Salvation Army sites in downtown, North Portland will house city's 200 new shelter beds
On day two of his term as Portland's mayor, Keith Wilson joined Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson to announce the locations for the 200 new shelter beds they pledged to open as early as next week.
They selected two Salvation Army properties, one in Old Town and the other in North Portland. The Salvation Army will operate both shelters, using $750,000 paid in equal halves by the city and county governments.
Some beds will open starting Tuesday at the Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter site on Southwest 2nd Avenue, Salvation Army Major Jonathan Harvey said Thursday. The agency also hopes to open the Moore Street Corps & Community Center on North Williams Avenue as quickly as possible, Harvey said.
The sites are gender-specific: Guests who identify as female should go to the Southwest 2nd Avenue location, and those who identify as male can stay overnight at the North Williams shelter. The female shelter will ultimately hold about 52 beds, Salvation Army representatives said, and the Moore Street location 148.
The winter beds an addition to the current stock of nearly 3,000 permanent shelter beds will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day, though they could pivot to 24-hour services in nasty weather, officials said. The Salvation Army has committed to running the shelters for 90 days, Harvey said, and is still in discussion with local governments about what happens after that.
Harvey said in a written statement that the agency "wholeheartedly supports" the joint drive to get all Portland residents sleeping inside.
"Caring for those without a home is woven into the very fabric of who we are. We are honored to stand as partners with the City and the County in this critical mission," Harvey wrote. "Together, we will provide compassionate, kind and conviction-driven care, ensuring that everyone who enters our doors not only finds a place of refuge but also access to the services and support they need to move toward stability and hope."
The Salvation Army will offer shelter guests basic services including food, sleeping mats and hygiene supplies.
At a media conference on Thursday, Wilson noted a recent report provided to the city found that more than 450 Portlanders died on the street in 2023. In 2022, he said, that number was 315 and in 2021 fewer than 200. It's time the city curbs that growth in the wrong direction, Wilson said.
The report on 2023 deaths noted that 62% of them occurred from drug overdoses. Wilson characterized the overnight shelter slots as a first step to help unhoused Portlanders find the services they need, whether that's a bed for the night or a connection to behavioral health or addiction services.
"Are we ready to see in 2025 a thousand of our neighbors die because we're unable to provide basic nighttime safety?" Wilson asked. "No. We're not ready to reach those numbers. It is time to care for Portlanders, all Portlanders."
Sami Edge covers state politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.