Today, the City of Portland and Multnomah County jointly announced they will open 200 new overnight, winter emergency shelter beds to provide urgent relief to unsheltered Portlanders as the weather gets colder and wetter. Each government has committed $375,000 to this effort, for a combined investment of $750,000.
These shelters are in addition to the existing — and growing — shelter system that provides nearly 3,000 beds every day. This new investment will provide hundreds of additional overnight spaces, ensuring people have a safe and dry place to sleep throughout the winter. With a La Niña winter predicted for our region, the added winter shelter beds are in addition to hundreds more severe weather shelter beds that provide emergency support to the community on specific days and nights when the weather hits certain thresholds.
Including congregate spaces, motel-based programs, family shelters, Safe Rest Villages, TASS shelters and other village-style programs, the County and City have opened nearly 30 shelters combined since 2020 — with both jurisdictions prioritizing shelter as one solution that provides stability as people move on from homelessness.
The cross-jurisdictional Homelessness Response System is bringing together the City’s Portland Solutions team and the Joint Office of Homeless Services to open these sites as soon as possible and remain open through the winter.
This joint effort was spearheaded by Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Mayor-elect Keith Wilson, who have been working together closely since the election.
“We cannot solve our homelessness crisis fast enough — especially for the many people sleeping in the cold on our streets tonight. These overnight beds, put in place in addition to severe weather shelter beds, are an important step in providing the respite people need and are part of the overall work we’re doing as part of the Homeless Response System to shelter and house people and prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.
"This collaborative action increases our capacity to shelter Portlanders during the coldest months of the year," said Mayor Ted Wheeler. "Our combined efforts continue to improve the ways we serve those living on our streets by addressing the immediate needs of our community while also pursuing long-term solutions to homelessness.”
“This is a great first step in my commitment to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland, and a wonderful example of collaboration between City and County,” said Mayor-elect Keith Wilson. “We must treat the crisis on our streets as a crisis and move urgently to reach our goal to end unsheltered homelessness.”
Representatives from the City and County are currently discussing development and operations. Locations of the shelters and detailed operational information will be announced in the coming weeks.
Source: Portland & Multnomah County