The City of Portland announced plans to open three new overnight-only shelters designed to accommodate families with children.
According to a notice sent to the City Council on Friday, the shelters will collectively provide space for 80 individuals each night.
This initiative marks a significant step for Portland, which has previously opened five overnight-only shelters this year alone.
Notably, city officials have chosen not to disclose the locations of these new shelters, focusing on the safety of families escaping domestic violence.
Skyler Brocker-Knapp, director of Portland Solutions, the city’s homeless management department, emphasized the urgency of this decision in a letter to city council members.
Brocker-Knapp acknowledged the growing need for shelters that can safely accommodate families with minors, stating, “The city of Portland has not previously delved into family sheltering.”
He further expressed concern about the limitations of current shelters, which are not equipped to serve families with children adequately.
These new shelters are set to open by the end of November and will be operated by Agape Village, which already manages two adults-only shelters in Portland.
City officials provided a broad overview of the intended locations: two will be situated within District 3, covering much of Southeast Portland and part of Northeast Portland.
The third shelter will be located in District 1, which extends east of Interstate 205.
To access these new family shelters, families will require a referral from a city outreach staff member or a partner nonprofit organization.
Historically, the responsibility for family shelters has rested with Multnomah County, which oversees various systems catering to domestic violence survivors, families, and unaccompanied youth.
Recently, the county announced an additional family shelter in a Gresham motel scheduled to open on November 1.
The county’s family shelter system is known for its effectiveness, providing 24-hour services that include on-site housing and counseling.
Officials report that over 50% of families transition from these shelters into permanent housing, considerably higher than the rate for single adults.
Typically, families stay in these shelters for an average of four to six months.
Mayor Keith Wilson has underscored the importance of expanding overnight-only shelters, viewing them as a necessary step to address the homelessness crisis in the area.
With approximately 7,500 individuals living unsheltered across Multnomah County, Wilson believes these shelters offer a humane solution for those in need.
In line with this effort, Brocker-Knapp noted that additional information about the shelter locations would be released next week, boosting the city’s overnight shelter capacity to more than 1,100 beds.
In parallel with these expansions, the mayor has also intensified enforcement against individuals living in RVs parked on city streets.
Many families experiencing homelessness utilize their vehicles as a safer alternative to tents, especially to protect their children from potential harm.
A county analysis conducted in April revealed that 150 families, comprising around 301 children, were residing in shelters.
This number does not account for minors in shelters dedicated to domestic violence survivors or unaccompanied youth.
In addition, approximately 365 families with children were on the shelter waitlist as of July, highlighting the pressing need for more services.
As of now, over 1,000 families—including those currently in shelters or awaiting placement—seek subsidized housing.
Reactions to the mayor’s expansion plans have been mixed among city residents.
While many neighbors near existing overnight-only shelters support the concept, they express concerns regarding cleanliness, the need for additional services for homeless residents, and quicker law enforcement responses to issues like drug activity and public disturbances in the area.
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