Portland Opens New Overnight Shelter at Former Episcopal Church

Portland, Oregon, is set to open a new overnight homeless shelter at the location of the former St. Stephens Episcopal Parish, with operations commencing on August 4, 2023. The shelter will be situated on Southwest 13th Avenue near Southwest Clay Street and aims to provide low-barrier access for individuals experiencing homelessness.

According to Rob Layne from Portland Solutions, the city’s shelter planning branch, notification will be sent to nearby residents and businesses about the shelter’s opening. Layne also mentioned that there will be an opportunity for the community to tour the facility on the evening of July 30. “We want everyone to be able to walk through it,” Layne stated.

The church, which served the community for over 130 years, sold the property in January 2023 to Operation Nightwatch, a nonprofit organization that has been providing homeless services in the area for several years. The shelter will be managed by Agape Village and will operate nightly from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.. Initially, the facility will offer 80 beds, with a capacity to expand to 100 beds.

Community members have expressed support for the shelter. Gabriel Mateo De Acosta, a resident living nearby, emphasized the importance of providing a safe space for those without homes. “I feel like it would help a lot because then they would have somewhere to go instead of sleeping right here (on the street),” he remarked. De Acosta highlighted his concerns for individuals sleeping outdoors, especially during the colder months, stating, “It kind of hurts my heart that they have to.”

Support for the shelter aligns with the vision of Mayor Keith Wilson, who is committed to adding 1,500 new overnight shelter beds by December 2023. This initiative includes another facility near Northwest 15th Avenue and Northrup Street in the Pearl District, expected to open as a 200-bed shelter in September, although it faces opposition from some local residents.

At a recent meeting addressing community concerns, Todd Zarnitz, president of the Northwest District Association, voiced frustration regarding the city’s approach. “It’s not enough for the city to say, ‘We’re in charge, everybody just stay home and we’ll worry about it,'” Zarnitz stated. He expressed that the community’s concerns are being overlooked.

Responses from residents near the St. Stephens site have largely been positive. One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her personal experience with homelessness. “I’ve been homeless before; it’s not what people think,” she explained. She credited overnight shelters with helping her regain stability, adding, “Everybody needs to sleep. And I know that these streets are deadly in a lot of different ways.”

As Portland moves forward with this new shelter, the hope is to provide a vital resource for those in need, fostering a sense of safety and stability for vulnerable populations in the city.