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March 30, 2023 | housingservices@washingtoncountyor.gov

On Thursday April 20, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM will be the much-awaited Grand Opening Event of the former Aloha Inn!

Come join us and celebrate the hotel's renovation and conversion into a permanent supportive housing property led by the team at Washington County's Department of Housing Services. We are quite excited to provide 54 additional homes to some of our community's most vulnerable members and would like to thank our service and financial partners for their collaboration in making this project happen.

Let's meet at 3333 SW 198th Ave, Aloha and greet each other, socialize with one another over some free refreshments from local food truck La Pachanga, and hear from our community's leaders that helped bring this project to life.

The Housing Authority of Washington County purchased the property in 2020 and renovated it using funding made possible thanks to two regional voter-approved housing measures: the 2018 Affordable Housing Bond and 2021 Supportive Housing Services Levy. For more information on Aloha Inn, please visit our website.

To RSVP to the event, contact homeless_services@washingtoncountyor.gov.

Community Collage Event: Creative Fun for Everyone

This is no April Fools joke! On Saturday April 1 from 1 to 3:30 pm at Aloha United Methodist Church there will be a free community collage workshop for people of all ages. Feel free to drop in at any time and help us come up with renaming suggestions for the former Aloha Inn that truly reflects the neighborhood.

Led by artists Laura Weiler and Jessica Riehl, you'll explore Aloha's history and community through various media, learn more about collage, and take home your own work of art. All collage materials will be provided, including 50 free take-home kits.

Don't miss out on this fun and meaningful community event!

Eva and her four-month-old son moved out of the Family Promise of Greater Washington County shelter and into her new apartment in January 2023 with the help of her housing case worker at Bienestar, Alejandra. This is Eva’s first apartment living independently with her son and there is a lot to learn! After moving from shelter, she did not have furniture to fill the empty rooms. For the first month, Eva and her son slept on an air mattress.

In February, Eva joined Alejandra for a virtual appointment with Community Warehouse. As the only nonprofit furniture bank in Washington County, Community Warehouse redistributes household items to program participants moving into unfurnished apartments. During her appointment, Eva picked out a bed, a table and chairs for her dining area, and a couch for her living room, along with smaller items like blankets, dishes, and lamps. During the visit, Alejandra also helped Eva check her mail and pay her utilities. Community Warehouse staff packed up Eva’s new furnishings after the appointment and delivered them to her the following day. 

Community Warehouse operates two locations in Tualatin and NE Portland where community members can drop off donations and program participants can pick out furniture. The Tualatin location’s Program Manager, Adolfo Delgado, was originally hired as a delivery truck driver. He has helped countless people furnish their apartments over six years. Adolfo shared, “During one of my first deliveries, I noticed the person we were helping had a baseball home plate as a doormat. I asked him why he had that and he said he ran all the bases and was finally home. I realized then that a home without furniture isn’t really a home.”

With the new stability that long-term housing provides, Eva has already started attending English classes at Portland Community College and is thinking about the future. Eva shares, “This apartment is such a blessing. Thank you!”

HomePlate Youth Services serves youth ages 12-24 who are experiencing any type of instability. HomePlate recently opened a new Day Center, located in central Beaverton, as of October 2022. With this new space, they are able to offer a wide array of services to youth who walk through their doors in a warm welcoming environment. 

The space is decorated by the youth HomePlate serves, including a floor to ceiling mural that our photos just can't do justice. Other services available in the space include laundry, a clothing closet, lockers for temporary storage, a commercial kitchen, and fully equipped bathrooms that includes showers! This helps HomePlate staff meet youth where they are at and provide resources including assistance applying for housing, healthcare referrals, ID assistance, job search support, and education resources. 

How can you help? HomePlate is currently looking for donations such as backpacks, blankets, electrolyte drinks, ponchos, foot powder, medium or full sized hygiene items, youth/young adult clothing and shoes, headphones, phone charging cords, portable charging blocks, canned goods and easy to make shelf stable items. Donations may be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (any week day EXCEPT Thursday) at 12685 SW 4th St, Beaverton. Call 503-608-7252 and select option 3 for questions about donations. 

Can We End Homelessness? We Met with the Experts to Find Out!

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR | washingtoncountyor.gov/housing