Share your updates: Community-created list of programming changes in the wake of COVID-19
Updated May 20, 2020
The Joint Office of Homeless Services is working with community partners to collect and share an updated list of programming changes that affect providers who work with people experiencing homelessness. This list will change from time to time as providers and agencies submit updates, so be sure to check back for the latest information.
If your agency isn’t on this list, or if it already is but you’d like to offer any updates, please contact [email protected]. You can also contact [email protected] with program updates to help their dispatchers communicate the latest and best information about available services.
211 Info
Staff is telecommuting, but their services remain the same
Blanchet House
Three meals a day for more than 1,000 people, Monday through Saturday (same as before) — except all meals are now provided to-go.
Blanchet House is also actively receiving and picking up food donations.
BOTTLEDROP / OREGON BEVERAGE RECYCLING COOPERATIVE (OBRC) / TRIMET
The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) has opened an emergency bottle return location at its headquarters at 3900 NW Yeon Ave, in Portland. According to OBRC’s website, people can bring in bags of beverage containers, wait while the machine counts them and get their money immediately.
The emergency return service is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. OBRC has implemented measures to ensure safe physical distancing and sanitation at the site.
Starting Wednesday, April 29, TriMet will offer a special shuttle line servicing the emergency bottle return location.
The temporary Line 297-NW Yeon/OBRC will run hourly between Rose Quarter Transit Center and the NW Yeon emergency return location.
The shuttle buses will serve two stops in the Old Town area–a westbound stop on NW Glisan Street just past NW 3rd Avenue (Stop ID 9311) and an eastbound stop on NW Everett Street at NW 5th Avenue (Stop ID 8886).
Buses will run between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. TriMet must limit the number of passengers on buses to 10-15 people for physical distancing, including the shuttle buses running on this line.
Bradley Angle House
Shelter is currently running but closed for intakes.
Center is closed, with all advocates working remote. The crisis line is running. All in-person services postponed until further notice.
Childcare is available for families in their shelter program who have kids unable to attend school due to closures.
Bridges to Change
Open with some service modifications; accepting new clients and residents into all programs: treatment, mentors and housing.
Most services are being provided via Telehealth. Current protocols can be found at bridgestochange.com/COVID.
For behavioral health treatment services (substance use and mental health), please call the intake line at 503-560-7800. For mentor services, please refer to the list of contacts at bridgestochange.com/mentors/. For housing openings and contact info, please go to www.bridgestochange.com/housing/.
BRIGID’S 2 GO
To-go meals offered Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Peter and Paul Church, at 247 SE 82nd at SE Ash. Operating at the same time Multnomah County’s mobile syringe exchange van is on site.
Call to Safety
Anyone who’s experienced sexual or domestic violence and is not in an emergency but needs someone to talk to immediately can call. 888-235-5333.
Cascade AIDS Project
SW Washington and Portland offices will now be on telework status until May 1. Staff are working remotely and are available by phone or email. Updates about what services are offered will be posted at www.capnw.org. Prism Health is still open and providing onsite services to patients, and is also providing telehealth for primary and behavioral health care.
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
All programs shifting to a work-from-home model except outreach, which has limited hours.
Outreach teams are supporting existing clients (carrying hand sanitizer, keeping to social distancing guidance of 6 feet, being mindful of not transporting folks, and dropping off supplies.) Housing work is continuing.
Catholic Charities of Oregon
Reduced services for Housing Transitions Program; drop-in hours limited to weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Snacks, hygiene supplies and mail will be handed out to community members from the front door; restroom use, shower and laundry are limited to one person in the space a time, with added time between entrances to allow for sanitization of the space.
Appointments and meetings to be held by phone as much as possible.
Central City Concern
All program services are open and serving clients, with a few adjustments to ensure social distancing.
New patients at the clinics and new residents in housing both still accepted.
Housing and administration offices have gone to appointment only; clients and prospective clients are asked to call ahead before coming in for services. Transportation and outreach is limited to essential needs only.
Group sessions have been moved to one-on-one phone sessions.
Shelter-based clinics are temporary closed, but all other health services are still available to patients.
CityTeam
Intakes suspended for the men’s recovery program.
Breakfast/meal services served to-go Monday through Saturday.
Shelter capacity has decreased to 39 beds.
Clothing distribution is canceled.
In-house dinner service and non-essential volunteer staff are also canceled.
Community Referral and Resource Clinic (CRRC) for Veterans
Staff are rotating days they come into the clinic. Best way to get in touch, and help staff track outreach needs, is to call the homeless hotline at 877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET).
Community Warehouse
Reopening Monday, March 30, with modified furniture bank services to community partners.
Modified service includes:
Community Partners can schedule pickup of Essential Item Kits at the Portland furniture bank. Only one Community Partner may pick up at the Warehouse at a time. No clients may enter the Warehouse.
Essential Item Kits of properly sanitized items are preselected and prepackaged according to household size.
No Tualatin furniture bank service. No new case manager orientations. No delivery service.
Dignity Village
Not allowing guests; following social distancing measures.
Do Good Multnomah
Wy’east shelter capacity capped to allow social distancing space. New intakes will be accepted as the nightly census drops below cap.
Volunteers and community partners have suspended their participation at Wy'east.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s HIV Day Center
Day center hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hot meals and lunch provided to-go. Hygiene products also provided.
Showers and computer/TV time have been canceled.
Food deliveries also operating. Reach out for referrals.
El Programa Hispano Católico
Office is closed to the public.
Outreach and group activities canceled. Client transportation is suspended.
Staff will check in with participants on the same schedule as before, but by phone.
Food / health items will be dropped off as needed. Rent payments will go out as normal. One-on-one supervision meetings by phone will continue on the same schedule.
Food pantries in Gresham
Gresham day shelters/food sites have ceased in-person meal operations for the time being and are shifting to a sack lunch service.
Sack lunches are being distributed outside the doors of the day centers to minimize person-to-person contact. Gresham’s outreach team is helping to deliver sack lunches to folks they encounter on the streets.
SnoCap in Gresham is still providing food boxes but limiting person-to-person contact.
FORT KENNEDY
Closed and expected to reopen April 6.
Free Hot Soup
Traditional meal service in Director Park is suspended.
The operation has become fully mobile. Food will still be prepared and packaged, but instead of serving at Director Park, teams of two will drive to camps and bring food directly to where people are staying, with no-contact delivery protocols.
HOW TO HELP:
Seeking volunteers to cook and package food every night; 2 volunteers or more with cars to drive every night; ingredient donations and packaging supplies (peanut butter, chips, good fruit and other snacks, paper bags, baggies, to-go containers, ready made soups, rice pasta, dried mashed potatoes, restaurant sized canned goods, etc.; houses to stage and package food at, maps of camp locations.
Help Me Grow (providence)
Continuing to operate, providing phone-based support for families with young children in the Metro area.
Staff is available to help problem-solve with parents and to navigate community resources. Help Me Grow also has tool-based Tip Sheets for families around new behaviors and challenges, like creating home routines for young children, potty regression, and sensory activities for tight spaces. Reach Help Me Grow at 833-868-4769 or [email protected].
Home Forward
Short-term rent assistance (STRA) offices: By appointment only, with majority of staff working remotely. Continuing to provide support and process intakes and invoices. Any questions regarding the STRA team can contact Ian at 503-320-4729.
At their supportive housing units in the Bud Clark Commons, non-essential activities are on hold.
Guests are temporarily prohibited from entering, to increase social distancing. Phone check-ins for residents. Purchased additional food and soap to have on site if needed and have supplied any on-site staff with personal protective equipment.
Evictions for nonpayment of rent during COVID are suspended.
Hooper Detox
Reduced number of patients at a given time so beds can be spaced six feet apart.
Staff are patients know on the sidewalk when they show up. They are taking names and have invited medical staff with them to help make referrals.
Human Solutions (HSI)
Working to minimize staff contact — between one another and between staff and participants — during shifts and at shift change.
Meals, supplies and resources are offered through our lobby window to the families at Lilac Meadows, as opposed to in activity rooms and through typical interpersonal contact.
Instituting social distancing measures in common play and activity areas. Providing information, signage and flyers with updated information on the pandemic. Increased cleaning and wiping of surfaces and adhering to all protocols as set by Public Health and the Joint office of Homeless Services.
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Offices closed to the public through April 3. This includes IRCO Main, Asian Family Center, Africa House and all other co-located sites. As they monitor the situation, closures may need to be extended.
impact NW
All offices closed to the public unless otherwise noted. All services are operating, with most staff working remotely.
Early Childhood Home Visiting services are continuing remotely, but all group services are canceled until further notice.
Outreach being provided to families on waiting lists. Food and other basic needs delivered in person while practicing social distancing guidelines. Please call Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (503) 721- 1740 with any questions on how to receive services during this time.
Janus Youth Program
Youth system pausing shelter intakes to ensure current spaces can practice safe social distancing in the shelter space. As the work to shift beds to other new spaces continues, creating safer social distancing, new intakes would be expected to resume.
HomeSafe/Teen Insights: Weekly home visits are suspended through March 20; suspension will be re-evaluated weeky. Staff will be available by phone/text/email.
Insights office will remain open for families who need emergency donations and diapers.
Staff can make quick delivery stops at homes without entering.
JOIN
Dayspace providing services and supplies from the side door only (snacks, coffee, socks, hygiene supplies and mail access). Hours: 12 to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Showers are no longer available.
Other services remain intact, but may change. Outreach/inreach/housing teams will shift to phone or virtual visits whenever possible. Home visits and client contact will be done remotely.
Retention teams are supporting clients remotely: providing phones, food boxes, prescriptions, medical transport, assisting in documenting loss of income due to COVID, among other needs.
Mobile Permanent Supportive Housing team is assisting in prescription delivery, eviction prevention, food assistance, supporting those who need existing ongoing medical treatments who need safe transportation to medical settings, among other needs.
Outreach workers delivering necessary survival items, continuing housing placement with same parameters as pre-COVID and focusing on voucher opportunities.
InReach workers providing food boxes, rental checks, meetings via phone, dropping supplies to Dignity Village and Right 2 Dream Too. No vehicle transport unless absolutely necessary.
Latino Network
Check-ins and supportive services will continue even as staff works remotely. Goods can be ordered for delivery, check-ins will be via phone, assistance checks will continue to be delivered without interruption. New client intakes will be conducted remotely.
Maybelle Center for Community
Although the Center is closed, staff is staying in contact via phone, email, and/or mail with more than 300 members (clients) who live in downtown Portland housing.
Multnomah County Harm Reduction
Syringe exchange currently offering all services. Able to offer 100 syringes to anyone who doesn't have any so that they can have extra supplies on hand.
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA)
Staff working from home with the exception of delivering essential supplies to clients. No home visits or street outreach.
Staff are checking in regularly with everyone on their caseload. NARA’s two healthcare clinics, outpatient addictions treatment center, adult residential addictions treatment center and youth residential treatment center all remain open. Mental health services are all via teletherapy. Still doing mental health intakes. Engaging in as much telemedicine as possible.
Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA)
NAYA buildings closed to the public until April 13 and open by appointment only. All appointments will be made by telephone and will include screening for symptoms in the caller or in a caller’s household..
Neighborhood House
Staff continuing to see clients and maintain programming.
New Avenues for Youth
Working with Outside In to modify drop-in hours to provide more social distance while expanding access overall for youths without shelter who have fewer public spaces they can be.
Handwashing or hand sanitizer are mandatory before youths enter the space and eat meals; guests who won’t wash/sanitize are not allowed to come in, but are given a to-go meal instead.
Northwest Pilot Project
All services provided remotely. Office no longer open to walk-ins. Anyone seeking services must call 503-227-5605 or email [email protected] with any questions. Rescheduling Housing Partnership Workgroup, likely not until July. Continuing to place people into housing.
OHSU Partnership Project
HIV Case Management services — including nursing case management, insurance assistance, medical navigation, and navigation to immigrants and refugees — are being provided remotely. Staff are available by phone or email. Intakes are being conducted by phone. Navigation work includes helping people connect to medical care, insurance, medication access, other essential services and also COVID-19 related resources. Call 503-230-1202 or email [email protected]. Or visit www.ohsu.edu/partnership.
Transgender Health Program is continuing to provide services, with staff working remotely. Call 503-494-7970 or email [email protected]. Or visit www.ohsu.edu/transhealth.
operation nightwatch
Brown bag meal and coffee served from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Blankets and some tarps are available.
Operation Nightwatch SE location serving brown bag meals and coffee on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. Also open Saturday 5 to 8 p.m. Blankets and some tarps are available.
Outside In
Essential services only. Day program hours remain the same, but will be reviewed regularly. The space has been reorganized to support social distancing, with meals limited to to 20 people at a time.
Staff are attempting to meet with youth before they come into the space to educate them on social distancing.
Employment and Education programs are closed.
Other services will be limited and most will be provided via phone check-ins, texts, etc.
PORTLAND ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES (PACS) FOOD PANTRY
Food pantry is open weekdays 9 to 11 a.m. in Northeast Portland; food boxes but with limited person-to-person contact. Email questions to [email protected]. You can also go to pacsonline.org/donate to help out with donations.
Portland Homeless Family Solutions
Still open and taking families into shelter.
PORTLAND PEOPLE’S OUTREACH PROJECT
Offering need-based syringe distribution, along with wound care, safer sex supplies and other services, via mobile outreach Friday evenings (Inner Southeast, Downtown, Pearl District), Saturday afternoons (St. Johns) and Sunday afternoons (Hollywood, Downtown, Pearl District). Check www.portlandpeoplesoutreach.org or call (503) 765-7767 for detailed schedule of times and locations.
Portland Rescue Mission
Shelter bed count reduced by 54 to create minimum social distancing space between beds.
People with symptoms of COVID-19 will not be able to accommodated. Referral beds also will not be available.
People in shelter now will be able to retain their beds through the entirety of the COVID-19 response so long as they meet conduct guidelines and don’t display any COVID-19 symptoms.
If any mats do open upstairs, they are expected to be very limited and available through a daily lottery from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Hot breakfasts and dinners will continue 7 days a week, but served to-go.
Hygiene, cleaning, restrooms and other 24/7 services will continue, but with a limited number of individuals able to enter the lobby at a time for restroom and sink use. Showers and clothing services will be provided only to individuals in emergency shelter.
RAHAB’S SISTERS
To-go meals offered for all genders Friday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Peter and Paul Church, at 247 SE 82nd at SE Ash. Operating at the same time Multnomah County’s mobile syringe exchange van is on site. No other services available at this time.
Raphael House of Portland
Shelter is full. Work continues to get folks connected to housing resources and permanent housing.
There is crisis line coverage, but with reduced staffing.
The Advocacy Center is operating remotely. No home visits, but resources are being delivered, with contact happening over the phone. Healthcare Advocates are not at the Richmond Clinic; they are working remotely and helping to staff the shelter.
DV Recovery Mentors are continuing to fill in at the Gateway Center.
Rose Haven
Inside hospitality services are closed; space inside isn’t large enough to allow sufficient social distancing.
Bathrooms and hand-washing sink use inside remains available.
At-door support, however, includes nutritious food, water, emergency clothing, diapers, wipes, hygiene products, pet food and other needed items:
Outdoor supplies including tents, tarps, sleeping bags (as supplies last)
Additional direct service allocations for rental and utility assistance
Love...'cause everyone can use more of this right now!
Hours of operation for women and children are weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Salvation Army - West Women's
Services continuing.
SE WORKS
Closed to the public, but staff are working remotely to serve customers — providing one-on-one appointments, resource navigation, employment assistance and more.
Hours of operation are weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For the quickest response, individuals looking for services should visit www.seworks.org for programming and direct contact information.
Self Enhancement, Inc.
Buildings are closed to the public, with staff shifting to virtual meetings instead of home visits. Transportation of clients has been suspended.
Sisters of the Road
Open; serving to-go meals Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
ST. JOHNS SAFELIGHT HOUSELESS OUTREACH GROUP
Providing mobile food supply drops to neighbors living outside seven days per week from 12-4 p.m.
Weekly picnic/potluck organized Wednesdays at noon at the St. Johns Plaza, 8608 N. Lombard St.
Contact Kelly Tadlock at [email protected].
Help with preparing, distributing and collecting food and supplies is always welcome. Help advocating for St. Johns’ houseless community is also welcomed.
St. Francis Dining Hall
Dining hall is closed, but breakfast to-go (food, coffee and cocoa) is offered from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., with to-go hot dinner provided at 5.
Showers remain available, but occupancy of the shower area is restricted to six people at a time.
Street Roots
Open 9 to 11 a.m. Monday-Saturday. Parking spaces in front of the building have been closed to cars so some operations can shift outside.
Access to bathroom, coffee and computer remains available.
Print operations are suspended, with the news team going digital.
Swindells Resource Center
Continuing to provide phone support for families with children who experience special health care needs. Available weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p..m. at 503-215-2429 or [email protected].
In addition, the center is offering new video vignettes (short videos with local providers to answer questions that families are raising), recorded and virtual-live trainings (topics like supporting resilience for caregivers and parents, school-based supports and resources), and virtual support groups/chat spaces for parents.
Details on the virtual programming are available through the contact info listed above.
The Gateway Center
Closed to walk-ins, skeleton crew remaining on site as of March 16.
Transition Projects
Our shelters continue to serve participants. Intakes slowly resuming now that bed-spacing has been achieved to comply with Public Health guidance.
Transition Projects’ Resource Center at the Bud Clark Commons (650 NW Irving) will maintain current program hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the following changes:
The outdoor courtyard is open to all from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with two portable restrooms available for all.
Entry into the building will be limited to 25 participants at a time for reduced services.
Services will be limited to showers, laundry, restrooms and mail pick-up.
The Central City Concern Acute Care Clinic is closed.
The Multnomah County TB clinic at BCC is closed.
Housing programs continuing to work to house and provide supportive services. Staff working remotely.
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
To-go meals served Tuesday through Saturday (detailed schedule at ugmportland.org/meals. Clothing provided Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m.; food boxes provided Fridays at 11:30 a.m. — first come first serve.
To ensure adequate social distancing between our residents, addiction recovery intakes (LifeChange program) are currently on hold.
Urban League of Portland
Staff working remotely; offices open by appointment only. Outreach, client support, and eviction prevention work all remain in operation, but logistics may slow some work down. Walk-in hours now hosted over the phone, through Urban League’s housing hotline.
Volunteers of America
Facility is closed, all staff working from home. Groups at Juvenile Detention and Inverness are both suspended. Court-based programs have moved to remote operations. For restraining order assistance, participants can call 503-802-05
William Temple House
Counselors will continue to meet with previously scheduled clients via phone. Clients should not come into William Temple House for sessions.
Food Pantry hours limited to 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Clients will be checked in and provided with food in the front yard of William Temple House. Clients will still be able to choose the food items desired. No other services will be available at this time.
YWCA of Greater Portland
Most staff working from home and providing remote advocacy. Navigator still at Gateway Center to provide some appointment-based services and assist with navigation needs