Addressing homelessness requires federal, state, county, city, nonprofit, and community partnerships in order to achieve system-wide impacts. Local governments like the City of Hillsboro and Washington County play an important role in response to this societal issue. The vast majority of funding for homelessness services in the Portland metro area is distributed to Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties.

Within Hillsboro, Washington County contracts with local nonprofits to address homelessness through a range of services, including emergency shelters and housing support. Beyond this, the City of Hillsboro dedicates additional resources to maintain Hillsboro’s livability for everyone.

The City of Hillsboro will continue to update community members — and share opportunities for community input — as we work alongside our local government and community-based partners.

Addressing Homelessness in Our Community: Local Responses & Solutions

Katherine Galian, Washington County Homeless Services

Open the Local Responses & Solutions Powerpoint

Living Outside: Camping Legislation in Hillsboro & Oregon

Chad Jacobs, City of Hillsboro Attorney

Open the Camping Legislation PowerPoint

Common Myths About Homelessness

Jacen Greene, Portland State University Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative

Open the Common Myths About Homelessness PowerPoint

Local Implementation Plan

An advisory committee developed a local implementation plan to guide investments in supportive housing programs scaled to functionally end chronic homelessness and create a system of care led by racial justice.

Read the Supportive Housing Services Local Implementation Plan.

Goals

Supportive Housing: Create 1,665 placements with permanent housing and supportive services. The goal is to achieve 500 supportive housing placements during the first year.

Shelter: Create a shelter system that provides 250 beds of year-round, full-service emergency and non-congregate shelters that serve all parts of Washington County and connects people to housing solutions. The goal is to build out 100 year-round shelter beds during the first year.

Culturally Responsive Network and Services: Build a network of culturally specific services led by organizations of color that serve the diverse populations of Washington County with quality and culturally specific care.

Best Practices and Standard of Care: Create a standard of care among all service providers that is culturally responsive, based in Housing First principles, guided by people with lived experience, and informed by the best practices of trauma-informed and people-centered care.

Outcomes: Demonstrate housing placement and stability outcomes that advance racial equity — and functionally end chronic homelessness — with year-over-year system improvements and regional coordination.

Booklet

• Download the Homelessness Tool Kit for Businesses Booklet
• Descargue la libreta de la Falta de Vivienda: Una Guía de Recursos para Negocios

Quick Tips Flyer

• Download the Quick Tips for Frontline Staff
• Descargue los Consejos Rápidos para el Personal de Primera Línea

In total, 832 survey results were received and analyzed. Community members received the survey through a variety of distribution methods, including online and in-person at community locations.

Here are five key takeaways from survey responses: 

1. 75% of survey respondents want to hear more regular updates on homelessness, with the majority wanting updates via email.
   
   
2. The most preferred method for informing a neighborhood of a shelter or overnight camping area being sited or located nearby is a mailed informational flyer with project details.
   
   
3. A one-mile radius around a proposed shelter or camping site is the most preferred distance for informing neighbors.
   
   
4. The most common questions about homelessness that emerged centered on current services and resources, as well as the demographics of those currently experiencing homelessness locally. The second and third most common questions centered on camping and future or long-term plans and goals for camping policies.
   
   
5. The top three suggestions for addressing homelessness included an increased focus on permanent housing options, alternative shelter options, and mental health or substance use resources.

View the complete Community Survey on Homelessness Results.

As the challenges of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic continue, vulnerable community members living outside also face a lack of shelter and safe sleeping options.

On July 8, the City of Hillsboro, along with community partners, opened a temporary camping site at 699 SW Wood Street near Downtown Hillsboro, with the goal of addressing this need by providing a safer, more secure environment with access to basic services.

The site hosted a maximum of 30 campers and operated at the Wood Street location through October 8, 2021, when project participants were transitioned to a temporary indoor space as colder, wetter weather moved into the region.

Participants from the Wood Street camp remained at the temporary indoor location until November, when Washington County’s Winter Shelter Network activated.

May 18 Work Session

A City Council Work Session to discuss homelessness, including this camp site, was held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

“We have heard from many community members that Hillsboro’s livability is suffering,” said Assistant City Manager Simone Brooks during the Work Session. “Unsafe conditions, threats to the environment such as garbage and poor sanitation, nuisance, criminal activity and business disruption are frequent topics of complaints. Perhaps with equal frequency, we receive complaints about the lack of access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, and resources for our unhoused community members to meet even the most basic needs of a place to eat, find water, use a restroom or sleep.”

City Manager Robby Hammond also noted that the City has been considering the best use of the City-owned property for more than a year.

Why was the Wood Street site selected?

The Wood Street property is owned by the City of Hillsboro and is currently undeveloped. Located next to the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve and the city-owned Public Safety Training Facility, the camp site was well situated to limit impacts on surrounding businesses and community members.

Businesses and residents in the area received information directly from the City of Hillsboro about the camp, which was managed by Project Homeless Connect. Some campers at the site were already identified and were willing to make the move after previously camping nearby.

What provisions did the Wood Street site offer?

Investments from the City and other partners made the site capable of hosting a maximum of 30 campers, and the site had the following facilities and services:

• Portable restrooms
• Hand washing station
• Trash collection service
• Security fencing
• 30 designated tent sites
• Sleeping bags
• Sleeping pads
• 24/7 supervision (from Project Homeless Connect)
• Limited food and bottled water (from Project Homeless Connect)

The size of the site helped address the current sheltering needs in the Hillsboro community, and Project Homeless Connect worked to assist campers with transportation options to reach the site.

How long was the site operational?

The Wood Street camp site was operational from July 8 to October 8, 2021.

Why was Project Homeless Connect selected to manage the site?

Project Homeless Connect staff have a successful history of managing shelters and camp sites in Hillsboro, including at the Hillsboro Civic Center in Downtown Hillsboro, the Safe Sleep Village at the Washington County Fair Complex in central Hillsboro, the Shelter at Orenco Station, and the Salvation Army Shelter near Sunset Esplanade. Three Project Homeless Connect staff members were on-site at all times to provide services and care, and to ensure a safe and managed site.

How were plans for the tent camp site communicated?

Information about the plans for the tent camp site were shared directly with neighbors in the immediate area through a mailed letter. Additional communication via mail, social media, email newsletter followed to the entire community. Follow up communication with neighboring residents and businesses included phone calls, emails, door-to-door visits, and an in-person conversation forum. Staff remained available to listen and respond to concerns during the camp site’s operations.

Did the camp site require permitting or rezoning of the property?

This short-term use of the site for camping was allowed with a Temporary Use Permit and did not require a zoning change.

Was flooding a concern on this property?

The dry weather season camp was not within the 100-year floodplain. It was situated on the highest part of the property, with elevated tent pads.

What was done for pedestrian/vehicle safety in the area?

Project Homeless Connect staff provided transportation options for campers in order to minimize additional pedestrian traffic on Wood Street. Additionally, Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services. Staff coordinated with neighboring industries to maintain a high level of awareness. At the request of neighboring industries, a temporary gravel path was constructed connecting the camp entrance with the existing public sidewalk on Wood Street.

When the camp was full, were individuals allowed to camp outside of the camp site?

The camp accommodated up to 30 campers. Camping was not allowed outside the camp site, and Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services.

Were there concerns the camp would attract illegal RV parking along Wood Street?

Project Homeless Connect staff did not provide walk-up services. RVs have not gathered outside previous service locations. Hillsboro Police Department officers provided increased patrolling of the area.

What initiatives were in place for preventing trash, pollution, and environmental impacts?

The site was created in response to an existing community need. Trash and pollution concerns are already impacting the nearby areas around Dairy Creek, McKay Creek, and Downtown Hillsboro. Project Homeless Connect staff monitored inside the camp and the surrounding area. Campers were expected to use trash disposal service. Staff remained available to listen and respond to concerns during the camp site’s operations.

Where did the funding for the project coming from, and how much did it cost?

Services being provided by Project Homeless Connect were paid for by the City of Hillsboro. The estimated funding was $170,000 to operate the tent camp site through November 2021.

Will the City compensate property owners for lost property value or security enhancements? 

The site was created in response to an existing community need that was already impacting the nearby areas around Dairy Creek, McKay Creek, and Downtown Hillsboro. There is no plan to financially compensate neighbors for perceived loss of property value or additional security investments stemming from camp site operations on City-owned property.

What kind of security and police presence were provided around the area?

Project Homeless Connect staff performed regular perimeter walks of the site. Hillsboro Police Department officers provided increased patrolling of the area.

What can neighbors do if they experience issues now that camp operations have concluded?

Project Homeless Connect staff can be reached at 503-825-8970 for issues or questions specific to camp operations.

Please call Hillsboro Police’s non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 for general non-emergency issues, and 911 should be called for emergency issues that require police or code compliance response. 

Were campers required to provide a clean drug test?

No. While drugs and alcohol were not allowed on the premises, tenants were not be required to provide a clean drug test.

Were campers required to be actively seeking employment?

No. All Project Homeless Connect programs operate from a low barrier perspective. Project Homeless Connect welcomed campers to a community of people experiencing similar challenges, meeting them where they are at, and assisting those who are seeking and capable of employment.

Were campers required to police themselves?

Three Project Homeless Connect staff members were on site at all times to implement the guidelines for acceptable behavior. Campers were required to sign an agreement to abide by the camp guidelines in order to enter the camp.

Would campers removed if they didn’t follow the rules of the camp?

Yes. Project Homeless Connect staff endeavor to help guests live within the guidelines but campers were subject to eviction if they failed to do so. Staff members were to make a case by case assessment of each unique situation in order to maintain a safe and communal atmosphere.

During the winter of 2021, Hillsboro had limited shelter availability due to COVID-19 risks.

In response, the City of Hillsboro partnered with Washington County, Community Action, and Project Homeless Connect to provide a winter shelter at the Hillsboro Civic Center. The shelter operated in the City-owned space above Outdoors In and the former Starbucks location from January 31 through March 15, 2021 and accommodated up to 30 adults 18 years and older.

The temporary use of existing space for the emergency shelter allowed for sleeping, meals, water, and restrooms. The team from Project Homeless Connect took the lead in providing coordinating care services.

The shelter helped reduce the risk of exposure among vulnerable populations who are unhoused, including people over 55 and/or with underlying health conditions.