In a step toward increasing services and shelter for people experiencing homelessness across the region, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, Sept. 5, unanimously approved construction plans for the East County Homelessness Resource Center in Gresham, located in the former Cook Plaza building.
The remodeled center will provide both drop-in day services and 24/7 shelter, with the ability to continue serving as a warming and cooling space during severe weather events.
The building, a former State of Oregon employment office at 19421 S.E. Stark St., was purchased by Multnomah County in December 2022. It has been used multiple times as a severe weather shelter during both heat and cold emergencies — including Sept. 5 and 6, 2024, as a cooling center — but the County’s goal has always been to convert it into a permanent shelter and resource hub intentionally located in East County.
In last week’s vote, Commissioners approved plans for the Joint Office of Homeless Services to remodel the building, with work expected to start next spring. When it reopens, the center will serve as a day center, providing hygiene services, case management and housing navigation. It will also have 28 personal shelter units on an adjoining lot, providing 24/7 village-style shelter for up to 42 people. The center will also retain the capacity to serve up to 90 people at a time during severe weather emergencies.
The year-round shelter capacity provided by the East County Homelessness Resource Center will also help the Joint Office deliver on its goals for the
“This is a significant milestone in the County’s efforts to transition people out of homelessness — as well as a testament to my colleague Commissioner Lori Stegmann’s tenacious advocacy,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “This Resource Center will support our sheltering strategy and action plan with 28 new pods, 90 beds for severe weather shelter and a day center to increase much-needed community services. East County needs exactly these kinds of investments and now they have them.”
“This new resource center will serve the community on a larger scale and reflects our dedication to support folks who are living unsheltered,” said Commissioner Stegmann, who represents East County and helped lead the project. “My vision for this site was to create a campus of services that offered people the tools needed to become more self-sufficient. It is absolutely vital that we create a safe place where people feel welcomed and respected, a place where people can build and rebuild relationships and trust with one another.”
The $8.4 million construction plan approved last week would add eight new restrooms (including seven shower spaces), laundry facilities, a kitchen and kitchenette, common spaces and offices. The remodel will update the building’s HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, replace the roof, add a new entrance for the day center, add a green space, provide a covered outdoor community area, and add new privacy fencing.
Absent any changes or unforeseen challenges, construction is expected to finish in late 2025, with the intention of opening the shelter before the end of that year.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is contributing $1.7 million in grant funding. The remaining $6.7 million for the remodel will come from Joint Office construction funds, provided by the County’s general fund.
The Joint Office and Commissioner Stegmann’s office had been preparing for the Sept. 5 vote by working with Gresham officials and launching a community engagement strategy.
“As Mayor of Gresham, I’m encouraged about this development that deepens services in East County,” said Mayor Travis Stovall. “This unique partnership between Multnomah County, the Joint Office of Homeless Services and the City of Gresham ensures that our unsheltered neighbors and those in need receive the support they deserve. Together, we’re forging a new chapter of collaboration, building a stronger, more compassionate community for all.”
Mayor Stovall’s remarks were echoed by other elected officials in Gresham and East Multnomah County.
"I am looking forward to the resources that the East County Homelessness Resource Center will bring to support our houseless population in East County,” said Gresham City Councilor Dina DiNucci.
All four Multnomah County board members in attendance voted to approve the plan (Commissioner Jesse Beason was absent).
Commissioner Sharon Meieran asked about community involvement in the development of the facility. “When we talk about community engagement, it still does sound like the County’s approach usually has been engaging the community once all decisions have been made. We know what the thing’s going to be, we’re going to put it here, we’ve designed it, it’s all a done deal,” she said. “Is there different engagement that’s planned other than that?”
Joint Office director Dan Field said that many details about the facility and the services it will provide will be determined throughout both the community engagement process and the process of contracting with a shelter provider — meaning the community will have opportunities to meaningfully engage in the site's development. “What we want to avoid is building out the services in detail and then just sort of dropping it into the community,” Field said.
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards also emphasized the need for community engagement, and expressed support for adding services in East County. “I believe we need to continue to have geographically dispersed services, versus all concentrated in one area. Not only is that better for those being served, but it also is the only way we’re going to be able to adequately serve the number of people who need services,” she said.
The Joint Office is meeting with jurisdictional partners including the cities in East County, local neighborhood groups and service partners working in the region to gather and incorporate community feedback into the center’s design and programming, to ensure services match community needs while minimizing possible adverse impacts.
The Joint Office will be hosting its first public community meeting for the new center on Sept. 23, 2024, at the site, taking place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. More information can be found here.
