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Housing Services E-Newsletter
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Hello Washington County,
Happy Thanksgiving! In the spirit of giving, I am reflecting on how much gratitude, connection, and care for one another I see in this community every day. This care was evident at Hillsboro’s new shelter opening, where partners like Project Homeless Connect hosted a food drive (see story below), or when we opened our rental assistance waitlist for our first-ever, zone-based housing communities, which attracted over 4,000 applicant households!
This month ended the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history. While the federal programs we administer were not significantly impacted, I was heartened and grateful for the swift action of our Board of County Commissioners declaring two states of emergency to fund our food banks and stabilize our households from the impacts of ICE. We must continue our efforts to protect the livelihoods of our community members.
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the Indigenous peoples here in Washington County. To do that, let’s reflect on the challenges our Indigenous neighbors face during Thanksgiving due to its complicated history. In this reflection, we center tribal voices in our work. During these complicated times when our federal funding is increasingly at risk, I am grateful for the teams we’ve built, the partners we have, and the homes we sustain for thousands of families who are integral parts of this community.
With gratitude and care,
Molly
| | Hillsboro’s first-ever year-round shelter celebrates with a grand opening | | |
Washington County joined federal, state, and local partners to celebrate the grand opening of Hillsboro’s first year-round shelter this month!
The 75-bed facility offers a mix of congregate and individual sleeping spaces, meals, hygiene services, and 24/7 trauma-informed support. Project Homeless Connect will operate the shelter and offered tours of the brand-new facility during the event.
This purpose-built shelter was made possible through Metro’s Supportive Housing Services Measure, along with state and federal funding, and will be operated with a combination of state and local funding. The site is low-barrier and pet-friendly, designed to meet people where they are and connect them to long-term housing in a thoughtfully designed space.
At the ribbon-cutting, Chair Kathryn Harrington emphasized the importance of local leadership in the face of our homelessness crisis and offered that, “This shelter is about more than beds. It’s about safety, dignity, and a path toward permanent housing.”
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Federal administration to discontinue funding for Emergency Housing Vouchers prematurely
The US Department of Housing of Urban Development has notified housing authorities that their final installment to fund the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program will be in 2026, four years earlier than anticipated.
Congress established the EHV program in 2021 as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic with the intent to fund the program through 2030. EHVs assist individuals and families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, or have a high risk of housing instability. In Washington County, 78 households are currently supported with an EHV voucher.
We are committed to working with these impacted households to ensure they are provided alternative housing options and are supported through their transition off of the EHV program. If you have additional questions or want more information on the conclusion of the EHV program, visit our dedicated webpage.
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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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Washington County to receive $10 million in Metro SHS admin funds for urgent needs
Last month Metro Council voted to approve the transfer of $10 million for Washington County to address urgent needs in our homeless services system. Funds come from Metro’s unallocated Supportive Housing Services administrative funds.
Importantly, these resources will restore eviction prevention funding that was unexpectedly and dramatically reduced in the state budget. Washington County will partner with Community Action of Oregon to ensure eviction prevention resources are restored. Eviction prevention efforts are a cost-effective strategy to prevent homelessness and help 91% of recipients remain stably housed one year after receiving assistance.
In addition to these urgent needs, several homeless services infrastructure projects are facing unforeseen cost escalations related to tariffs and other economic factors. These capital projects, funded with SHS funding, are critical to ensuring geographic reach and dignified services in our homeless services system. Additional funding from Metro’s reallocation of admin resources, will ensure these projects are completed and able to provide critical services to our un-housed community.
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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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Erica’s Story: Former shelter guest becomes shelter staff and peer support group leader
Prior to her stay at the Just Compassion shelter, Erica struggled with alcoholism for 20+ years and endured domestic violence for over a decade.
“I wanted out a long time ago, but I didn’t know where to go for help,” she shared. Leaving an abusive relationship required her to leave all of her belongings and much of her old life behind. At the time, she felt like she had hit rock bottom and could not imagine the new heights she was aiming towards.
Today, as a staff member of that same shelter, she uses her experience of homelessness and recovery to support others. “I understand that stuckness. I was there for months,” Erica said. “When we don’t judge people and walk alongside them, it has a snowball effect that changes their whole life. I know because it changed my life.”
Want more on Erica’s journey from homelessness to becoming a housing provider?
Visit our blog page.
| | 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. | |  | | | | |
