Multnomah County is taking steps toward opening a new shelter to serve families experiencing homelessness. On Sept. 25, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a lease agreement for a 53-unit motel in Gresham that would provide families with a safe place to stabilize and access services on their path back to housing.
The new shelter, which is planned to open in fall or winter 2025, will replace family shelter capacity that was lost this summer when the Homeless Services Department ended its contract with the provider of a different 50-unit family shelter. It aligns with the County’s Community Sheltering Strategy, which prioritizes maintaining and expanding family shelter options in Multnomah County.
“For families experiencing homelessness, having a safe and welcoming place to stay can be the first step to long-term stability,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “Creating more options for families in Multnomah County is a priority of mine, and I’m glad we’re working quickly to fill a critical gap in East Multnomah County for those who need shelter and support.”
The new shelter, at 24124 S.E. Stark St., Gresham, is a motel with features ideal for a family shelter. The motel offers larger-than-average rooms, with many having pull-out couches, perfect for families with children. It also has accessibility features like wider hallways, several ADA-accessible units and multiple ground-level entrances.
"Motels are a trauma-informed shelter option, especially for families. In a motel shelter, kids can close the door and do their homework. A parent who’s had to work all day can get a good night’s sleep so they’re well-rested when they go back to work the next day. If a child is sick, they have a bed to sleep in and recover. Families don’t have to share a bathroom with anyone but themselves,” said Anna Plumb, interim director of the Homeless Services Department. “That private, comfortable and safe space can make a world of difference for a family going through a period of instability."
The shelter will offer on-site wraparound services, including support for families as they seek permanent housing. And as with all its shelters, the Homeless Services Department will contract with a community-based organization to operate the site. The Homeless Services Department is getting close to announcing a provider, but the decision isn’t final yet.
New shelter would support need for family shelter in East County; community engagement work has begun
The County is deliberately maintaining shelter in East Multnomah County because of the continued need for family shelter in that area.
“The need to support families with homeless services in East County is clear,” said Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon. “Nearly half of the working households in East County are one unplanned expense away from homelessness. This shelter will serve and support our community’s families in their time of need.”
Data from 211info, which serves as the point of contact for the County’s family shelter system and maintains the Countywide family shelter waitlist, underscores that need. About 20% of people on the family shelter waitlist in FY 2023 specifically requested Gresham for their shelter location. Additionally, between April 2024 and March 2025, 211info received 2,198 calls from ZIP codes that overlap Gresham and/or the three cities in East County — making up 42.9% of all calls from families self-identifying as homeless.
Many families on the shelter waitlist have children in East County schools, including the Reynolds and Gresham-Barlow school districts. Allowing families to stay in East County will help long-term stabilization by connecting them with community groups and resources, housing them near their family and friends.
In the lead-up to the board vote Sept. 25, the Homeless Services Department began engaging the community about the new shelter. The department hosted a community event Thursday, Sept. 18, for neighborhood groups and community members. The department also canvassed 70 households and businesses in the area to share information.
Other community engagement work is planned, including a second community meeting to introduce neighbors to the future shelter operator. The County has also committed to engaging with the neighborhood and the shelter provider to create a Good Neighbor Agreement for the shelter. Announcement of future meetings and details about the project are posted on the project website.
More details
The lease agreement is a room-block agreement, meaning while the County rents the rooms, the owner of the motel is responsible for the insuring and maintaining the building.
The lease will cost $65 per room per night, or about $1.26 million total, for the first year of operation. The lease is through June 30, 2035, with the County having the option to terminate each year by June 30.
