Just Compassion breaks ground on future year-round shelter and access center

Just Compassion hosted a groundbreaking event to celebrate the future permanent, year-round shelter and access center construction at their current Tigard Day Center and temporary shelter location. The new Just Compassion Resource Center and shelter will provide 60 shelter beds in a trauma informed living space specifically designed to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness and connect them with long-term housing.

The construction of the shelter and ongoing operations will be funded by the Washington County allocation of the Supportive Housing Services measure. The site also received $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding through the sponsorship of Rep. Dacia Grayber, Rep. Courtney Neron and former Senator Ginny Burdick. Additional funding was provided by the Oregon Community Foundation, Energy Trust of Oregon, Washington County Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) CareOregon, Just Compassion supporters, donors, and fundraisers.

Representative Dacia Grayber said, “Our guiding light in this process was to fund local projects that would provide the most support to those with the greatest need at this time. From supporting transitional housing development to funding food security programs, our offices are proud to have approached this process with equity, care, and compassion in mind. Oregon is on its way back, and as your state legislators we are committed to supporting our districts in transformative and equitable ways as we turn the page on the pandemic.”

“Washington County is dramatically increasing our community’s available shelter capacity,” said Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington. “It is equally important that shelters are high quality, treat our shelter guests with dignity, and offer that steppingstone to long-term housing. This future shelter meets those immediate needs, while ensuring a future where program participants can thrive in stable housing.”

“The expanded Just Compassion Campus brings valuable and needed service capacity to Tigard,” explained Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb. “By adding 60 shelter beds and a dedicated resource center, community members will have greater access to safe, stable places to sleep and other supports than ever before. I’m proud to see the Tigard community taking major steps to achieve our Council Goal of reducing houselessness.”

“Today is a special day for Just Compassion as we begin to realize our vision,” said Just Compassion Executive Director Vernon Baker. “Our new shelter/access center will give us an opportunity to provide additional services and resources to our guests. With any great opportunity comes great responsibility. We look forward to being good stewards with the resources we are being provided and serving our guests.”

The Just Compassion Shelter site will be included within Washington County’s robust shelter program which currently offers over 400 beds/rooms of shelter county-wide.

Learn more about Washington County’s existing shelter capacity here.