTube channel.

Update December 5th, 5 p.m.: Multnomah County Commissioner for District 3, Julia Brim-Edwards, submitted questions to the JOHS in regards to the presentation materials and posted those questions online for public review.

Update December 6th, 1 p.m.: When filling out comment requests, participants need to indicate they want to speak about Agenda Item R.1

Update December 6th, 7 p.m.: The JOHS asked to postpone this agenda item to anther date after more community engagement.

Update December 7th, 10 a.m.: The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to postpone the two agenda items related to this project. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said “The Joint Office (JOHS) has asked to postpone the item on the Montavilla Community Village shelter to allow the current work around community engagement to continue to move forward and take shape. So this request impacts both R1 and R2 on today’s agenda. While this may affect the overall timeline of the project, the commitment to this much needed shelter space is going to continue and I really appreciate the additional time for needed community engagement. The shelter also remains an essential part of the work, serving vulnerable residents in Montavilla and Southeast Portland, so this item will return to the agenda for a vote at a later date before moving forward. I support the request and I ask for a motion for an indefinite postponement.”

County Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Sharon Meieran provided additional comment endorsing the delay to allow for more community engagement. Commissioner Meieran referenced many frustrations with the JOHS communications around this project and looked forward to correcting that ahead of a future vote on the project.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Event

Electeds and Supporters Gather a AYCO’s Gala

On September 28th, the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) hosted the Unleashing Roots fundraising gala inside their new Dream Center building at 2110 SE 82nd Avenue. Supporters of the immigrant and refugee services nonprofit joined elected officials in celebrating the organization’s accomplishments while raising money to build a brighter future. Guests were treated to Mediterranean food, mocktails, and speaker presentations during the three-hour event.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson speaking to the audience

Highlighted speakers included Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, and several AYCO program beneficiaries. Jamal Dar, the founder and Executive Director of the organization, made an impassioned speech covering the 15-year journey that brought them to a permanent home on SE 82nd Avenue in Montavilla. All conversations at the event focused on finding funds to fill the unfinished building with rooms and resources for the youth-oriented programs.

Jamal Dar AYCO Founder & Executive Director with the 360 Roots award winners in attendance

Towards the end of the evening, Dar presented top supporters with the 360 Roots Award. Representatives from CareOregon, Meyer Memorial Trust, and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust joined Dar onstage to accept their awards and speak about why they support AYCO. Other winners not at the event were thanked for their contributions to securing the group’s success. Although this annual gala has concluded, the fundraising drive continues online at the AYCO website as they build the resources to finish their Dream Center building. Donations also support the expanded programming envisioned for the future as their physical space becomes more defined.

Food by Baba’s Mediterranean Grill
Drinks by mobile cocktail cart Bliss Bar
Art auction fundraiser

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Construction, Services

Gregory Heights Library Closing July 20th

Update: The library reopened on January 4th, 2024.

Thursday, Gregory Heights Library at 7921 NE Sandy Boulevard will close for several months while crews perform minor renovations. This bond-funded work includes new paint and carpets throughout the building’s interior. Other enhancements include increased book handling efficiency through automation, faster internet, and updated technology. After the crew completes the interior refresh, staff will install more comfortable seating and adjust shelving for better sightlines through the facility.

This temporary closure is one of many recent construction-related disruptions limiting library access for Montavilla residents. Although not the closest location, the Gregory Heights Library has seen increased usage since December 2022, when Multnomah County began significant renovation at the Midland and Holgate Libraries. With this location closing on July 20th, Montavilla residents should now use the Belmont Library at 1038 SE César E. Chávez Boulevard.

Multnomah County Library is expanding and renovating facilities across the system thanks to the voter-approved 2020 Library building bond. This year, contractors are reconstructing or augmenting five libraries and working on ten refresh projects. Crews will use the Gregory Heights closure to patch the roof and repaint the library’s exterior. That general maintenance work is not bond funded but part of regular facilities upkeep. Expect this location to reopen in winter 2023 with many enhancements and a fresh look.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community

Community Meetings on Alternative Shelters

Last week began and ended with community meetings regarding the placement of alternative outdoor shelters in Montavilla. Meeting attendees expressed mixed support for the temporary housing program, and a significant number of residents voiced their disappointment with County communication regarding these shelter projects. Elected officials presented at both gatherings, but many community members’ concerns remain unanswered as the area residents wait for Multnomah County to engage in public conversations.

Organizers scheduled the two meetings soon after The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed that a 5.8-acre Volunteers of America (VOA) Oregon property could become an alternative outdoor shelter for up to 150 people experiencing houselessness. However, those early conversations did not produce a short-term lease for 8815 NE Glisan Street, and City staff will continue searching for locations outside of Montavilla. Some residents were concerned that this section of Portland was taking on an undue burden from government groups looking to address the housing emergency. At the end of December, Montavilla News broke the story that Multnomah County purchased two automotive sales lots along SE 82nd Avenue, with at least one location becoming an outdoor alternative shelter. The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) recently announced that Straightway Services will operate a Safe Park alternative shelter at 333 SE 82nd Avenue.

The Safe Park model allows Portlanders experiencing vehicular homelessness to park and utilize their vehicles for shelter. The fully managed site will provide safety, sanitation, and case management to invited residents looking to transition off the street. Shelter rules prohibit Recreational Vehicle (RV) parking and unsanctioned camping at this location. The nonprofit provider, Straightway Services, will maintain staff onsite at all hours of the day and be responsible for managing the location’s residents. The site is already fenced and awaiting the demolition of the former sales office. JOHS staff expect residents to move in later this year.

JOHS has not announced plans for the second County-owned site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue. However, they have indicated it will also address the shelter needs of the unhoused. Montavilla already hosts a County supported alternative outdoor shelter called Beacon Village, north of NE Glisan Street. That location is widely considered a successful implementation, and the County often cites it as an example in its communications. When these two new 82nd Avenue locations open, the County will have three alternative outdoor shelters within close proximity to each other, prompting questions from neighborhood residents about site selection diversity.

Mayor Ted Wheeler speaking at the March 18th, 2023, town hall

Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church hosted a Stand for Compassion gathering on Sunday, March 12th. Multnomah County Commissioner Diane Rosenbaum and State Representative Khanh Pham spoke briefly at the event. Over a dozen community members attended the gathering that focused on engaging in supportive conversations around the Safe Park site. Most attendees of this meeting felt hopeful about the program and appreciated that some new models of shelter support were coming to the neighborhood.

The Columbia Christian School hosted a town hall meeting on Saturday afternoon in their Eastside Church of Christ chapel. This event was coordinated by Safe Rest PDX and attended by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who spoke for an hour. With the VOA site no longer considered for a City run temporary shelter site, his conversation focused on the program’s ambitions to end unsanctioned camping in Portland and his belief that it was the most humane solution to getting people off the street quickly. Event organizers took written questions from the audience for the Mayor and selected a few to ask. After he concluded his portion of the meeting, the two hundred attendees thinned out considerably, and the TV news crews from Koin, KGW, KATU, and KPTV packed up their equipment. The event continued for almost another hour, with speakers sharing their experience engaging the unhoused and expressing concern over JOHS’s lack of communication. Examples of the County’s short Cummings centered around missing several self-imposed deadlines for mailing information to residents near 333 SE 82nd Avenue and the lack of County attendance at their meeting. Outside of the written questions for the Mayor, organizers asked attendees to refrain from speaking. However, they collected people’s concerns through a survey and plan to share those comments at a future date.

During Mayor Wheeler’s time at the lectern, he informed the crowd that the City was not planning to have any other large 150-person camps sited in Montavilla, limiting the future alternative shelters to the three County locations. JOHS and Straightway Services are committed to holding a public conversation with the community closer to the site’s opening and signing a Good Neighbor Agreement with the local business and neighborhood associations. Until then, there will likely remain a gap in public information beyond what is available on the County’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage for the Montavilla Safe Park.

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The Author of this article servers on the boards of Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, 82nd Avenue Business Association, and Montavilla Neighborhood Association. Those groups will work with Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services and Straightway Services to draft a Good Neighbor Agreement for the Safe Park Village on SE 82nd Avenue.

Community, New Residence, Property Sale

County Alternative Shelters Coming to SE 82nd Ave

In the second half of 2022, Multnomah County purchased two automotive sales lots in Montavilla along SE 82nd Avenue. At least one location will become an outdoor alternative shelter serving houseless Portlanders next year. The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) is currently selecting a service provider to offer continuous on-site support for the residents. County staff anticipates a summer 2023 opening for the first location near SE Stark Street. The second location near Harrison Park is in an early pre-planning phase and currently leased to a recreational vehicle (RV) sales company.

In August 2022, Multnomah County purchased the former RV sales lot at 333 SE 82nd Avenue and posted a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on November 2nd. In response to the NOFA, organizations interested in managing the shelter submitted applications ahead of the November 21st deadline, and the County is actively reviewing those proposals. JOHS staff have yet to determine the type of alternative outdoor shelter planned for 333 SE 82nd Avenue. The site could support either a safe park site for non-RV passenger vehicles or a village-style shelter with small freestanding shed-style Pallet shelters. 

Residents are pre-selected for both types of alternative shelters. These sites will not support drop-in services, and site operators will discourage unsanctioned camping around the property. County staff point to another JOHS-funded shelter in the neighborhood as an example of what they intend to create at this site. Beacon Village opened its 10-pod village to residents earlier this year near NE Glisan Street and has successfully housed a small group of formerly unhoused people within a church parking lot.

1818 SE 82nd Avenue

The second County-owned site is located less than a mile south of 333 SE 82nd Avenue at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue. The corner lot has access to SE Mill Street and is a block away from Harrison Park. Currently, the County is leasing the property back to its former owner. Recently acquired in December 2022, JOHS has yet to determine this site’s ultimate use, and Multnomah County staff cannot say when planning for this site will begin.

Outdoor alternative shelters are most commonly associated with a City lead collaboration between Portland and JOHS known as Safe Rest Villages. However, both County-owned sites are not being developed as part of that program. Jenka Soderberg, the program communications coordinator for JOHS, explained the primary difference between the two programs. “The Safe Rest Villages program was created apart from existing shelter efforts, with the City funding construction, though it does work with the Joint Office around contracting and other support.” These sites on SE 82nd Avenue will join the County’s existing alternative shelter program that began five years ago. “The Joint Office already funds and operates other alternative shelter sites and has done so since the Kenton Women’s Village first opened in 2017. Other shelters in that category include St. Johns Village, Beacon Village PDX, and WeShine’s Parkrose Village.” Said Soderberg.

The vacant half-block property near historic downtown Montavilla received new black chain-link fencing around its perimeter this December, supplanting the construction fencing that has protected the site since its sale. Over the next few months, construction crews will upgrade facilities at the site, creating resident amenities that include personal property storage, trash service, showers, restrooms, laundry, kitchen space, and social services. 

Image of 333 SE 82nd Avenue from Portland Maps

The County considers 333 SE 82nd Avenue temporary accommodations. With people staying only as long as it takes to transition into permanent housing or permanent supportive housing programs. However, according to Soderberg, the site will remain a temporary shelter location for the foreseeable future. “The plan is to operate a long-term shelter at the site, but like all programs, budgets must be approved by the County Board and City Council annually, and we would always want to ensure we’re able to evaluate the success of the program.”

During the first half of 2023, program staff will coordinate meetings, working with neighbors and area businesses to create a Good Neighbor Agreement. Through alternative shelters like the ones proposed for Montavilla, the County intends to initiate positive changes for villagers and neighbors currently experiencing unsanctioned camping. By creating a safe sleeping space for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, program managers hope to build an environment that allows villagers to be part of the surrounding neighborhood. Employees will professionally manage the site at all hours of every day. People working with residents will provide support to address basic needs, including hygiene services, case management, and housing navigation. Residents will receive access to treatment for unmet behavioral health needs.

Neighbors within a half-mile radius of the site should receive a postcard in the mail informing them about this planned site use. JOHS will update the community when they decide on a program model and contract with a shelter operator. The village could open and accept participants as soon as workers complete construction. Still, that timeline depends on the shelter style selection and how soon site management can prepare staff. JOHS will provide updates to community organizations as those milestones come closer.

333 SE 82nd Avenue

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the boards of the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, 82nd Avenue Business Association, and Montavilla Neighborhood Association. During that work, he drafted the Good Neighbor Agreement with Beacon Village and will likely participate in future community outreach for these Multnomah County initiatives.

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.