The North Portland Drop-In Center, a space providing daytime services for people experiencing homelessness, will open in St. Johns in mid-July 2025. The upcoming opening was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting event Wednesday, June 25.
Operated by Do Good Multnomah and supported by Multnomah County with Metro Supportive Housing Services funding, the facility will provide a central location for community members to access a variety of services in a safe, trauma-informed space, while also providing respite from the elements. While not an overnight shelter, the center will be able to help people access longer-term services that could include referrals to shelter.
“Until everyone has a permanent place to call home, places like the North Portland Drop-In Center are filling important needs for our neighbors experiencing homelessness in a part of town that needs this resource,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “Whether someone is engaging for the first time and simply drops in for a quick cup of coffee or visits regularly to work with a case manager, they’ll be greeted with a safe, welcoming space that supports them with their goals.”
“Do Good Multnomah’s vision for the North Portland Drop-In Center is to serve as a vibrant, community-oriented hub of resources in the heart of St. Johns. Businesses, non-profits, and neighbors — both housed and unhoused — have been vocalizing the need for more accessible resources for years,” said Do Good Multnomah’s Rae Fender, program manager for the drop-in center. “We're ready for this: Over the past year, Do Good has been engaging in direct street outreach and building trust and relationships throughout the neighborhood. We're beyond excited for the Drop-in Center to open so we can deliver on those commitments.”
Located in the same building as Multnomah County’s North Portland Health Center (9000 N. Lombard St.), the site fills a long-discussed need in North Portland for low-barrier, daytime services.
“As a former provider, I know just how powerful a role that a dayspace can play in someone's life. Whatever a person has going on, they know that this space and the Do Good staff will be there for them,” said County Commissioner Shannon Singleton, who represents North and Northeast Portland. “Whether it’s a shower, receiving a piece of mail from a loved one, or finally hearing that they made it into housing, this space can and will be a transformative force for the folks walking through these doors.”
Once it officially opens, the center’s hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday. Services and resources at the center will include:
- Case management provided by peer support specialists. Services include help obtaining necessary documents for housing; referrals to community partners, and connections to benefits (like Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid).
- Showers, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with access to personal care items as available.
- Meals available on a first-come, first-served basis. The center will also have a small pantry of microwavable ready-to-eat food, with hot and cold beverages available throughout the day.
- Mailing address services. People can sign up to have mail delivered to the day center. Not having a stable mailing address can be a barrier to people seeking housing.
The center joins several other drop-in and daytime programs that are supported by the Homeless Services Department (formerly Joint Office of Homeless Services) with dollars coming from the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services Measure.
"Voters who passed the Metro Supportive Housing Services measure made the opening of the North Portland Drop-In Center possible," Metro Councilor Mary Nolan said. "And by opening these doors, we are sending an invaluable message to our unhoused neighbors — that they are seen, they are valued, and that this community believes they deserve dignity and a chance to rebuild."
