District 4 Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon today announced he’ll be convening East County elected leaders on how to best meet the area’s needs for people experiencing homelessness.
The effort comes as Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, working in partnership with Commissioner Jones-Dixon, directed a 90-day pause on the County’s construction plans for a new homelessness services facility in the former Cook Plaza building at 19421 S.E. Stark St.
The County purchased the building, a former State of Oregon employment office, in December 2022. It has been used multiple times as a severe weather shelter. Last September, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved renovations.
The proposed East County Homelessness Resource Center at Cook Plaza was planned to provide drop-in day services and a 24/7 shelter, through personal sleeping units on an adjoining lot, with the ability to continue serving as a warming and cooling space during severe weather events.
Homelessness services are needed in East County and the beds are part of a County-wide shelter strategy. But the landscape of resources and needs in Gresham and surrounding East County communities changed since the initial planning for Cook Plaza, with the development of other homeless services facilities in Gresham, particularly in Rockwood.
“We heard loud and clear from East County leaders their need to be meaningfully involved to ensure investments are made where they are needed most,” said Commissioner Jones-Dixon “I felt it was critical to be responsive to this feedback.”
“There continues to be a great need for these resources in East County,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “We are committed to staying at the table with elected leaders and the community to make sure our strategic visions align so that we can move these resources forward together.”
Commissioner Jones-Dixon will be convening East County's elected leaders and community stakeholders in the coming months to co-create the path forward for a resource center in East County that respects and serves the unique needs of the region.
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