Hillsboro Shelter

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

The Hillsboro Shelter near Winco & Dairy Creek Park opened in December 2025 to provide adults experiencing homelessness with a safe place to sleep, wrap-around support services, and pathways to long-term housing. Take a peek inside.

The City of Hillsboro and Washington County worked together to build & open the 75-bed facility to respond to the critical community need for year-round shelter and homelessness services. Project Homeless Connect (PHC) is managing ongoing operations and services.

The Hillsboro Shelter is pet-friendly and offers:

  • Congregate sleeping spaces
  • Shelter pods for individuals or couples
  • 24/7 trauma-informed staffing
  • Culturally-responsive support
  • Onsite meals, showers, and laundry facilities

The facility and ongoing operations are possible thanks to property & funding provided by the City of Hillsboro, funding provided by Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, and state and federal support.


How to Request Shelter

Shelter placement is not location-specific and is based on individual needs and current availability.

To get on a waitlist for shelter in Washington County, community members can visit a day center, contact Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or email CommunityConnect@CAOWash.org.

Neighborhood Plan

The Hillsboro Shelter's Neighborhood Plan is an agreement made by Project Homeless Connect and Washington County to ensure the shelter location is a supportive neighbor and guide communication and collaborative problem-solving.

Nearby residents and businesses were invited to help develop the Plan and had the opportunity to review the draft and share feedback.

Community Engagement

In addition to the Neighborhood Plan, 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

Prior to the shelter opening, project partners also shared information and answered questions during a virtual community meeting and open house event.

For more details on how community input helped shape the project, see the Details & Updates section below.

Ask Questions

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

Donate Food To Support Neighbors in Need

Support neighbors in need and future shelter guests by donating ready-to-eat, shelf-stable and/or non-perishable food items to Project Homeless Connect. Consider including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options.

Drop-Off Times: Wednesday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm

Location: Salvation Army Building, 1440 SE 21st Ave, Hillsboro
(PHC's Temporary Access Center is at the far east end)

Requested items include:

  • Canned or packaged meat, fish, soups, beans, chili, ravioli, and fruit
  • Cereals, instant oatmeal, granola bars, and peanut butter
  • Instant meals: Ramen, cup noodles, easy mac, and rice packets
  • Coffee, tea, honey, sugar, and shelf-stable creamers
  • Snack items: Nuts, crackers, chips, and fruit, pudding, or jello cups
  • Shelf stable milk & milk alternatives, juices, vitamin & mineral fortified drinks

Expired items will not be accepted.

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

The Hillsboro Shelter near Winco & Dairy Creek Park opened in December 2025 to provide adults experiencing homelessness with a safe place to sleep, wrap-around support services, and pathways to long-term housing. Take a peek inside.

The City of Hillsboro and Washington County worked together to build & open the 75-bed facility to respond to the critical community need for year-round shelter and homelessness services. Project Homeless Connect (PHC) is managing ongoing operations and services.

The Hillsboro Shelter is pet-friendly and offers:

  • Congregate sleeping spaces
  • Shelter pods for individuals or couples
  • 24/7 trauma-informed staffing
  • Culturally-responsive support
  • Onsite meals, showers, and laundry facilities

The facility and ongoing operations are possible thanks to property & funding provided by the City of Hillsboro, funding provided by Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, and state and federal support.


How to Request Shelter

Shelter placement is not location-specific and is based on individual needs and current availability.

To get on a waitlist for shelter in Washington County, community members can visit a day center, contact Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or email CommunityConnect@CAOWash.org.

Neighborhood Plan

The Hillsboro Shelter's Neighborhood Plan is an agreement made by Project Homeless Connect and Washington County to ensure the shelter location is a supportive neighbor and guide communication and collaborative problem-solving.

Nearby residents and businesses were invited to help develop the Plan and had the opportunity to review the draft and share feedback.

Community Engagement

In addition to the Neighborhood Plan, 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

Prior to the shelter opening, project partners also shared information and answered questions during a virtual community meeting and open house event.

For more details on how community input helped shape the project, see the Details & Updates section below.

Ask Questions

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

Donate Food To Support Neighbors in Need

Support neighbors in need and future shelter guests by donating ready-to-eat, shelf-stable and/or non-perishable food items to Project Homeless Connect. Consider including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options.

Drop-Off Times: Wednesday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm

Location: Salvation Army Building, 1440 SE 21st Ave, Hillsboro
(PHC's Temporary Access Center is at the far east end)

Requested items include:

  • Canned or packaged meat, fish, soups, beans, chili, ravioli, and fruit
  • Cereals, instant oatmeal, granola bars, and peanut butter
  • Instant meals: Ramen, cup noodles, easy mac, and rice packets
  • Coffee, tea, honey, sugar, and shelf-stable creamers
  • Snack items: Nuts, crackers, chips, and fruit, pudding, or jello cups
  • Shelf stable milk & milk alternatives, juices, vitamin & mineral fortified drinks

Expired items will not be accepted.

  • Spring 2022: Outreach to Nearby Neighbors

    Share Spring 2022: Outreach to Nearby Neighbors on Facebook Share Spring 2022: Outreach to Nearby Neighbors on Twitter Share Spring 2022: Outreach to Nearby Neighbors on Linkedin Email Spring 2022: Outreach to Nearby Neighbors link
    • Flyers introducing the project in English & Spanish were mailed to residents and businesses within one mile of the site.

    • City and Washington County staff completed in-person visits to 23 nearby businesses.

    • Bilingual signage was posted at Dairy Creek Park to engage park users.
    • Flyers introducing the project in English & Spanish were mailed to residents and businesses within one mile of the site.

    • City and Washington County staff completed in-person visits to 23 nearby businesses.

    • Bilingual signage was posted at Dairy Creek Park to engage park users.

  • Spring 2022: Focus Groups

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    Focus groups in English and Spanish were facilitated by a third party in the spring of 2022 to get early high-level feedback from the following community members:

    • Community members who live, work, or own businesses near the shelter site

    • Community members who visit Dairy Creek Park

    • Community members experiencing or who have experienced houselessness

    • Homelessness service providers

    Focus groups in English and Spanish were facilitated by a third party in the spring of 2022 to get early high-level feedback from the following community members:

    • Community members who live, work, or own businesses near the shelter site

    • Community members who visit Dairy Creek Park

    • Community members experiencing or who have experienced houselessness

    • Homelessness service providers

  • Winter 2021: Location Selection & Property Purchase

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    To address the community's critical need for more shelter space and safe sleeping options, the City acquired property at the corner of SW 17th Avenue and TV Highway in the winter of 2021 to become the home of Hillsboro's first year-round shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. At the time of purchase, the property included ample greenspace, parking areas, and two vacant buildings.

    Why was this location chosen?

    • When the property was purchased, existing structures on the site had been vacant for many years. Revitalizing the property will increase visual appeal while onsite staffing and services bring expanded security and debris management to the location.

    • The site offers immediate access to frequently serviced bus line, employment opportunities, food, and medical care, as well as close access to Washington County Community Action and Open Door Housing Works Day Center.

    To address the community's critical need for more shelter space and safe sleeping options, the City acquired property at the corner of SW 17th Avenue and TV Highway in the winter of 2021 to become the home of Hillsboro's first year-round shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. At the time of purchase, the property included ample greenspace, parking areas, and two vacant buildings.

    Why was this location chosen?

    • When the property was purchased, existing structures on the site had been vacant for many years. Revitalizing the property will increase visual appeal while onsite staffing and services bring expanded security and debris management to the location.

    • The site offers immediate access to frequently serviced bus line, employment opportunities, food, and medical care, as well as close access to Washington County Community Action and Open Door Housing Works Day Center.
Page last updated: 11 Jun 2026, 12:01 PM