Year-Round Shelter

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Vea el Proyecto de Refugio de Todo el Año en español.

Engaging Our Community

August 7 Community Meeting

The City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC) invited community members to learn more about the project, get to know the shelter operator, PHC, and ask questions during a virtual meeting on August 7.

Spanish interpretation was provided. See the Spanish recording & PowerPoint presentation on Conéctate Hillsboro.

Neighborhood Plan

Neighborhood Plans are an agreement made by the shelter operator and Washington County to ensure each shelter location is a supportive neighbor.

Following the informational Community Meeting, nearby residents & businesses will be invited to engage in developing the Neighborhood Plan to guide communication & collaborative problem-solving for PHC and close neighbors. The completed Plan will be shared later this fall.

Focus Groups & Survey

The City’s previous community engagement through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey has informed:

  • Plans for the shelter's design, architecture, and amenities
  • Operator selection & qualifications

Ask Us Questions

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

About the Project

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.

With funding through Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, as well as state and federal support, 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 Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC).

Explore the shelter design.

Operator Selected & On Board

The City of Hillsboro & Washington County selected Project Homeless Connect Washington County as the shelter operator after a competitive Request for Proposals.

The organization brings more than 17 years of history serving people experiencing homelessness in our community, along with the following qualifications:

  • Shelter management experience
  • Commitment to equitable service
  • Detailed 24/7 staffing plan
  • Housing-focused approach

Read the operator selection announcement for more information.

Updated Timeline & Next Steps

With an operator on board, construction moving quickly, and a Neighborhood Plan underway, Hillsboro’s future year-round shelter is expected to welcome its first guests by the end of this year!

There will be an open house event prior to the shelter opening.

Vea el Proyecto de Refugio de Todo el Año en español.

Engaging Our Community

August 7 Community Meeting

The City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC) invited community members to learn more about the project, get to know the shelter operator, PHC, and ask questions during a virtual meeting on August 7.

Spanish interpretation was provided. See the Spanish recording & PowerPoint presentation on Conéctate Hillsboro.

Neighborhood Plan

Neighborhood Plans are an agreement made by the shelter operator and Washington County to ensure each shelter location is a supportive neighbor.

Following the informational Community Meeting, nearby residents & businesses will be invited to engage in developing the Neighborhood Plan to guide communication & collaborative problem-solving for PHC and close neighbors. The completed Plan will be shared later this fall.

Focus Groups & Survey

The City’s previous community engagement through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey has informed:

  • Plans for the shelter's design, architecture, and amenities
  • Operator selection & qualifications

Ask Us Questions

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

About the Project

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.

With funding through Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, as well as state and federal support, 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 Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC).

Explore the shelter design.

Operator Selected & On Board

The City of Hillsboro & Washington County selected Project Homeless Connect Washington County as the shelter operator after a competitive Request for Proposals.

The organization brings more than 17 years of history serving people experiencing homelessness in our community, along with the following qualifications:

  • Shelter management experience
  • Commitment to equitable service
  • Detailed 24/7 staffing plan
  • Housing-focused approach

Read the operator selection announcement for more information.

Updated Timeline & Next Steps

With an operator on board, construction moving quickly, and a Neighborhood Plan underway, Hillsboro’s future year-round shelter is expected to welcome its first guests by the end of this year!

There will be an open house event prior to the shelter opening.

  • 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: 20 Aug 2025, 01:34 PM