Year-Round Shelter

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The City of Hillsboro is collaborating on compassionate & proven solutions to reduce the impacts of homelessness, including increasing shelter capacity to better meet the community's critical need for safe sleeping options.

In the winter of 2021, the City purchased property at SW 17th Avenue and TV Highway to build a future year-round emergency shelter for adults experiencing houselessness.

The new 75-bed facility will provide life-saving shelter and support services while connecting guests with pathways to longer-term housing support.

Once open, the shelter will be operated by a partnering service provider and funded through Washington County's allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure.

Construction is Advancing Rapidly

Since construction began in early January, framing of the main building is complete and roofing is underway. Work on the individual shelter pods will begin soon.

Leaders from the City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Metro gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking on March 3.

Explore the design & read the construction announcement for more details.

Operator Selection Underway

A Request for Proposals for 24/7 staffing and management closed on May 5 and proposals are under review. With input from community engagement, operator qualifications include:

  • Commitment to racial equity & serving vulnerable populations

  • Culturally-specific & culturally-responsive services and trauma-informed care

  • Support & materials in Spanish, other languages as-needed

  • Effective coordination with partner organizations

Engaging Our Community

Plans for the shelter's design, architecture, and amenities have been informed by community engagement through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey.

Community input continues to shape:

We're also inviting community members to ask us a question and sharing those questions and our responses below.

Next Steps

  • Neighborhood Plan community engagement is planned for summer & fall 2025.

  • The shelter is expected to welcome its first guests in winter 2025-26.

The City of Hillsboro is collaborating on compassionate & proven solutions to reduce the impacts of homelessness, including increasing shelter capacity to better meet the community's critical need for safe sleeping options.

In the winter of 2021, the City purchased property at SW 17th Avenue and TV Highway to build a future year-round emergency shelter for adults experiencing houselessness.

The new 75-bed facility will provide life-saving shelter and support services while connecting guests with pathways to longer-term housing support.

Once open, the shelter will be operated by a partnering service provider and funded through Washington County's allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure.

Construction is Advancing Rapidly

Since construction began in early January, framing of the main building is complete and roofing is underway. Work on the individual shelter pods will begin soon.

Leaders from the City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Metro gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking on March 3.

Explore the design & read the construction announcement for more details.

Operator Selection Underway

A Request for Proposals for 24/7 staffing and management closed on May 5 and proposals are under review. With input from community engagement, operator qualifications include:

  • Commitment to racial equity & serving vulnerable populations

  • Culturally-specific & culturally-responsive services and trauma-informed care

  • Support & materials in Spanish, other languages as-needed

  • Effective coordination with partner organizations

Engaging Our Community

Plans for the shelter's design, architecture, and amenities have been informed by community engagement through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey.

Community input continues to shape:

We're also inviting community members to ask us a question and sharing those questions and our responses below.

Next Steps

  • Neighborhood Plan community engagement is planned for summer & fall 2025.

  • The shelter is expected to welcome its first guests in winter 2025-26.

  • March 2024: Design-Build Team Selected

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    After a competitive Request for Proposals process, project partners have selected Walsh Construction & Holst Architecture as the shelter's design-build team.

    This collaborative contract will help us keep the project within budget as prices for labor and materials fluctuate.

    Read our March 2024 news article to learn more.

  • Spring 2024 Community Feedback Report

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    Since spring 2022, the City has engaged the community to help shape the design & operation of the future Year-Round Shelter.

    42 community members participated in the spring 2022 focus groups, and 455 respondents completed the online survey, including:

    • People with lived experiences of homelessness
    • Homelessness service providers
    • Neighboring residents and businesses
    • Dairy Creek Park visitors
    • People who live, work, learn, and volunteer in Hillsboro


    Feedback will inform shelter design & amenities, selection of a shelter operator, elements of the shelter's Good Neighbor Agreement, and ongoing community engagement.

    See the Spring 2024 Community Feedback Report for the detailed results or read our latest news article for a summary of top themes.

  • December 2023: Reopened the Safe Rest Pods on SW 17th Avenue

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    The City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Open Door HousingWorks reopened the Safe Rest Pods on SW 17th Avenue with new, temporary shelter pods on the in response to critical need. The temporary site will provide life-saving shelter through late summer or fall 2024.

    Visit our Shelters webpage to learn more.

  • August 2023 Site Visit

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    In August 2023, the City of Hillsboro and Washington County will host a project briefing and site tour for key community partners and legislators, including Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, State Senator Janeen Sollman, State Representatives Nathan Sosa, Lisa Reynolds, and Susan McLain, and staff for State Representative Hai Pham.

  • August 2023: Pursuit of Design-Build Contract

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    Due to the complex nature of the project and changes in expected cost, the City chose to pursue a Design-Build Contract in August 2023.

    Rather than continuing with the previous Early Design Concept, the Design-Build approach will allow contractors to work with architects and the City as one team to keep the project within budget as costs for labors and materials fluctuate.

  • November 2022: Initial Community Feedback

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    Community feedback from three focus groups and initial survey results through October 14 is informing the shelter's physical design.

    Community members noted the importance of:

    • Spaces designed to be healing, welcoming, durable, attractive, and clean
    • Personal hygiene amenities to meet basic needs
    • Adequate trash disposal
    • Using trauma-informed design

    They also shared thoughts on key considerations for selecting a site operator and shaping a future Good Neighbor Agreement. Results were shared with Washington County and Carleton Hart Architecture at the November Design Kick-Off

    Read the initial Community Feedback Report and take the survey to share your thoughts

  • October 2022: Temporary Safe Rest Pods

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    The City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Open Door HousingWorks acted quickly to provide unhoused community members with temporary shelter by providing Safe Rest Pods at the Year-Round Shelter site.

    The Safe Rest Pods provided safe sleeping spaces and support services for 30 to 40 unhoused individuals and couples from October 2022 to June 2023.

  • October 2022: Architecture Firm Selected

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    The City of Hillsboro selected Carleton Hart Architecture to create an initial design concept for the future Year-Round Shelter in October 2022. The firm brought vast shelter design experience, a community-based approach, and core values that reflect their passion and care for people experiencing houselessness.

    Note: Due to the complex nature of the project and changes in expected cost, the City chose to pursue a Design-Build Contract in August 2023.

Page last updated: 28 May 2025, 01:05 PM