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Housing Services E-Newsletter
| | Washington County and Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Center pictured at recent community engagement event | | |
Hello Washington County,
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Junior this month and his enduring legacy of equality and opportunity, I find myself reflecting on one of his speeches when he said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.” These times, marked by national strife and grief, especially in places like my hometown of Minneapolis, make his call for justice and compassion more urgent than ever.
Here in Washington County, let’s remember that building a just and caring community starts with the everyday ways we show up for one another. Just this past week, with temperatures below freezing, our partners served over 150 people at our severe weather shelters. I’d like to thank our partners who showed up in the cold for extended hours for those in need. If you ever see an unhoused neighbor who is suffering from the cold, call 503-629-0111 to request a welfare check.
This past month here in Oregon, I was heartened to see that Governor Kotek extended Oregon’s homelessness emergency, emphasizing the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and addiction. With this renewed focus, we are enhancing access to supportive behavioral health services intertwined with shelter and housing assistance and looking forward to opening our first recovery-focused transitional housing program this fall.
On a personal note, I’m excited to share that I’ve recently joined the Board of Directors for Camp Rosenbaum, a nonprofit dedicated to creating life-changing opportunities for youth supported by housing authorities through mentoring, camp, and athletic programs. Each summer, Camp offers a free, week-long experience for kids ages 9–11 who live in housing supported by a housing authority in Oregon or Southern Washington. Last year, we sent 27 kids to Camp from Washington County, and we hope to send more kids this year!
Best,
Molly
| | Future Central County Safe Rest Village
maintains critical shelter capacity | | |
In late December 2025, the Department of Housing Services purchased a property at 3390 SW 209th Avenue in Aloha to locate 60 safe rest pod pallet homes. This safe rest village fulfills our commitment to relocate temporary shelter capacity, maintaining 400 shelter units county-wide. By spreading services across the community, we avoid concentrating services in any one location and maintain access to resources for those who need them most. The safe rest village is currently estimated to open in May 2026.
The Central County Safe Rest Village will be operated by Open Door HousingWorks, a trusted service provider with extensive experience running pod villages in Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Aloha. Residents will have access to 24/7 staffing, housing navigation, employment support, meals, and showers. Security measures, including a perimeter fence and on-site parking, will help maintain a clean and secure environment for everyone.
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This new program will be temporarily referred to as the Central County Safe Rest Village, and we invite you to join us in offering suggestions for a new name for this program that reflects our shared values of compassion and responsibility, giving shelter guests dignity, and demonstrating the value of shelter programs here in Washington County. Please send any suggestions you have to Homeless_Services@WashingtonCountyOR.gov. We also invite local community members and partners to attend upcoming neighborhood meetings, kicking off on February 25 to help shape the Good Neighbor Agreement.
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Interested in waitlist openings?
Keep up to date with the department's affordable housing and vouchers' waitlist openings by easily creating a profile on our portal to receive notifications. You can also check out our dedicated waitlists' webpage that includes non-county operated properties. Share with family, friends, and colleagues.
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Supportive Housing Services funds address volatile housing needs
Community partners across Washington County have raised concerns about the growing number of families facing a housing crisis. Recent changes in federal benefits like SNAP and Medicaid, and employment uncertainty due to immigration raids, have directly impacted take-home pay for many low-income households. These families are turning to our partners for help with rent assistance, eviction prevention, and move-in costs at increased rates.
At the January 20, 2026, Washington County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Board approved additional funding to address a growing demand for emergency housing assistance. Using available one-time funds from the regional Supportive Housing Services measure, up to $4 million will be added to existing programs and contracts with our network of 25 community-based service providers. These additional resources will make sure funds are available through the next two fiscal years in response to this growing demand.
If your family is experiencing impacts from recent federal changes, as described above, and will likely experience homelessness, please work with your local community-based organization. If you haven’t yet worked with our partners, you can also call our hotline, 503-640-3263, at Community Connect to learn about available shelters and programs to address your homelessness.
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Do you have a story to share?
Do you know of someone who may want to share their housing story with us? Or perhaps you work in housing and want to inform others of a specific experience? We want to hear from you and share positive impactful stories with our community.
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Just Compassion demonstrates possibilities for healthcare and housing integration
When Just Compassion launched its Housing Related Social Needs (HRSN) waiver program in November 2024, the goal was clear: keep people housed by addressing urgent risks. What began with a single case manager quickly grew as demand surged. By March 2025, case managers were bogged down with billing tasks while trying to support participants. With only six months of assistance available, delays were costly. Just Compassion responded by creating billing and intake departments, freeing case managers to focus on in-person support, tackling barriers head-on.
As the program expanded across seven counties, eviction court emerged as another major challenge. Case managers were spending days in courtrooms without legal training. In response, the organization introduced court liaisons with paralegal backgrounds. Medicaid billing delays forced the organization to float nearly $1 million to keep people housed, a risk made possible through strong partnerships.
Unlike traditional housing programs, the HRSN waiver operates on a tight timeline, requiring rapid action. One participant was approved for assistance just two weeks before open-heart surgery, a case where speed made all the difference. By focusing on immediate needs and removing barriers as fast as possible, the program demonstrates what is possible when housing and health interventions work hand in hand.
Today, 80 staff members stabilize housing for thousands across Oregon. Despite the growth, the focus remains unchanged. “We can never lose track of the person who sits right in front of us,” says Just Compassion Deputy Director Michael Austin.
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Elly’s story: First-ever CARES awardee walking side by side with program participants
When Elly walks into a room, hope follows. As a housing placement specialist with Open Door HousingWorks, she helps families overcome some of the toughest barriers to stability, work that earned her the Department of Housing Services’ first-ever Community CARES Award in October 2025. The award recognized her relentless resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to strengthening the safety net for those in need.
During our interview with Elly, her personal stories of the ways she shows up for program participants demonstrate her dedication and lived experience as someone who knows firsthand how meaningful the little things are. She shares stories of framing family photos for program participants, decorating apartments for newly housed participants on Christmas Eve, and renting U-Hauls while simultaneously filling out Community Connect applications for others on the same day.
Want to find more about Elly’s journey and work in the community? Read our latest blog post.
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Department of Housing Services
WE ARE HIRING!
https://wacounty.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers
A spectrum of jobs in housing are available from entry level to upper management with a competitive benefits package and a dynamic hardworking environment. Click here to view available positions and check back often as our positions' list continue to be updated.
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The Department of Housing Services creates pathways out of homelessness, promotes housing stability, and invests in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents. | |  | | | | |
