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September 2026 Updates

HSD Announces the Northeast Family Shelter in the Cully / Sumner neighborhoods

After a robust search for a new location, the HSD search team identified a suitable site in NE Portland.  The search team focused on what matters most for this project: family safety, project efficacy, and timeliness.

Northeast Family Shelter (NEFS) site will be located at 4911 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220.  The family shelter will be in a motel setting, and the contracted service provider is Just Compassion.

Funding for the family shelter project remains secure in our Fiscal Year 2026 budget, and funding for the family shelter will be included in the Chair’s proposed budget for 2027. 

Originally, the family shelter (East County Family Shelter) was slated to open in spring 2026 and was to be located in the City of Gresham, but due to unforeseen circumstance the proposed site was not chosen.  HSD is committed to those shelter priorities that the East County Family Shelter would have fulfilled. 

Update 9/10/2026

HSD community engagement at Mt. Hood Community College, Maywood Park campus introduces the Northeast Family Shelter (NEFS) to the local community – 9/10/2026

  • Households and businesses within one quarter mile of the Northeast Family Shelter site invited to participate in discussions about the family shelter project.
  • Meeting slide deck / presentation with notes is viewable as a PDF: [September 10, 2026 Community Meeting at MHCC Maywood Park.pdf]
  • HSD will begin soliciting the community for NEFS Good Neighbor Agreement committee members.
  • Room Block Agreement presentation to Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners announced at 9/10/2026 community engagement meeting:
        * Presentation date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
        * Agenda for the Board of Commissioners: September 17, 2026 AGENDA
        * Agenda item title: “R.3 Resolution Approving a Room-Block Agreement (RBA) at the Motel Located at 4911 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, Oregon.”

Update 8/31/2026

HSD will be holding a public community engagement meeting September 10, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM ( meeting concluded):

  • Meeting location: Mt. Hood Community College, Maywood Park campus (10100 NE Prescott St, Portland OR 97220)
  • We will talk about this new family shelter’s timeline, operation, and expectations.
  • After the presentation, we invite you to participate in a question & answer session
    to learn more about this shelter.
Meeting Flyer for Sept. 10th meeting
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Just Compassion: shelter operator at the temporary family shelter + shelter operator at the NEFS this fall

This fall, Just Compassion will oversee the transition from the temporary family shelter to the Northeast Family Shelter (NEFS) site where they will continue to serve as the shelter operator.

  • Currently, approximately twenty-eight families are residing at the temporary family shelter (site located in NE Portland).  
  • Those families will remain at the temporary site until the opening of the NEFS site. 
  • Just Compassion has been responsible for operations at the temporary site since spring 2026.
  • Families at both the temporary and future site are those who were on the original waitlist or those families who transferred from HSD’s flexible motel shelter vouchers program.

NEFS services

The programming at NEFS will include the following:

  • 24/7 On-Site Staffing
  • Rooms for 50+ families
  • Private Rooms for Families
  • On-site Facilities
  • Navigation to Housing
  • Access to Trimet
  • Job Placement Assistance
  • Coordination with local school districts

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures the stability and educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness by providing transportation to the school of origin.

Archived Updates

ECFS Opening Postponed

Update 3/19/2026

Dear Community Members,

Due to unforeseen challenges related to the planned East County Family Shelter (ECFS), Multnomah County HSD has made the difficult decision to find a new location for this program.

The Homeless Services Department (HSD), in partnership with the planned shelter operator, Just Compassion, is moving quickly to find another site for the shelter and limit further delay in expanding our shelter capacity for families experiencing homelessness.

HSD remains fully committed to launching this program and restoring needed capacity in our family shelter system.

If you are interested in receiving updates directly, please contact gregorio.benavides@multco.us or complete the form linked below.

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East Multnomah County HSD

East County Family Shelter

Shelter Site Features

The Homeless Services Department (HSD) at Multnomah County is using a motel to provide emergency shelter to serving families. The site is located at 24124 SE Stark St in Gresham.*

In October, 2025, Just Compassion was selected to operate the East County Family Shelter, starting in April 2026.  Just Compassion spoke at Community Meeting #2 (10-29-2025) and presented to members of the community on their community-centered response approach to operations at the East County Family Shelter.

The site will include the following critical services:

    • Approximately 50 large-sized guest rooms with private baths for families
    • On-site facilities such as laundry
    • 24/7 on-site staffing
    • Close proximity to public transportation (TriMet No. 20-Burnside/Stark)

*Updates to be announced

(rev. 3/11/26)

Just Compassion 10-29-2025 presentation

UPDATES

EAST COUNTY FAMILY SHELTER UPDATE 3/11/2026

3/12/26 Meeting Cancelled: Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) Presentation

The March 12th community meeting at Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) about the East County Family Shelter is cancelled.

We will be updating this project website as soon as more information is available.

East County Family Shelter Update 12/16/2025

Community Meeting #3 / public comment session slated for late February or early March, 2026

  • December, 2025: First Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) workgroup meeting;
  • January and February, 2026: GNA workgroup evaluates GNA agreements;
  • Mid to late February, 2026: GNA document is finalized for public comment (meeting time and location to be announced beforehand); and
  • Public announcement for Community Meeting #3 via email, project page posting (here), and via USPS flyer/postcard.

East County Family Shelter Update 10/31/2025

Community Meeting #2 at Walt Morey Middle School, October 29, 2025

Meeting Highlights:

  • East County Family Shelter operations are expected to commence in mid-November, 2025 Winter 2025/2026.
  • Just Compassion staff will begin taking occupancy at the site mid-November, and wait-listed families are slated to begin their residencies at the start of the following month.
  • Just Compassion will bring a team of qualified and screened staff to oversee daily and weekly operations at the East County Family Shelter.  Among those key staffing positions are the following: Behavioral Health Specialist; Case Manager/Family Advocate; Childcare Development Specialists; Youth Services Coordinator; Safety Coordinator; Staff who will collaborate with local organizations to provide vital employment services

Meeting Notes and Presentation:

Family Shelter update 10/09/2025

Since the Board approval on September 25, 2025, to move forward with the Family Shelter in East County, we would like to provide the following updates:

ECFS in the Media

NEWS COVERAGE

Planned East County Family Shelter would fill need in Gresham
Christopher Keizur
Sep. 18, 2025

ECFS Meeting Dates

PROJECT CALENDAR

Upcoming Events

CANCELLED: Good Neighbor Agreement Public Presentation March 12, 2026

Co-development of a Good Neighbor Agreement (December 2025 to March 2026)

Planned opening: TBA

(Rev. 3/11/26)

Past Events

Community Meeting #2 – Meet the Shelter Operator
Wednesday, October 29 | 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Walt Morey Middle School @ school cafeteria
Presentation slides

County Board Meeting – Resolution Vote
Item R.2: Resolution Approving a Room-Block Agreement (RBA) at the Motel
Located at 24124 SE Stark St, Gresham, OR.
Thursday, September 25 | 9:30 – 11:45am
Multnomah Building (501 Southeast Hawthorne Blvd)
Boardroom 100
Watch or listen
(Item R.2 time: hour 0:29:05 to hour 1:05:29)

Community Meeting #1
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
Mount Hood Community College (26000 SE Stark St)
Town & Gown Room
Presentation slides

 

For questions or comments about this project, email gregorio.benavides@multco.us.