To our colleagues, partners and community members,
Welcome to the Joint Office of Homeless Services monthly newsletter!
Learn about our collective work and shared commitment to addressing homelessness in Portland and throughout Multnomah County.
If you are experiencing homelessness and need assistance,
please call 211 or go to 211info.org.
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Question of the Month
How many and what types of shelters are available in Portland?
(scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see the answer)
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Recommendations for the Joint Office
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 In a demonstration of partnership, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners and the Portland City Council met in a joint session on Friday, Sept. 22, for the first public unveiling of a third-party review analyzing current issues with the Joint Office of Homeless Services and the region’s overall response to homelessness.
The recommendations outlined by HMA include creating a new governance model to provide oversight and policy direction for the Joint Office, clarifying the City and County’s roles, and joining together to create a shared strategic vision and map for the region’s homeless response system.
Read more about the recommendations and the joint City-County meeting.
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$62.5 million in one-time-funding
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 The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 28 allocated $62.5 million in one-time-only funding for added shelter capacity, more recovery housing, new sobriety and stabilization services, expanded day services for people without shelter, and rent assistance to prevent people from ever having to experience homelessness.
Some highlights:
- $16 million to fund operations for 200 beds at the City of Portland’s next two Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites
- $6.85 million to support the creation of a 24/7 stabilization center that would include emergency sobering beds and detox services
- $150,000 to support design and project planning work for a 24/7 sobering dropoff center
- $7 million for recovery-focused transitional and permanent supportive housing, including housing placement and treatment for people experiencing mental health and substance use disorders
Read more and see the full list of what was funded.
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"This project was started to learn what it takes to house people quickly...[by bringing] all these services which are traditionally found in shelter" to people living in unsheltered camps in central Portland.
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Dan Field: Interview on KOIN News
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Click on the image above to watch the interview that JOHS Director Dan Field did with KOIN6 Reporter Ken Boddie.
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New Affordable Housing: The Aurora
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This month we celebrated the opening of the Aurora, a 93-unit affordable housing community in East Portland! Thanks to the Supportive Housing Services Measure, JOHS helped fund its 16 units of permanent supportive housing — homes for families leaving chronic homelessness.
The Aurora includes  46 homes with two or three bedrooms to accommodate low-income families with kids, and 16 units of Permanent Supportive Housing with wrap-around support services for those moving in off the streets, provided by Our Just Future and LifeWorksNW
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Podcast Episode 6: It Takes a Village
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On this episode of 'Out of the Streets of Portland', we take a look at the village model for shelter, and how communities and neighborhoods in Portland have come together to support unhoused neighbors in their area.
We speak with Caleb and Matt, who responded to the news of a homeless shelter opening next door by holding a community potluck for the neighborhood, welcoming existing neighbors and shelter residents alike. That initial meet and greet turned into the formation of Cultivate Initiatives, one of the most dynamic homeless services organizations in East Portland.
We also speak with Kara, who heads up Beacon Village, a 10-unit transitional shelter formed on a church parking lot in northeast Portland at the height of the pandemic.
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The Joint Office of Homeless Services currently has three open Notices of Funding for qualified providers. The deadline for all three is October 20. Please see this page on our website to learn more about all of our notices of funding availability.
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Attend one of our advisory board and committee meetings below! Learn about the Joint Office's work, bring a community perspective to our decision-making, and make recommendations on programs, services and policies.
Continuum of Care Board
Thursday, October 19th, 2023 ⋅ 11:00am – 1:00pm
Click here for Virtual Meeting
Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Advisory Committee
Thursday, October 12th, 2023 ⋅ 3:00 – 4:30pm
Click here for Virtual Meeting
For more info on our advisory boards and committees, including meeting links, agendas and other materials, please visit https://johs.us/johs-community-advisory-bodies/
Please email us at johscommunityadvisory@multco.us with any questions.
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On October 31st, the Joint Office of Homeless Services will be hosting its first Provider Conference. This is a new gathering where JOHS and homeless and housing service providers — both JOHS-contracted providers and those not currently contracted — can collaborate and problem-solve on issues of mutual concern.
Registration for the Provider Conference is free, and service providers will receive an invitation to register and a full list of sessions in the next couple of weeks. Though this conference is only for JOHS staff and providers, JOHS will share key takeaways in future editions of the newsletter.
This conference is a result of feedback from community providers to create additional ways for JOHS to share information and work collectively with those doing the work, as well as for JOHS to be a convener fostering collaboration across the system. The importance of this work is also mentioned in recent third party reviews of the Joint Office.
The inaugural conference on October 31st is a “trial run,” helping JOHS co-develop future conferences with providers. This first event will be virtual, with the possibility of future conferences being in-person.
The conference will look like a series of virtual sessions throughout the day, each on a different topic relevant to providers. The sessions will be designed to foment discussion, listening and problem-solving, helping providers network, collaborate, and learn alongside — rather than from — JOHS. All sessions will be designed to promote conversation, sharing of ideas and follow-up.
For more information about the Provider Conference, please contact Bill at bill.boyd@multco.us
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