Letter from the director

Hello Washington County,

If you’re having a hard time tracking all the news out of Washington, D.C., you’re not alone. It can be hard to understand what is real and what is a rumor.

This month Congress passed and the President signed a Reconciliation Package, which included many provisions. The bill created burdensome requirements to access public benefits such as food and healthcare for those in need starting in 2026. On the housing front, the bill made important changes to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the biggest funding source for affordable housing, representing the largest expansion in 25 years (read more here). As an organization charged with both housing development and serving people who rely on services like Medicaid and SNAP, we know that providing an affordable home may not be enough. A family also needs healthy and affordable food and access to healthcare to thrive, so these provisions take us one step forward and two back.

Last week, the President issued yet another Executive Order that will affect our homeless services work. The order is a clear effort to criminalize the experience of homelessness and makes sweeping generalizations about why people experience homelessness. Our staff is analyzing the impact now. We are looking to organizations like the National Homelessness Law Center to help navigate what is next.

The actions in Washington, D.C., impact the people in Washington County. You may be following news about the Board of County Commissioners taking action to protect access to $135 million in federal funds. The Board’s action last week helps us move forward with federal homeless services funding this year. The Board also took action to advocate for more resources in Congress recently, fighting hard to protect the federal resources our community relies on. You can read their letters here.

Our work continues to occur at a rapid pace. We are committed to keeping our community in the know as we continue to support our most vulnerable community members on their journey to housing stability.

Best,

Molly

Supportive Housing Services measure continues to build out County’s infrastructure

Last month, the Department released the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Capital Projects Report that details how SHS helped create built infrastructure to provide a humane and effective response to homelessness. Prior to 2021, Washington County had no year-round shelter for adults experiencing homelessness and few options for families. Day centers operated on limited hours in crowded spaces. With voter-approved SHS resources, our partners are creating the infrastructure needed for our system to thrive in the years to come.

These investments include:

Over 400 shelter beds operating county-wide and serving an estimated 1,800 people annually
Four access centers across the County that will serve as the “front doors” to our system of care
100+ units of behavioral health-focused transitional housing at two sites slated to open in 2026 and 2027

We recently hosted a tour to see some of these investments and collaborate with leaders in the field to keep improving our system of care. The tour started at Just Compassion of East Washington County‘s resource center. Their resource center offers the unique combination of a 60-bed shelter with an access center open every day from 7 am to 7 pm. Our next stop landed at the Family Promise of Tualatin Valley Bridge to Home shelter, a hotel conversion, and the largest shelter serving families in our county. Finally, the tour landed at the future Cornell Road Recovery transitional housing site, which will provide 75 to 85 rooms once open.

These purpose-built, sustainable facilities are designed to serve our most vulnerable community members by connecting them with resources and ensuring a path to long-term housing. Since 2021, Washington County has invested and awarded $80 million in infrastructure investments and has committed $7.5 million more for a total of fourteen sites that are complete, underway, or planned. Thank you to Metro area voters for these game-changing resources to help move people from homelessness to stability.

Progress made in bringing more affordable housing to Tigard with Dartmouth Crossing

Last month, the heart of Tigard Triangle welcomed its latest affordable housing community: Dartmouth Crossing North. A new REACH Community Development property with 85 affordable homes, the development brings much-needed, energy efficient family housing to one of the region’s most rapidly growing neighborhoods with access to jobs and education.

The community consists of studio to three-bedroom apartments, with 16 homes reserved for families with very low incomes. Designed by Bora Architects and constructed by Colas Construction, Dartmouth Crossing North reflects deep community engagement and thoughtful community-driven design. On-site resident services will be provided by the African Youth & Community Organization.

“Because it’s affordable, I can finally save money to invest and grow my business,” shared new resident Malisa. In her previous apartment, keeping up with the rent overwhelmed her. Now, she feels energized by the natural light and welcoming environment for her and her daughter. “I feel the vibe again and more energy.”

Situated in a high-amenity area, Dartmouth Crossing North is designed to be more than just housing—it’s a foundation for long-term opportunity and connection. As Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington said at the opening, “This would not have been possible without public-private collaboration, a partnership that is essential to providing stability and opportunities to our county's families."

For a further look into the property and its grand opening, check out this article.

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.

Housing Authority awarded grant to restore wetland habitat at future affordable housing

The Housing Authority of Washington County has been awarded a Nature in Neighborhoods grant for $750,000 from Metro for the Aloha-Reedville Housing Wetland Restoration project!

The project will restore a 0.81-acre wetland habitat at a future Washington County affordable housing development to enhance existing natural resources, water quality and climate resilience. It will integrate ecological restoration with community needs by providing open space wildlife habitat and stormwater management.

Staff are in discussion with Metro and several community groups to coordinate long-term community stewardship of the restored wetland area. The team hopes that not only will the area provide a beautiful habitat and accessible open space, but also afford educational and workforce development opportunities for youth and others interested in careers working with natural habitat restoration and stewardship.

Stay tuned for more on the Aloha-Reedville housing project slated to bring 86 affordable homes to our community in Winter 2027!

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.

Maria’s Story: Entrepreneurship, resilience, and the lasting impact on their chosen family

Maria has always valued chosen family. When her mentor Jan, whom she also called “Mom”, passed away, she lost the person who first helped her recover from alcohol addiction, and experienced a deep depression, all during the devastating impact of COVID. These traumatic events pushed Maria into homelessness and back into her addiction.

Even still, Maria took the first step towards stable housing when she stayed at a shelter operated by Union Gospel Mission. Because of that stepping stone, Maria entered recovery and has been able to remain sober for the past four years. After staying in shelter for over a year, Maria was in limbo and ready for the next step. She connected with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization, where they helped her to qualify for the Rapid Rehousing program, which pairs two years of rental assistance with case management.

To continue reading Maria’s inspiring story of perseverance, visit our latest blog post.

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.

The Department of Housing Services creates pathways out of homelessness, promotes housing stability, and invests in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR | washingtoncountyor.gov/housing