Washington County is rolling out the welcome mat for a new safe rest pod village in Aloha, and neighbors are getting a say before the doors open later this spring. County officials are hosting a neighborhood meeting in Hillsboro tonight as they finalize plans for the site at 3390 SW 209th Ave, a purchased parcel that will hold roughly 60 pallet shelters with space for up to 70 people. The workshop runs 5:30–7 p.m. in the Tamarack Elementary School gym at 7201 SE Kinnaman St and is open to Hillsboro residents and business owners.
What county officials say is planned
According to the Washington County Department of Housing Services, the Central County Safe Rest Village will permanently place 60 pallet homes on the site and is designed to serve up to 70 individuals. County materials list on-site case management, perimeter fencing, a gathering tent, on-site parking and communal meals, restrooms and showers among the core program amenities.
Neighborhood meeting and who’s invited
Washington County housing leaders are billing tonight’s session as a workshop to develop a Good Neighbor Agreement and are inviting nearby residents to offer feedback, as reported by KATU. KATU also notes that the City of Hillsboro is not a formal partner on the project, even though Hillsboro residents and businesses are among those being asked to participate.
Who will operate the site
The county has tapped Open Door HousingWorks to run the village. The nonprofit lists emergency shelter, housing case management and street outreach among its primary services. County materials and the operator say Open Door will provide 24/7 staffing along with a dedicated phone and email line for nearby neighbors who want to raise questions or concerns.
Neighborhood safeguards
Washington County emphasizes that the Good Neighbor Agreement is intended to address “safety, livability, and communication concerns” and says that operations will not begin until community engagement is complete. County information points to its Time, Place, Manner policy, which is used to prohibit camping near shelter facilities, and to coordination with law enforcement and service providers to enforce site rules and safety measures.
Context
The Aloha site is the latest in a series of temporary pod and pallet shelter locations Washington County has rolled out to expand shelter capacity across the west county metro. The City of Hillsboro’s materials on earlier pod reopenings note that pods are intended as temporary emergency shelter while longer term shelters are developed. Local officials say these short term sites are one piece of a larger strategy to connect people to housing and services.
