Washington County, Metro to celebrate the Just Compassion Shelter & Resource Center grand opening in Tigard

EVENT DETAILS: 10 a.m.* to 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 19 at 12264 SW Hall Blvd. in Tigard
*Please note that the speaking program is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. sharp, see parking map above

MEDIA RESOURCES: B-roll and photos available upon request following the event and some speakers are available for one-on-one interviews following the speeches.

TIGARD, Ore. – Guests at a new shelter in Tigard will not only gain a safe place to sleep; they’ll have access to a menu of resources – from employment services to art classes – just steps away. That’s because the Just Compassion Shelter & Resource Center will offer 60 beds to adults experiencing homelessness as well as a resource center that will serve both shelter guests and other community members experiencing homelessness.

On Wednesday, state and local elected officials will join the nonprofit service provider Just Compassion and other project partners in cutting the ribbon on the new, expanded facility. The low-barrier shelter will allow pets and offer guests showers, hot meals and case management. Services offered at the resource center will range from housing navigation and behavioral health services from culturally responsive providers to haircuts and assistance with obtaining DMV-issued identification and food assistance. Activities such as mindful meditation and gardening will also be offered onsite. The resource center will also provide additional severe weather shelter capacity during inclement weather.

Washington County funded the shelter’s expansion in part with $9.8 million from the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure. The County is also leveraging SHS to fund ongoing operations. Other support comes from the American Rescue Act via the Oregon Legislature.

“Having a safe, warm place to sleep is the basic building block to a prosperous, healthy life. We all want that for every Oregonian,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “Since I issued the first Executive Order declaring a statewide homelessness emergency two years ago, communities like Tigard have risen to the challenge. I know if we stay unrelenting in our goals, we can reach our shared goal – one success at a time, one Just Compassion shelter at a time.”

“I am proud to see the new Just Compassion Shelter and Resource Center join Washington County’s homeless services system of care,” said Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington. “Investing in infrastructure has been a key component of Supportive Housing Services implementation. Without voter-approved resources, providers relied on creative workarounds to help people in spaces lacking everything from showers to laundry machines. While I appreciate that ingenuity, I am thrilled to celebrate purpose-built spaces designed to serve our most vulnerable community members in a dignified and effective way.”

“When voters passed the supportive housing services measure, they charged local government with creating a regional system that provides meaningful help to the most vulnerable among us,” Metro Council President Lynn Peterson said. “Places like this new center – that pair safe shelter with resources that move people toward stability – are critical to delivering on the will of voters, by ensuring the system we’re building leads to lasting solutions for everyone who enters into it.”

City of Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb said, “Tigard is grateful to have Just Compassion as a partner in addressing homelessness. This new shelter and access center provide essential resources that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of Tigard residents struggling with homelessness and our community as a whole.”

Executive Director of Just Compassion of East Washington County, Dr. Vernon Baker shared, “Despite the challenges to making this Resource and Access Center a reality, Just Compassion is proud to have had the support of our Tigard and Washington County communities as well as our elected representatives. Because of it, we can bring 60 permanent beds and 50 additional inclement weather beds alongside fresh meals, hygiene facilities, and case management. Additionally, our new facility was designed to make it easy for our guests to connect with services like healthcare and employment support from our agency partners. We are thrilled to continue to work with our community to provide essential shelter and resources to our unhoused neighbors while they move toward stable housing situations.”

The Just Compassion Shelter & Resource Center demonstrates the impact of multiple layers of government in collaboration with the SHS resources, $4 million in American Rescue Plan funding, over $650,000 in Washington County Community Development Block Grants, grants from Care Oregon, the Oregon Community Foundation, Home Builders Foundation, and City of Tigard Redevelopment Assistance.

Parking:
Parking will be available in the commercial lot at the bottom of SW Garden Pl. This is the second right on SW Garden Pl. from Hall Blvd. (See image above.)

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About Metro Housing Department: Metro is working to create new affordable housing and to reduce homelessness through the oversight of the voter-approved affordable housing bond(Link is external) and supportive housing services measure. Metro collaborates with local cities and counties to implement these local solutions to address a homelessness crisis affecting all communities across greater Portland.

About Washington County Department of Housing Services: The Washington County Department of Housing Services creates pathways out of homelessness, promotes housing stability, and invests in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents. The Department is a unique organization focused on the full continuum of housing stability—from street outreach and shelter access to long-term rent assistance and affordable housing. We administer rental housing and rental assistance to more than 7,000 households across Washington County. We also support a comprehensive system of care that meets the needs of people experiencing homelessness and connects them with immediate shelter and housing services.