Important update: Growing the Multnomah Safe Rest Village 

As we know, the lack of affordable housing and persistent homelessness are among the biggest  challenges facing Portland. Local governments have made this a high priority and numerous dedicated and skilled non-profit organizations have been working to address this challenge. 

We in Multnomah can be proud that our neighborhood has stepped up to do our part to address homelessness in SW Portland by hosting a small Safe Rest Village on city property. (It is the small compound surrounded by a wood fence on the parking lot of the former National Guard armory on Multnomah Boulevard.) 

Despite the best efforts of many over recent years, homelessness remains a persistent challenge, and the city is stepping up to provide additional safe, clean housing with wrap-around services to help Portlanders get back on their feet. As part of this effort, the city is planning to expand our Safe Rest Village. 

The city will be holding an in-person Listening Session on this expansion on November 29th at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. 7:00-8:00 PM. We encourage you to come, learn more about the plans, and share your thoughts. 

Here are some suggested talking points to share in support of this important expansion 

proposal: 

• Safe Rest Villages are an effective temporary housing model. They provide temporary alternative shelter and provide case management, amenities, mental and behavioral health services on-site, and a path to housing for those who are ready. 

• This expansion will allow for an efficient use of public resources by using existing city-owned space and infrastructure. More residents can easily be accommodated with a lower per-capita investment of public dollars. 

• The Multnomah SRV has worked hard to be a good neighbor. It is private, discreet and located on property already owned by the city. (In fact, if you aren’t looking for it, you might not notice it at all.) 

• Despite initial concerns about neighborhood safety and disruption, there has been no significant disturbance due to the Multnomah SRV, though a few neighbors have been bothered by noise during the night.  

• We in Multnomah can be proud to do our part in assisting our homeless neighbors in this small way. 

• This change will be a challenge for everyone concerned: our neighborhood, the Safe Rest Villages team, the operator of the MSRV, and, most of all, to the staff and participants inside the Multnomah Safe Rest Village. We are determined to provide whatever support we can during this transition. 

--Friends of the Multnomah Safe Rest Village