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Hillsboro Year-Round Shelter Celebrates Groundbreaking

Post Date:03/07/2025

Future year-round shelter design, Mayor and Council members pose with shovels, Mayor speaks at groundbreaking celebration

City leaders and staff joined partners Washington County and Metro on Monday, March 3 to celebrate breaking ground on Hillsboro’s future year-round shelter for adults experiencing homelessness.

The future shelter near Winco & Dairy Creek Park will meet critical community needs by offering safe sleeping spaces, meals, wrap-around support, and housing assessments to connect guests with pathways to long-term housing support.

Watch the Video Announcement

Visit Engage Hillsboro to learn more & ask questions.

City Manager Robby Hammond & Mayor Beach Pace pose at the shelter groundbreaking event “The City of Hillsboro is committed to supporting efforts that provide compassionate care and pathways to housing while also addressing the impacts of homelessness on businesses and our community,” said Mayor Beach Pace.

“We are grateful to have support from Washington County and Metro as we make this investment to meet immediate needs and foster long-term change.”

The shelter will provide space for 75 guests, as well as onsite meals, shower & laundry facilities, and support from culturally-responsive & trauma-informed staff who will be onsite 24/7.

To meet diverse needs, the shelter will offer 35 indoor congregate sleeping areas & 40 individual shelter pods and further reduce barriers by allowing pets.

Location

The City purchased the property on SW 17th Avenue in 2021 with the goal of building the future year-round shelter.

The shelter will be located near an established business area with nearby access to public transportation as well as groceries, health care, and employment opportunities.

Timeline & Operations

Construction began in early January and the shelter is expected to welcome its first guests in winter 2025-26.

Once open, the shelter will be operated by a service provider and funded through Washington County's allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure.

Engaging Our Community

The shelter’s design architecture, and amenities have been informed by community engagement through stakeholder focus groups and a community-wide survey. Community input will continue to shape operator selection and elements of the shelter’s Neighborhood Plan.

We're also inviting community members to ask us a question and sharing those questions and our responses on Engage Hillsboro.

Project Funding

The project is made possible thanks to $17 million in funding, which includes contributions from the City of Hillsboro, state & federal funding, and $8.3 million from the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services measure allocated through Washington County. Ongoing operations will also be funded by the Washington County allocation of the Supportive Housing Services measure.

The future year-round shelter in Hillsboro will join the Washington County shelter program, representing over 375 beds countywide thanks to critical Supportive Housing Services funding.

City staff and leaders celebrate shelter groundbreaking and pose with shovels