A never-used Portland jail will become a shelter for houseless people

By Jazmine Weaver

(MAY 15, 2020) The Wapato Jail in the St. John’s neighborhood of Portland has never been used. But that is supposed to change soon. Helping Hands Reentry Outreach is a non-profit organization that works with houseless communities in 11 centers up and down the Oregon coast. It has plans to use this Multnomah County Jail as a service center for the houseless people in the community.

Before this, Helping Hands Reentry Outreach’s largest facility in Astoria could fit about 60 people. Wapato Jail will be able to help about 230 people in the first year that it opens. They will be opening only three of the nine wings that are in the jail. Later, at full capacity, they will be able to house 525 people. Before this happens, however, they will have to get permission from the city council to change the zoning laws. Zoning laws are rules for how land is used. Some city council members have said they do not think a shelter for houseless people is appropriate.

Harsch Investment Properties currently owns the jail and has agreed to charge $1 per year for 5 years. The plan is for the property to eventually be donated to Helping Hands Reentry Outreach. Helping Hands will have to do some renovations to make the jail more in line with their needs.