Tigard will welcome a brand-new senior housing community this month, thanks in no small part to the 2018 voter-backed Regional Affordable Housing Bond. On Nov. 9, a grand opening with local representatives celebrated Alongside Senior Apartments, a state-of-the-art development. Fifty-seven senior households are joining a well-established, vibrant community located “along side” the Tigard Senior Center and Fanno Creek natural area. The location offers numerous services within walking distance including TriMet transportation access, Tigard Public Library, Tigard City Hall and Universal Plaza.

Forty percent of residents will come from an extremely low-income background, making 30% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI).  This is possible through the allocation of Project-Based Vouchers from the Housing Authority of Washington County.The remaining homes will serve very low-income residents earning less than 60% of AMI.

The project was developed by non-profit Northwest Housing Alternatives, designed by SERA Architects, and constructed Walsh Construction. The development has also achieved the highly desired sustainable Earth Advantage Multifamily Certification because of its solar rooftop, excellent insulation, and other environmentally friendly features. With amenities such as fully equipped kitchens, walk-in closets, air conditioning, and community features like outdoor spaces, meeting rooms and laundry facilities, Alongside will serve the public well for years to come.

Visit the property's website if you're interested in making this your new home.

Construction on Beaverton Permanent Shelter Begins: New Capacity on Horizon!

Washington County, the City of Beaverton, Metro, state and federal representatives, and other community leaders gathered this month to mark the beginning of construction on the City of Beaverton’s first permanent emergency shelter. The community demonstrated strong support for this new facility, as well as other resources and services for people experiencing homelessness.

The shelter will be operated by Open Door HousingWorks and include space for 60 guests, with three meals a day, showers, laundry, clinic space, and supportive services on a 24/7, 365-day basis. Once open in mid-2024, the site will add much needed capacity to Washington County’s growing shelter program, which currently offers more than 400 beds/rooms county-wide.

The shelter is made possible through new funding sources for shelter acquisition and operations will be funded by the voter-approved Supportive Housing Services measure. The City of Beaverton will also receive approximately $9 million in state and federal funding, including American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Learn more about the project and more about Washington County’s existing shelter capacity.

Welcome our new Assistant Director of Finance - Michael Clark!

Michael joined Washington County in the Department of Housing Services and Housing Authority in 2018 and has been an invaluable team member. Prior to joining Washington County, he spent several years at the City of Portland, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and the State of Oregon. As the new Assistant Director of Finance for the Department of Housing Services, Michael will lead an experienced and growing team to collaboratively produce outstanding programmatic and financial results that meet the diverse service and resource needs of our community. 

Michael has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management information systems from Oregon Institute of Technology, a graduate certificate in public management from Portland State University, a master’s degree in international business from Pepperdine University, a master’s degree in business administration from Tecnologico de Monterrey, and a master’s degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State University.  

The 2023 Annual Housing Forum

Every year the Department of Housing Services hosts a forum on housing and various related topics, bringing together experts, elected officials, community members and service providers to discuss the needs of our community and innovative ways to advance housing opportunities. This year the forum featured speakers Hanif Fazal, Co-Founder of The Center for Equity & Inclusion and Senator Kayse Jama of Senate District 24. Surprise appearances were also made by former Housing Services Directors Val Valfre and Komi Kalevor.

This year's forum took on a new expanded format including tabletop discussions with partners from across the region. A common theme explored was the importance of collaboration, and as Director Molly Rogers noted, "All of us bring our own unique puzzle pieces to this work, but it is through collective action and coordinated strategies that we can deliver on the much-needed service of affordable housing."

The forum offered a moment for us to reflect on our collective efforts. Fazal, the event's first speaker, dove into his own life experiences in Washington County, leading to an incredible full-circle moment when he shared that his mom was one of the county's first outreach workers. The Director of Project Homeless Connect had realized that Fazal’s mom had been the one to train her as a brand-new outreach worker many years ago.

The forum also offered a moment to look forward. Senator Jama, Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development, spoke about bipartisan efforts to address the housing crisis. The upcoming legislative session includes priorities such as funding for shelter operation and the production of affordable and middle-income housing.

For an event recap, you can watch here. If you attended and want to give feedback, consider filling out this survey and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Fazal’s new book!