City of Portland increases overnight shelter capacity with new Pearl District location

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The City of Portland is partnering with the Salvation Army to open a new, low-barrier overnight shelter on NW Northrup Street in the Pearl District.

The site will have 40 beds with plans to increase capacity to 100 by the end of the month, and eventually 200 beds in the coming months.

This shelter features cots instead of mats, with a lined floor. It will operate the same as others across the city: low barrier with no ID required to get in. It runs from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., and visitors will get a snack.

Brandy Westerman, Portland’s Emergency Humanitarian Operations Director, said they are still learning from their other shelter locations.

“Each location serves its own kind of context,” she said. “Right in the neighborhood has different dynamics to it. And so there is a learning process after a shelter opens, as we continue to learn from reports, from neighbors, from our own observations, from engagement with the shelter provider. And we’re going to adapt our approach.”

In the case of the Northrup shelter, adapting means planning for more help in the morning for overnight visitors.

“It’s supportive to have outreach workers and additional outreach workers coming in the morning to work with folks on their plan and that engagement, and also to address any issues that may be happening proactively,” she said. “And so we’ll see that at the shelter, and we’ll see that at every overnight shelter that the city’s opening.”

Mayor Keith Wilson said the city is working to reestablish trust with the community while also making sure people are not left out on the streets.

“Winter’s coming,” he said. “It is time for us to really focus on the basics of decency and dignity in our city. So I really applaud– I thank the North neighbors, all of their constructive criticism was heard. It was important. Now it’s time to deliver on what they need and everybody needs for Portland.”

The city said the new shelter puts the total number of overnight shelter beds at 6:30 p.m. That is counting the 200 that could open, so right now that total sits at 470. That is still more than a thousand away from Mayor Wilson’s goal of 1,500 beds by Dec. 1, but Westerman said the city is still working to hit the mark.

“We are in various stages of assessment and negotiation for a variety of properties and working alongside the providers for them to get staffed up and get ready to open those sites,” he said.