A letter from the executive director

Dear Washington County Residents,

The holidays are a time of compassion, connection, and reflection. While it is a joyful time for many of us, it is also one of sorrow, too many of our neighbors are currently unhoused or at risk of experiencing homelessness, and that is where we come into the picture. So, our work is more crucial than ever to stabilize housing for those in need.

This last year our team has made significant progress with our various housing programs, exceeding many of our goals. We opened a revamped public housing waitlist after more than three years and are on track to renovate 332 of our county’s current affordable housing units through AHP4 Phase I. Moreover, thanks to the voter-backed Metro Affordable Housing Bond, we have opened two affordable housing developments providing 112 new homes for people Tigard. Not to mention the county also preserved 172 apartment homes for our vulnerable seniors there with the purchase of Woodspring. These vulnerable seniors were facing the possibility of their rents going up to market if not for the housing authority stepping in and becoming the new owner.

Investing in long-term solutions is key to offering stability to our formerly homeless community members. In the spring, we opened Heartwood Commons, our first dedicated permanent supportive housing community in the county. Then, at the end of the fiscal year we counted almost 1,400 formerly homeless individuals who have moved into affordable, stable housing thanks to the voter-approved Supportive Housing Services measure. While our Homeless Services programs remain focused on long-term housing solutions, we also saw life changing growth in our shelter capacity, more than doubling the year-round shelter options available in county in the last year alone.

We are honored for the trust you have placed in as your public servants and will continue to heed the call to stabilize housing for those in need. It all starts with having a place to call home. So, we will continue our steadfast efforts to help make it possible for others to one day create that home, and to spend the holidays with loved ones as well. On that note, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Holidays and New Year.

Best,

Molly Rogers

On December 7th, Washington County celebrated the opening of the Safe Rest Pods on SW 17th Avenue with the City of Hillsboro, Metro, the shelter operator Open Door HousingWorks, and an exciting, surprise visit from Governor Tina Kotek.

Utilizing new pallet shelter structures, the site will offer immediate shelter to 30 individuals, with heating and cooling installed to protect shelter guests from the elements. Event attendees brought over 50 blankets and wrote welcoming messages to greet new shelter guests who began moving into pods in early December.

This new shelter would not have possible without collaboration across four levels of government. The pallet homes were purchased by Washington County using investments from Governor Tina Kotek’s Executive Order 2023-02, which also funded the site preparations. The site is owned and provided by the City of Hillsboro for the temporary shelter use, and operations are funded by the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services measure through Washington County.

Weeks after these shelter beds opened, news broke that Oregon has the second highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the country. It serves as an important reminder that our shelter system is not just the front door to accessing housing, but also a lifesaving resource. As we implement the voter-approved Supportive Housing Services resources, Washington County has reduced the rate of unsheltered homelessness to less than half the statewide average.

Family Promise of Tualatin Valley closes out year with appreciation for Tigard shelter space

We are encouraged to share a piece of the work to bring families indoors and provide normalcy, and even holiday joy as we close out 2023.

Family Promise of Tualatin Valley began providing shelter space in Tigard Quality Inn in the spring of 2023. At the time, they were restricted to two rooms of office space for staff and 45 rooms for guests through an agreement with the then privately owned hotel. That all changed in June 2023, when Family Promise of Tualatin Valley officially purchased the space with funding from Project Turnkey, Washington County’s Supportive Housing Services resources, and the City of Tigard.

Public housing waitlist applicants receive hopeful notices

After three-years, the Housing Authority of Washington County reopened its public housing waitlist for a week on September 20, 2023, offering an opportunity to low-income families in need of affordable housing. With a total of 900 slots available for two, three, and four-bedroom units, the waitlist drew a significant response from the community, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible housing solutions.

The department received a total of 2,639 applications, 1,263 for 1 bedroom, 797 for 2 bedrooms, 429 for 3 bedrooms and 150 for 4 bedrooms. Despite the 1-bedroom list not being open, valuable resources will be shared with applicants for alternative housing options. Around 300 applicants will be placed on the respective waitlists per household composition.

This waitlist reopening marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to address the critical need for affordable housing in our community. We have taken significant steps to ensure accessibility and support during the application process, including on-site assistance at local libraries. The overwhelming response underscores the urgency of our mission to provide stable and affordable housing solutions.

As of December 22, all notices have been mailed to applicants notifying them of their waitlist placement, providing good news to some of our most vulnerable community members.