Oregon's housing crisis has impacted Washington County. Rising housing costs have made it harder for working families to afford a decent place to live. The pandemic has worsened the situation for many residents of Washington County who have faced job losses, lack of childcare, COVID shutdowns, and other instability over the last year.
Last year, the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board allocated a total of $65 million for "Project Turnkey" — a program created to buy motels and hotels, underutilized during the pandemic, to serve as temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing wildfires.
In April 2021, Washington County was selected to receive a "Project Turnkey" grant of $6.15 million for the purchase of a 60-room Econo Lodge motel at 622 SE 10th Avenue in Hillsboro to establish a short-term respite shelter to serve as temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness and prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Washington County Board of County Commissioners has approved all funding and programming in support of the shelter program.