Oregon Community Foundation Awards $6.2 Million to Washington County to Shelter Vulnerable Community Members — Project Turnkey helps catalyze first year-round shelter for Single Adults in Washington County
Hillsboro, Ore. – April 22, 2021 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) today announced Washington County has been selected to receive a Project Turnkey grant of $6.2 million for the acquisition and conversion of a 60-room motel in Hillsboro, Oregon. Through the pandemic, the property will serve in part as a COVID-19 respite shelter for seasonal and migrant workers and others needing safe shelter, and predominantly as a stable shelter for people experiencing homelessness. This will be the first year-round shelter for single adults in Washington County, which will add to the county's existing sheltering capacity.
Community organizations – Bienestar and the Urban League of Portland – have partnered with Washington County and will help ensure that programs, services and referrals are culturally relevant to meet the specific needs of underserved populations.
“With help from Project Turnkey, this collaborative effort will enable some of the most vulnerable members of our community to safely move forward on their path toward one day having permanent housing,” said Washington County Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. “We are grateful to the Oregon Legislature and Oregon Community Foundation for this funding. We also appreciate our partners at the Urban League, Bienestar and the City of Hillsboro for helping to make this project a reality.”
Some key benefits of Project-Turnkey-Hillsboro include:
- Capacity for more staff to help more people move from crisis to stability.
- Culturally specific services provided by Bienestar and The Urban League of Portland.
- Safe accommodation for up to 60 individuals with some rooms reserved for those impacted by COVID-19.
“Black and Brown communities around the state are experiencing a crisis within a crisis as the effects of systemic racism are magnified in this pandemic,” said Denetta Monk, Director of Housing Programs, Urban League of Portland. “The Urban League is pleased to expand our culturally-specific model of service to support Washington County residents. For this important first step, our team stands ready to mobilize services and take action that leads to solidifying equitable access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.”
