Dear Washington County,



The Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure, passed by Metro voters in 2020, has been a game changer for the people experiencing homelessness across the Portland metro region. In Washington County, SHS has helped build a homeless system of care from the ground-up. The results speak for themselves: we have reduced unsheltered homelessness by over 35% in two years (2021-23), created 10 coordinated outreach teams, funded 440 shelter beds or units, housed more than 1,100 formerly homeless families, and stabilized housing for more than 1,500 households imminently at-risk of homelessness. 

All this work has been done within the first three years of implementing the SHS measure. I am incredibly proud of how hard the team at the Department of Housing Services, our political leadership, and our many partners have worked to respond to this call. Washington County and our partners have an excellent track record in spending our budgeted SHS resources towards clear outcomes. On top of that, we are strategically investing one-time carry over funds for system infrastructure needs, like access centers, shelters, and (soon to come) transitional supportive housing. SHS has made a night and day difference in our community. 

You may be aware that Metro created a stakeholder advisory table three months ago to explore revenue options for the creation of affordable housing units, including SHS. Chair Harrington represented Washington County at that table, along with the other County Chairs, housing developers, community-based organizations, business advocates, and other stakeholders. That work has concluded, and Metro staff are preparing to present a proposal to Metro Council in June.  

This regional conversation is important for our community to ensure we strike the right balance across the various strategies to end and prevent homelessness. We know that affordable housing construction is one of the key strategies needed to alleviate our homeless crisis. We also know that it can take wrap-around services and rental assistance with affordable housing to help people moving out of homelessness thrive in their new homes. This effective, integrated approach is how we ensure homelessness is a rare and brief experience in Washington County. 

Best,

Molly Rogers

Earlier this month, the Board of County Commissioners approved $10M to develop two access centers, one in Tigard (left) and one in Hillsboro (right). Thanks to voter-approved Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure, we have the resources to invest in the front door entry into our housing programs. Read more about the two funded access centers here.

These sites will offer purpose-built spaces for people in need to receive immediate life-saving resources while they get connected with long-term housing solutions. On-site services include showers, hot meals, storage and case-manager support. Access center locations will also provide “pop up” emergency shelter capacity to address needs during severe weather events like heat waves or winter storms.

The Department of Housing Services and our partners have reduced unsheltered homelessness in our county by 35%, and access centers such as these are crucial to continuing our work. The county also anticipates funding two additional access center locations in the future. To learn more about our progress, check out this report from KATU.

“We’ve carefully built out a homeless services system of care with SHS resources, and access centers serve as a critical component,” shared Washington County Program Manager Katherine Galian. “By providing a place to have the most basic human needs met, things that most of us take for granted, these centers will provide hope and dignity for folks on the street, and a path to permanent housing.”

150 new affordable homes at Nueva Esperanza

New affordable housing communities keep on opening in Washington County, this time in the city of Hillsboro. With the grand opening of Nueva Esperanza on May 10th, a whole neighborhood was created thanks to the voter-approved 2018 Metro Affordable Housing Bond.

Nueva Esperanza, which means “New Hope” in Spanish, lives up to its name with its charming design and various facilities such as parks, playgrounds, garden beds, and other amenities to serve residents and strengthen the community. Featuring townhomes, Nueva Esperanza blends smoothly into the surrounding neighborhood while providing a whopping 150 families an affordable place to call home.

Washington County is proud to have contributed to the affordability of this project, providing eight project-based vouchers (PBVs) to house some of our county’s most vulnerable residents who are cost-burdened by rising rents. These housing vouchers mean eight more families will now have a roof over their heads.

“The Housing Authority of Washington County plays an important role in expanding affordability for those who are unable to afford the majority of housing available in our current market,” shared Rental Assistance Division Manager Liz Morris. “Committing these vouchers helps community members and project success.”

Being grandma starts with a stable home

Linda grew up around Vernonia and Hillsboro and often went camping with her family. She has a lot of appreciation for the outdoors, and teases when she calls herself “born and bred country folk.” But Linda never expected camping would become her only home when she became homeless 15 years ago.

Linda has struggled with Lupus since she was a teenager and started self-medicating with alcohol/pain meds as a young adult, which ultimately led to a substance addiction. Linda struggled on and off with addiction and later homelessness, bouncing around Washington County just trying to survive for many years.

But that all ended when her best friend, who had been sober for many years, refused to give up on her. Step by step, Linda was able to seek treatment, make different choices, get healthier, and stay sober. That was four years ago, and Linda hasn’t looked back.

Recently, Linda moved into her first apartment in more than a decade. She was sober but still homeless, trying to put together a deposit and find an apartment she could afford, when a dedicated case manager stepped in to help Linda step by step. Her case manager continues to support her now that she is adjusting to life back inside.

Tragically, Linda lost her daughter this year and is grieving a loss no parent wants to imagine. But she is more focused than ever on staying housed and sober, because she needs to be ‘grandma’ for her two grandsons. The playground outside her new apartment is a perfect spot for the young boys to blow off steam while in the care of their loving grandmother.

Linda says, “I can look in the mirror and be okay with myself” knowing that it has been worth all the hardship it took to get here to her new home and her boys.