On the corner of SE 82nd Ave. in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, a cluster of newly installed small, standalone shelter units now sit behind new fencing and fresh landscaping, marking the latest addition to Multnomah County’s continuously evolving homelessness response.
Located at 1818 SE 82nd Ave., the Harrison Community Village houses rows of compact “lit pods” that stand ready for future residents to enjoy. Each unit is designed as a private, individual living space rather than the open-floor mats or large shared rooms that have long defined traditional homeless shelters. The village, operated by Do Good Multnomah in partnership with Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department (HSD), is expected to begin accepting residents within the next month, closing out a process that has stretched over years of planning, design revisions and neighborhood engagement.
The 38-unit facility is described as a “purpose-built” shelter, meaning it was shaped by system planners as well as input from people with lived experience of homelessness and nearby residents. The result is a model that combines basic overnight sheltering with case management, shared kitchen space, hygiene facilities, pet relief areas and around-the-clock staffing…