Winter Weather Shelter Now Open At The Hillsboro Civic Center

Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

January 27, 2021

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Winter Weather Shelter Now Open at the Hillsboro Civic Center

The shelter at the Hillsboro Civic Center will operate through March 15, 2021, in the space previously occupied by the Washington County Museum. Read answers to frequently asked questions.

The City of Hillsboro has partnered with Washington County, Community Action, and Project Homeless Connect to provide a winter shelter at the Hillsboro Civic Center. The shelter will operate through March 15, 2021, in the space previously occupied by the Washington County Museum.

When will the winter shelter operate?

The shelter began operations on Sunday, January 31, 2021, and will continue through the end of the season on March 15, 2021. The shelter is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Where is the shelter located?

The shelter is located in the Civic Center space previously occupied by the Washington County Museum above Outdoors In and the former Starbucks space. Access to the shelter is provided through the entrance adjacent to Outdoors In.

How many people can stay in the shelter?

Up to 30 people maximum.

Who is eligible to stay in the shelter?

Adults who are 18 years and older are eligible. The shelter does not accept pets.

Are COVID-19 safety measures being taken?

Yes. The shelter will help to reduce the risk of exposure among vulnerable populations who are unhoused, including those who are over 55 and/or have underlying health conditions. Guests will sleep and eat while maintaining a distance of at least 12 feet apart. All sanitation, janitorial, and safety protocols will be followed in accordance with Oregon Health Authority guidance.

Who is coordinating the care on site – and what services are offered?

In partnership with the City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and Community Action, the team from Project Homeless Connect is the lead in providing coordinating care services.

The temporary use of existing space for the emergency shelter will allow for sleeping, meals, water, and restrooms. Mats, sheets, and blankets will be provided – and staff will perform wellness checks. Staffing will include a shelter coordinator, a shelter host in the day and evening, security staff, and a meal coordinator.

The hours for the Civic Center’s outside restrooms will remain the same: 6 am to 9 pm, Monday through Friday (closed on weekends and holidays). The lights inside the shelter will be turned off between 10 pm and 6 am, with limited access for guests who need to go outside for fresh air for their mental health care.

How does someone register to access this shelter?

Individuals can be placed onto the list (or waitlist) for shelter care by completing the Washington County Winter Shelter Registration web form.
Additionally, the Project Homeless Connect Day Center Outreach Team can also support individuals in completing the process of registration.

How did the City select the Downtown location for the shelter?

Reasons for the site selection include:

• Many community members experiencing homelessness or houselessness are already in the area.
• Downtown is a central location for access to services and transportation.
• The space is vacant and owned by the City of Hillsboro, allowing for faster operational readiness.
• The space offers a safe, secure environment with restroom facilities.

Why is the City of Hillsboro providing a winter shelter in 2021?

For more than 10 years, the City of Hillsboro has been involved in many efforts to assist community members experiencing homelessness and houselessness, including providing food directly to impacted individuals and funding for community partners working to end homelessness.

With very limited shelter availability in Hillsboro this winter due to COVID-19 risks, the City is providing access to a City-owned property to assist in sheltering individuals in need while working to manage COVID-19 risks.

While Washington County hosts additional shelter hubs, the long-term goal of communities is to provide shelter to assist unhoused community members.

Is this a secured environment for community members?

The shelter will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with staff and security on site. Access to the shelter is not based on an individual’s past, but staff and security are aware of any prior criminal history or outstanding warrant(s) for shelter guests.

In addition, the Hillsboro Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team is experienced in working with community members experiencing homelessness and will be present on site at various times. The Hillsboro Police Department will also increase patrols in the Downtown area during this time.

Are shelter staff and individuals utilizing the shelter allowed to park in City-owned lots?

The City is providing temporary parking permits to 12 to 15 individuals, including shelter staff and those utilizing the shelter. Their vehicles may park in spaces reserved for City employees at the Civic Center, the parking lot at 2nd and Washington, or the parking lot near 2nd and Lincoln.

Who do I call if I have any questions or concerns?

Please share any questions or concerns with Shelter Manager Candace Dunn at 503-825-8970. You can also email Candace at Candace@phcwc.org or email Kim Marshall at Kim@phcwc.org

If you have a question about the City of Hillsboro's role in providing the winter shelter in Downtown Hillsboro, please email Patrick Preston or contact him by phone at 503-681-6218.

If you are witnessing an incident that requires an immediate response, please call the Hillsboro Police Department at 911 (emergencies) or 503-629-0111 (non-emergencies).

In addition, the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce's Homelessness Tool Kit can be helpful for business owners with concerns.

Why does the shelter end on March 15?

The coordinated effort to provide shelter during 120 days of severe winter weather is possible through funding made available at the direction of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Funding from HUD expires after 120 days on March 15.

What shelter options are available after March 15?

Washington County hosts other shelter hubs. More information is available from the Washington County website and through community partners.

What is the City’s plan for winter 2021-22 and beyond?

The City of Hillsboro will continue to work with Washington County and other community partners to identify options for the future. The Civic Center space offers a temporary solution. The site is not intended to be used as a winter weather shelter in future years.

What has the City done to support community members experiencing houselessness?

In hosting the severe weather winter shelter, the City of Hillsboro has provided $25,000 in funding plus the use of the Civic Center space.

City staff collaborate with many community partners to address houselessness. Since July 2019, the City has provided more than $415,000 in funding to various organizations for programs specific to addressing houselessness.

Fiscal Year 2020-21 (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021)

• Impact Grant – $40,000 (three-year grant at $40,000 per year) Homeplate Youth Services – to provide houseless youth with employment services
• Community Services Grants – $98,500 (programs specific to houselessness)
• Project Homeless Connect – $60,000 (additional $20,000 this year to support expansion of day shelter hours)
• HomePlate Outreach Worker – $56,000
• Metro HomeShare – $25,000 - Metro HomeShare is a program linking individuals who have housing to share with others who seek affordable housing in exchange for affordable rent and/or in‐kind service.
• Camp EAGLE – $2,625
• Point In Time Count – Working with Community Action to identify opportunities to provide assistance
• Community Action – $2,500 sponsorship
• Open Door HousingWorks Emergency Food Bank Program - $5,000

Fiscal Year 2019-20 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020)

• Project Homeless Connect – $41,800
• HomePlate Outreach Worker – $56,000
• Metro HomeShare – $25,000
• Camp EAGLE – $2,625
• Point In Time Count – $590.51. City staff assisted with coordination and development of app; staff volunteers for outreach support

These organizations offer vital care, service and information including medical and dental care, shelters and housing information, employment information, and food. With temperatures dropping, it is even more important to connect people to resources that will provide safe assistance during the winter months.

How can I help community members experiencing houselessness?

We encourage community members who are able to contribute to join the City in supporting these organizations to support the well-being of some of our most vulnerable community members.

Contact Project Homeless Connect to learn more about ways to help in the short-term and long-term. Opportunities include:

• volunteering for adults 18 and over (flexible hours with duties such as sweeping floors or making coffee)
• donating items such as socks, cold-weather gear, and jackets
• donating food that is individually packaged (items made at home cannot be accepted)

This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.