PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — County officials have advanced plans to open a new homeless shelter in Gresham.

With a unanimous vote on Thursday, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a lease agreement for a motel on 24124 S.E. Stark St. The property will serve unsheltered families, offering 53 units when it opens this fall or winter.

"Motels are a trauma-informed shelter option, especially for families,” Homeless Services Department Interim Director Anna Plumb said. “A parent who’s had to work all day can get a good night’s sleep so they’re well-rested when they go back to work the next day. If a child is sick, they have a bed to sleep in and recover… That private, comfortable and safe space can make a world of difference for a family going through a period of instability."

The

See Full Page