Breaking ground on a problem that refuses to stay underground, Hillsboro is making strides in its battle against homelessness. According to a recent announcement, the City of Hillsboro and Washington County have rolled up their sleeves on SW 17th Avenue, where the foundation is being laid for the city's first permanent, year-round shelter for adults without homes. The demolition of two unoccupied buildings, deemed unserviceable, has already been checked off the list since construction started last Monday, setting the stage for a facility focused on providing more than just a roof overhead.
With plans for an early March groundbreaking ceremony, officials are eyeing a variety of services aimed at supporting the homeless community. Detailed in artist renderings, the shelter will offer beds for up to 76 guests split between indoor areas and individual shelter pods. But the beds just scratch the surface; a holistic approach is what they're forging here. Wrap-around support, meals, and housing assessments to usher guests toward long-term stability are part of the blueprint, all informed by community engagement.
The shelter is poised to become a hub with 24/7 staff ensuring culturally responsive and trauma-informed support, and vital services like mental, behavioral, and physical health assistance. Guests will benefit from a central location that affords easy access to public transit and job opportunities, not to mention the immediate availability of food, medical care, and nearby support services. Necessities like a warming kitchen, communal dining, and tech access are complemented by facilities for hygiene and self-care, including bathrooms, showers, laundry, and personal storage.
But the spaces between the services hold importance too. Recognizing the diverse needs of its future guests, designs include outdoor seating and recreational spots, even areas for pets, ensuring that the shelter doesn't merely exist but thrives as a community within a community. Funded by Washington County's share of the Supportive Housing Services Measure, the project has been shaped by public input throughout its development phase, as noted in the previous article. Proposals for an operator are set to be opened soon, with selection hoped to wrap up by late spring.
Previously, the temporary Safe Rest Pods on SW 17th Avenue served over 190 community members, providing emergency shelter and a stepping stone to housing assessments before they closed in October. Although those pods are gone, the community's commitment to bridging the gap between street and stability remains resolute, with the new facility slated to welcome its first guests in winter 2025-26, following a neighborhood open house designed to introduce the haven to the public.
