To our colleagues, partners and community members,
Welcome to the Joint Office of Homeless Services monthly newsletter!
Here you will learn more 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 have pandemic assistance programs helped keep people housed, and what will be the impact of those programs ending?
(scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see the answer)
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Our new website is now live!
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 We're excited to introduce the new website for the Joint Office of Homeless Services!
With a more colorful look and an improved user experience, we've made it easier for you to find the information you need! Explore our new features and content, and if you have any feedback on how we can make this a more user-friendly experience, please reach out to us.
The new website includes an initial data dashboard that includes metrics on Overall housing placements, Housing placements through SHS funding, Demographics, Homelessness prevention and Shelter utilization. Additional metrics will be added to this dashboard in the future, as well as new data visualizations, as we develop measures and tools based on the recommendations of the Data Taskforce. In depth system data reports going back to 2019, are available on the JOHS Tableau site.
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New Podcast Episode: The Power of Peer Support
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 On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, the podcast produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, we have an exclusive interview with the Manager of the County’s new Behavioral Health Resource Center, Alexandra Appleton.
Alexandra was born in North Portland, struggled with homelessness for a decade starting as a teenager, and managed to get into services funded through the Joint Office and Multnomah County, from shelter to supportive housing, and go to college while raising her family. And now Alexandra is helping other people out of homelessness and into stable, supportive housing.
The Behavioral Health Resource Center provides a day center that's run almost entirely by peers - people who have been through homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges themselves. They work one-on-one with people experiencing homelessness to identify and remove barriers, and offer immediate services including showers and respite. The Resource Center also includes shelter and bridge housing programs that focus on behavioral health services, in partnership with the Joint Office.
Listen to the podcast - and subscribe!
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Housing Multnomah Now/Oregon All-In
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 Latest update: Housing Multnomah Now, an outreach-focused street-to-housing pilot program announced by Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, is wrapping up stage one, and moving into stage two. In stage one, which started June 7, outreach workers from Transition Projects have been working with people camping in a zone beneath the Steel Bridge along NW Naito Boulevard.
So far, 150 people have been assessed - of those, 5 have been housed, 15 are in the process of moving into housing (5 referred to Metropolitan Public Defenders Office,10 waiting on background check & application approvals).
For stage two, the Joint Office of Homeless Services has issued a funding opportunity for eligible organizations to participate in Housing Multnomah Now and Oregon All-In. Responses must be submitted by Monday July 31, 2023 at 5pm. Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply.
Find out more about Oregon All-In/Housing Multnomah Now
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Provider Spotlight: Bienestar de la Familia
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The COVID-19 pandemic upended Tabitha Turner's life. Bienestar de la Familia helped her keep a roof over her and her son's head. Now, she's on the path to stability.
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Grand Opening: Sunderland Safe Park Village
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 Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and State of Oregon funds, we're happy to announce the Sunderland RV Safe Park opening!
As 1 of 7 villages in the Safe Rest Village system, it is the first program of its kind in Portland serving those living in their own RVs. Staffed 24/7 with amenities such as a clothing closet, showers, bathrooms, a food pantry and kitchen, and more, 55 of our unhoused neighbors living in RVs along NE 33rd Dr will have a safe space where they can also access case management and mental & behavioral health services.
While referrals will only be made via city outreach workers, not self- or third-party referrals, participants can call 211 if they need services.
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2023 State of Homelessness Report: Homelessness Trends in the United States
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Continuums of Care across the US conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. They also take an inventory of beds and units that serve people experiencing homelessness in their Housing Inventory Counts (HIC). The National Alliance to End Homelessness’ annual State of Homelessness Report leverages both to analyze trends in homelessness across the United States. It provides systems, providers, advocates, policymakers, and others with information to help shape their work (for example, calculations of bed utilization and unmet need).
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The 2023 HUD Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity is Open!
 On July 5, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the federal fiscal year 2023 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition. Our community is eligible to apply for Bonus funds of approximately $2,111,714 and Domestic Violence Bonus Funds of $715,918.
Solicitations for new or expansion projects are now OPEN and will be due August 13th, 2023 by 11:59 PM. The full solicitation can be found here: https://johs.us/continuum-of-care/new-projects/
We encourage new agencies that do not currently receive CoC Program Funds, as well as current recipients, to consider applying for a new permanent supportive housing project, a new rapid re-housing project, and/or a new joint transitional housing/rapid rehousing project. If you are interested in applying for this funding, please join us for the CoC Program Technical Assistance Workshop on July 25th from 2:00-4:00. Register for the workshop here: https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvfuqrqTwvH9VLGk8lsmkh5RXLh9na2FZj#/registration
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Join the BHRC Advisory Council
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 The Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) is a welcoming and safer place dedicated to supporting individuals facing serious behavioral health challenges, trauma and houselessness. Applications for membership on the Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) Advisory Council are now open. The Advisory Council is made up of peers, people with lived experience with houselessness and/or mental health challenges and others who contribute their voices toward this innovative project.
The Advisory Council is currently looking for:
- Businesspeople
- Culturally-specific providers
- First responders
The BHRC Advisory Council plays a vital role in reviewing and advising BHRC programs. Advisory Council members help ensure the consistency of services for program participants and provide recommendations on strategic initiatives, policies, processes, and procedures. The Advisory Council champions equity work within the BHRC programs and teams.
Apply for Membership:
The current round of applications closes Friday, August 11, 2023.
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Arbor Lodge Shelter Construction Update
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The Joint Office would like to announce a construction notice at our Arbor Lodge Shelter on N. Lombard St.
Since closing in March 2023, our Shelter Development team and our community partner, Do Good Multnomah, have been working hard in planning the construction of the new site.
With primary construction activities taking place from now until February 2024, the new site, which will serve as a long-term shelter, will include better fencing, interior design improvements, and community-led artwork created by local artists. It will serve at least 80 adults with a potential cap of 120 as demand permits.
Construction will impact traffic flow in the area, causing some delays. Thank you for your patience and support as we work together to help our unhoused neighbors into shelter (and from there, into housing) in the near future.
We are also excited to be working with local artists on a mural for the new shelter!
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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The Joint Office of Homeless Services invites the public to attend our advisory board and committee meetings. These advisory groups provide opportunities for community members to 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, July 20th, 2023 ⋅ 11:00am – 1:00pm
Click here for Virtual Meeting
More info about the Continuum of Care Board.
Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Advisory Committee
Thursday, August 10th, 2023 ⋅ 3:00 – 5:00pm
Click here for Virtual Meeting
More info about the Supportive Housing Services Advisory committee.
For more info on our advisory boards and committees, including meeting links, agendas and other materials, please visit https://www.multco.us/johs/johs-community-advisory-bodies.
Please email us at johscommunityadvisory@multco.us with any questions.
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Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness:
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Racial Justice & Equity Resources
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Employment Opportunities
Job openings at the Joint Office of Homeless Services:
MAC Operations Director - applications due July 24
Current job listings at our Partner Organizations:
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