Hillsboro’s Shelter Will Open in Time for the Holidays

An open house event is planned for Thursday, November 13, 4 to 7 pm.

Hillsboro's year-round shelter will welcome guests in time for the holiday season. The new, pet-friendly 75-bed facility near Winco & Dairy Creek Park will provide adults experiencing homelessness with life-saving shelter, support services, and access to longer-term housing support.

In addition to indoor, congregate sleeping spaces and individual shelter pods, the shelter will provide 24/7 staffing, culturally-responsive & trauma-informed support, onsite meals, and shower & laundry facilities.

The City of Hillsboro and Washington County are collaborating on this project to meet the community's critical need for safe sleeping options. Once open, the shelter will be operated by Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC).

Community members and neighboring businesses are invited to tour the shelter during an open house event on Thursday, November 13 from 4 to 7 pm.

Your Questions Answered

How do I sign up for the shelter waitlist?

Contact Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or [email protected] or visit a day center. You can find day center locations on our Community Resources webpage and on our interactive public camping map.

Shelter placement is not location-specific and will be determined based on individual needs and current availability.

Is the shelter hiring? How do I apply?

Employment at the shelter will be managed through the shelter operator, Project Homeless Connect. Current openings will be advertised on the PHC Careers webpage.

What can I do to help people living unsheltered?

Volunteer or donate to local service organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness, including:

• Project Homeless Connect
• Open Door HousingWorks
• HomePlate Youth Services
• Community Action of Washington County
• Centro Cultural, and Family Promise of Greater Washington County

Why was the shelter's location chosen?

The City purchased the property at SW 17th Avenue and TV Highway in 2021 to build a year-round shelter. The location offers nearby access to transportation, job opportunities, food, medical care, and support services. The site also presented an opportunity to revitalize a location with two long-standing vacant structures.

Did community members have an opportunity to provide feedback?

Yes! The shelter's design, amenities, and operator selection and qualifications were informed through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey. A virtual meeting for community members to learn more and ask questions was held in early August of this year. Nearby residents & businesses were also invited to help develop a Neighborhood Plan that will guide communication and collaborative problem-solving with PHC. Visit Engage Hillsboro to learn more.

How is the project funded?

The shelter project is made possible thanks to:

• $5.4 million in City of Hillsboro American Rescue Plan-enabled funding
• $2 million in State of Oregon funding and an additional $390,000 in state funding distributed through Washington County
• $850,000 in funding received through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development secured with the help of Congresswoman Bonamici

In addition to the capital funding listed above, ongoing operations will be supported by another $8.3 million provided by Washington County's allocation of the Metro Supportive Housing Services measure.

What is the screening process for guests?

Washington County shelters institute low-barrier policies, which means background checks are not used to screen out guests. To increase access to shelter and services, low-barrier policies eliminate barriers like sobriety requirements or obligation to participate in specific programs.

How will the new shelter impact camping rules & enforcement?

The shelter will not create changes to Hillsboro's camping rules, which allow people living unsheltered to camp on certain public property - with restrictions - when no shelter beds are accessible. Camping is not permitted within 500 feet of shelters or homelessness services, including Hillsboro's year-round shelter.

The Hillsboro Police Department will continue to provide education and services to community members living unsheltered and only issue camping-related penalties when necessary.

Stay Informed

Visit the Year-Round Shelter Project on Engage Hillsboro to see the full project timeline, learn how partners are engaging the community, or ask us a question.

Get email updates on the City's homelessness initiatives.

Learn More

• Hillsboro's Homelessness Initiatives
  
  
• Shelters in Hillsboro
  
  
• Project Homeless Connect
  
  
• Washington County Emergency Shelters
  
  
• Washington County Day Centers & Homeless Resources