The City of Hillsboro, alongside Washington County and Metro, marked a significant step forward in the fight against homelessness with the groundbreaking ceremony of a new year-round shelter today. Set to accommodate 75 individuals, this facility promises to bring more than just a safe place to sleep. It is designed to offer essential services such as onsite meals, hygiene, and laundry facilities, along with housing navigation resources, available every hour of every day. According to Washington County's website, pets and their humans will find refuge here, with the planners allocating 35 indoor spaces for communal sleeping and 40 individual shelter pods.
In a concerted effort to actively combat the homelessness crisis, local governments are putting their resources together to address immediate needs and foster lasting change. Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington spoke to the heart of the initiative, saying, as per Washington County's website, "In Washington County, we lead with collaboration and compassion to make our community a better place for everyone." She contemplated the impact this shelter would have, aiming to quickly and efficiently meet the needs of the hundreds expected to pass through its doors on their path to housing stability.
Mayor Beach Pace of Hillsboro echoed the sentiment of regional cooperation and its benefits for local businesses and the broader community. Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González highlighted the strides made since taking a regional approach, praising the introduction of Hillsboro's first year-round shelter for adults. "Since we began taking a regional approach to addressing homelessness with the supportive housing services measure, we’ve been meeting needs in communities that weren’t being served 4 years ago," González said, as cited by Washington County.
This project couldn't have been realized without the sizable funding pool of $17 million, including contributions from the City of Hillsboro, state, and federal funds, with a notable $8.3 million from the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services measure. This substantial financial backing guarantees not just the construction but also the ongoing operations of the shelter, thanks to the Washington County allocation of the same measure.
