Portland’s efforts to combat homelessness continue with the opening of a new overnight-only shelter, set to launch next week at the historic St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church located at Southwest 13th Avenue and Clay Street.
This addition will bring Mayor Keith Wilson 80 beds closer to his goal of offering 1,500 overnight-only shelter beds by December 1.
Operation Nightwatch, a nonprofit homeless services provider, acquired the church from the Episcopal Archdiocese in February for a mere $1, enabling it to enhance the support for those living outdoors in the community.
The city has contracted Agape Village, associated with the Church of the Nazarene in Southeast Portland, to manage the shelter, which aims to provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Krizti Margraves, the St. Stephen’s shelter manager and Agape Village employee, emphasized the importance of overnight shelters as initial points of contact for homeless individuals.
“Our mission is to love our neighbors well,” Margraves stated, highlighting the goal of mitigating what she described as ‘relationship poverty’ experienced by many people living on the streets.
The St. Stephen’s shelter will be the third in a series of approximately 15 new overnight-only shelters that the city is working to open.
For over a decade, Operation Nightwatch has provided light meals, coffee, companionship, and a drop-in mental health clinic at the church, maintaining its legacy of serving the homeless population in the area.
Christy McMurty, a longstanding parishioner and member of Operation Nightwatch’s board, noted the corner’s rich history of social justice work, stating, “All people from all walks of life will be comfortable here.”
While the church will continue its regular Sunday service in a small side-chapel, the new shelter aims to expand nighttime resources for the area’s homeless individuals.
City plans include the opening of several new shelters in locations with less historical involvement in serving homeless populations, such as a former office building in the Pearl District aimed at providing 200 beds by year’s end, despite facing significant community opposition.
The specifics of what guests can expect at the St. Stephen’s shelter, including amenities and operational hours, differ from what is available in the city’s well-established 24-hour shelters.
At St. Stephen’s shelter, guests will have access to a light evening meal, storage for personal belongings overnight, bathroom facilities, a place to sleep, and a breakfast item in the morning.
Operation Nightwatch also hosts evening events that offer mental health counseling and various supportive services from Thursday to Saturday, encouraging shelter guests to get involved.
Guests can check in with one or two bags, stored safely overnight. Up to 80 individuals will have sleeping spaces equipped with thick black mats and blankets, with designated sleeping areas divided by gender and identity orientation for safety.
Pets are welcome as long as they are well-behaved, adding to the shelter’s inclusive approach.
Margraves mentioned that the two individual bathrooms available for guests do not include shower facilities, though bike locks will be provided for those needing to secure their bicycles overnight.
Staff at the shelter have received training in essential skills such as CPR, First Aid, and administering Narcan, as well as trauma-informed techniques for interacting respectfully with guests in diverse situations.
There are no requirements for sobriety or identification to stay at the shelter, though drug use is prohibited on site, and all sleeping mats will be cleaned daily to maintain hygiene standards.
Guests who stay one night are guaranteed a bed for the following night, while others will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
In contrast, the city’s established shelters offer 24-hour services allowing individuals not to leave during the day or wait in line each night for a bed.
Typical services available at these shelters include showers, laundry facilities, meals, communal areas, lockers for personal items, and onsite support services aimed at aiding individuals to find long-term housing.
Several of these full-service shelters provide additional resources such as medical care, job skills training, and transportation support, reinforcing their role in addressing broader homelessness issues.
Specific beds are reserved for individuals who commit to staying consistently, and some shelters provide designated spaces for families or couples.
A neighborhood meeting led by Wilson regarding the controversial Pearl District shelter faced backlash from community members who expressed skepticism regarding his plans.
Despite the criticism in the Pearl District, no opposition has arisen against the newly announced Southwest Portland shelter or others recently opened.
In response to community concerns, the Downtown Neighborhood Association has announced the formation of an advisory group to work with city officials and the shelter operator to ensure a successful opening of the St. Stephen’s emergency shelter.
“Engaging with city staff and operators is crucial as we navigate potential challenges for the residents and businesses in the area,” declared Xavier Stickler, vice president of the association.
To address cleanliness concerns, Brandy Westerman, director of shelter services for the city, shared that trash and graffiti abatement would be prioritized within a 1,000-foot radius of all new shelters.
In addition to these measures, outreach workers will be deployed to improve connections with homeless individuals in surrounding areas.
Looking forward, Westerman mentioned plans to expand daytime services across each of the four districts, with expectations to have these centers operational by December 1.
As Portland works towards its stated goal of establishing 1,500 overnight-only shelter beds, the new St. Stephen’s shelter represents a significant step in the ongoing battle against homelessness and the efforts to foster community support and provide essential resources for vulnerable populations in the city.
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