In a unanimous decision, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners ushered in a new phase of support for homeless individuals by greenlighting the East County Homelessness Resource Center in Gresham. As reported by Multnomah County, this shelter will provide many services, including a day center with hygiene amenities, case management, housing navigation, and specialized shelter options.
The site, which previously served as a State of Oregon employment office, is strategically situated at 19421 S.E. Stark St. It continues to fulfill an important role during extreme weather by operating as a cooling and warming space, which it did as recently as Sept. 5 and 6. Alongside its day-to-day functions, the facility will offer 28 personal shelter units capable of accommodating up to 42 individuals, with an additional setup to shelter 90 people during severe weather conditions.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson hailed the development as a "significant milestone" in combatting homelessness, spotlighting Commissioner Lori Stegmann's persistent efforts. This Resource Center will support our sheltering strategy and action plan with 28 new pods, 90 beds for severe weather shelter, and a day center to increase much-needed community services," Pederson stated, as per the county's press release, highlighting its integral role in meeting East County's needs.
The center is getting an $8.4 million renovation, adding new restrooms, showers, laundry, kitchen spaces, common areas, and upgrading systems. Construction is expected to finish by late 2025, with the center opening by the end of that year. The project is funded by a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the rest from the County’s general fund.
