Will Multnomah Village warming shelter stay temporary?

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — When a warming shelter opened in the Sears Building in Multnomah Village last Thanksgiving, neighbors didn’t seem bothered by it.

City leaders promised the shelter in the old Sears National Guard Armory, would operate for just 6 months, and the city said it would close the shelter May 31.

But now some neighbors told KOIN 6 News they’re concerned the city and county may try to extend that deadline.

Currently, the shelter is open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for women and their partners. Guests are bussed here from downtown Portland at night, then taken back in the morning.

Nearby residents said they expect the city to keep its promise to close the shelter when they said they would. Some said there are constant domestic disputes and police activity. They said they don’t feel safe.

“This is supposed to end at the end of May,” Lisa Carney-Fenton said. “My neighbors and myself have been paitently waiting for all the disruptions to stop. My hope is it stops in May but I’m concerned they’re going to try and push something through again.”

Both Mayor Charlie Hales and Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury will meet with neighbors at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Multnomah Arts Center. Neighborhood leaders said the meeting will focus on the current status of the shelter, current needs of the homeless and possible next steps regarding the Sears Building.

KOIN 6 News asked both the mayor’s office and the county if keeping the shelter open longer is a possibility.

The mayor’s office referred us to county officials. County officials said they don’t know because it’s a decision for the city to make — since the land is city property.

Thursday afternoon, the county provided a timeline for planned shelter openings  — though no sites have yet been determined:

Temporary shelters are planned to open in inner Northeast Portland in July for 100 women and couples and in downtown Portland in August for 50 women.

Permanent replacements for the Sears Building include a spot in East Portland/Gresham to open this summer for 90 women, with a focus on domestic violence. In Southeast Portland, the McLoughlin Women and Couples Shelter is set to open in early fall with 100 beds.

Additionally, a few churches are planning to open to a smaller number of homeless people.

KOIN 6 News will have more information later.