PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) - Multnomah County is "in talks" to add more shelter beds at its Bybee Lakes Hope Center as the Downtown Shelter in Portland's Old Town neighborhood is slated to close in March, officials announced Friday.
The Downtown Shelter faces challenges with space and the cost of the lease, according to Multnomah County, noting the COVID-era shelter was always meant to be temporary.
Now, the county is considering adding 100 shelter beds at Bybee Lakes, which would bring the total number of beds funded by the Joint Office of Homeless Services to 275 at the shelter.
DON'T MISS: Mayor Wilson's plan to end homelessness draws mixed reactions from city, county
The additional beds at Bybee Lakes -- which is run by Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers -- would mark an overall four-bed increase in the city and county's 3,200 year-round and winter-only bed system, Multnomah County said.
"I want to thank the front-line workers at the Downtown Shelter for their many years of service ensuring hundreds of people had a roof, a bed, and services instead of sleeping out in the cold. They stepped up to take care of our neighbors during one of the most challenging chapters this community has ever endured," said Dan Field, director of the Joint Office. "I also want to thank the team at Helping Hands for the conversations we're having on growing our partnership there."
The Joint Office said adding beds at Bybee Lakes is more cost-effective than identifying a new location for a shelter.
The Downtown Shelter opened at the peak of the COVID pandemic in December of 2020 and since its opening, the shelter has served 952 people, with 468 identifying as chronically homeless, and 121 are veterans, according to Multnomah County.
The Downtown Shelter was among 17 shelters that were opened or funded by Multnomah County and the Joint Office of Homeless Services since 2020. These shelters are in addition to nine other shelters opened by the City of Portland during the same time.
"Our job now is to double-down on our good work expanding shelter options during the pandemic, and work with our partner providers to keep these beds open for years to come. Even though this shelter is closing, we are committed to maintaining capacity. No shelter beds will be lost," Field added.
Employees with Do Good Multnomah -- which operates the Downtown Shelter -- and the Joint Office will help current Downtown Shelter guests connect with long-term resources and housing ahead of the closure, officials said.
Since its opening in October of 2020, Bybee Lakes has served more than 3,300 people experiencing homelessness.
"The beds are currently set up and ready to go," said Mike Davis, CEO of Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers. "Helping Hands appreciates the partnership with the Joint Office of Homeless Services and would work quickly to staff up appropriately, as safety is everyone's first priority when it comes to staff, volunteers, and participants."
The Downtown Shelter is closing on March 30, and will stop accepting new referrals in February.