Do Good Multnomah held its annual Ruck March fundraising event over the weekend, with strong turnout including many veterans. Arbor Lodge participated with the march's first stop was right outside the shelter, where volunteers set up a drink booth and shelter participants helped make signs.
Occupancy remains in the mid-90s, against a full capacity of 106. The shelter is intentionally holding some beds vacant to support participants transferring in from shelters that are closing. The beds currently available are predominantly lower bunks, which helps accommodate incoming participants with ADA needs.
Do Good Multnomah is meeting with Transition Projects Inc. (TPI), a major nonprofit partner, to discuss expanded partnership and referral pathways in the new fiscal year, particularly in anticipation of system-wide shelter closures.
The Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget has been approved for negotiation and is scheduled for adoption on June 4. Until then, board amendments could still affect the homeless services system. The updates below reflect the Chair's proposed budget:
Across the adult shelter system, roughly 670 beds are projected to close. This is happening in phases:
Two motel shelters closing at the end of June;
Five a group of congregate and alternative shelters closing or having reduced beds by the end of August;
Another motel shelter is projected to close mid-year.
Operators are managing these closures gradually by pausing new intakes, allowing census to decline through attrition as participants find successful outcomes. One motel shelter closing in June has dropped from a capacity of 55 to roughly 13 participants.
Other shelters in the system, including Arbor Lodge, are supporting closures by holding beds open for shelter-to-shelter transfers, with the goal of avoiding any exits from shelter directly into unsheltered homelessness.
The Chair's budget includes $10 million in one-time funding to support placements out of shelter and improve system efficiency. Several board amendments propose redirecting that funding toward other programs facing cuts, such as workforce and employment services.
One board amendment would reallocate funding for the North Portland Drop-in Center, effectively closing the program. The center has connected unsheltered neighbors to shelter referrals, housing placements, and other services, and is regarded as a successful resource for the area. Its future remains uncertain pending the budget vote.
The public budget hearing sessions have passed, but testimony can still be submitted either to Commissioners’ offices, or to the Board Clerk (boardclerk@multco.us)
Board amendments that might impact our system
Amendment 1D would reallocate funding from the North Portland Drop-in Center (effectively closing the program)
The drop-in center has served 265 unique individuals, referred 42 people to shelter and completed 55 housing assessments. The program has also served 9 individuals who are currently housed.
Other amendments are looking at reallocating the one-time funding for placement out of shelter to buy back other programs scheduled to be cut, e.g., workforce development, etc.
TPI has also been identified as the new operator for the Delta Park shelter and the Rockwood Bridge shelter, following the closure of their previous operator, Sunstone Way, at the end of the fiscal year.
A coordinated site visit is being planned with the City of Portland's PEMO program, tentatively for the week of June 8, to look at problem-solving around trespassing and illicit activity behind the Heavenly Donuts and at the vacant lot across N Denver. The visit is expected to include HSD and, hopefully, the City and neighbors.
Neighbors experiencing ongoing issues are encouraged to document and report them, through online police reports with photos and timestamps, and through 311, so that the City has the inputs needed to prioritize a response. The PEMO Problem Solver program (portland.gov/pemo/pemoproblemsolver) can also connect business and property owners with problem-solving resources, and small grants may be available for measures like fencing in high-traffic areas.
The shelter manager continues to follow up on any concerns involving identified shelter participants, while coordinating with both the Arbor Lodge and Kenton neighborhoods.
Earlier concerns from the neighbor directly across from the shelter have subsided, and that neighbor has withdrawn their original concerns.
The County continues to address an issue with pre-6 a.m. trash pickups by Waste Management that violate the noise ordinance, affecting a residential neighbor behind the shelter. The County and City have levied several thousand dollars in fines and have elevated the issue to Waste Management leadership; the County is exploring switching to a different commercial trash servicer countywide if the problem persists. Shelter staff have been asked to hold off on moving rolling bins outside until around 6 a.m. to limit noise.
Update from April 27, 2026 Community Advisory Committee Meeting
Q3 ( Jan-Feb-March ) performance measure actuals:
Occupancy % is 92%
Participants served YTD (thru Q3): 388
Avg length of stay: 72 days
Exits to permanent housing: 14% YTD (only representative of those we have confirmed outcomes) – 19% in Q3
City of Portland did an assessment and they were able to install public trash cans along the South side of Lombard near the shelter per our advisory committee request. Any issues may be reported by emailing bpstrashcans@portlandoregon.gov.
Ongoing consulting with the neighbors across the street on N Denver who are concerned about continued trespassing on the empty lot (that used to be the Farmer’s Barn). They say that they have video evidence that some folks seen at that camp in question have also entered the shelter. The Shelter Manager, Sean follows up on these issues and counsels shelter participants regarding neighborhood complaints. Do Good Multnomah is already aware of this and Sean is addressing anyone identified as an Arbor participant for follow-up. Both Kenton and Arbor Lodge Neighborhoods are kept aware via our Advisory Team.
The Arbor Lodge Rep reports that the business owners on Lombard she has spoken with have had kind, compassionate interactions many times with all the unsheltered homeless as well as the shelter participants, and the biggest challenge is with the drug users hanging out. She gave information to some owners regarding PEMO Problem Solver program: portland.gov/pemo/pemoproblemsolver. Small grants may be available for temporary fencing in high-traffic areas.
There has been a noticeable decrease in the trash along Lombard. Monthly volunteer trash pickups continue on the third Monday of every month at 630pm https://arborlodgepdx.org/monthly-volunteer-trash-pickup-april-6/
May 26, 2026
If you would like to contribute donations, you can check the "Give Support" section below for the items the shelter most greatly needs right now. You can drop off donations to the shelter, or contact arbor-lodge-shelter-cac@googlegroups.com to coordinate for a member of the CAC to pick up your items.
Update from March 31, 2026 Community Advisory Committee Meeting
The free little library project is complete and seeing strong use. Staff check it once or twice a day. (Photos below!)
Working to support higher foot traffic around the shelter by redirecting individuals to the North Portland Drop-in Center or overnight-only shelters using a trifold handout. (Photos below!)
Mural repairs are underway and graffiti is being removed, in coordination with the original artist.
The community volunteer trash pickup event continues with high neighbor turnout. See details at arborlodgepdx.org.
The Thayer Veterans Motel Shelter has begun a soft launch opening. The Good Neighbor Agreement is expected to be finalized soon.
Waste Management pickups are returning to pre-6am timing.
Q2 shelter performance: 91% occupancy, 348 participants served YTD, average stay of 70 days, and 13% exits to permanent housing (among confirmed outcomes).
Neighbors and business owners along Lombard and near the open lot across Denver have reported concerns about loitering, trespassing, and trash. The site safety manager is working on messaging to residents as foot traffic increases with warmer weather. DGM is being transparent that violations of community agreements can lead to participant exits, while noting that enforcement requires police involvement.
A property owner behind Heavenly Donuts has offered to enclose the back of their property to address trespassing. Businesses experiencing ongoing issues are encouraged to contact the City of Portland's PEMO Problem Solver program: portland.gov/pemo/pemoproblemsolver. Small grants may be available for temporary fencing in high-traffic areas. (CAC member will be investigating possible grants.)
HSD is lobbying BDS to fence off the empty lot across the street.
Businesses that do not have a gated area are frustrated with repeated use of their property for loitering, drug use, littering, and toileting, which requires cleanup and decontamination. Neighbors need to report to the police whenever they witness illegal activity.
April 27, 2026
If you would like to contribute donations, you can check the "Give Support" section below for the items the shelter most greatly needs right now. You can drop off donations to the shelter, or contact arbor-lodge-shelter-cac@googlegroups.com to coordinate for a member of the CAC to pick up your items.
Update from February 24, 2026 Community Advisory Committee Meeting
County budget cuts are reducing shelter capacity regionwide. Two additional Do Good Multnomah programs are expected to close by year-end. Neighbors may notice increased foot traffic from individuals seeking shelter. The Arbor Lodge Shelter is currently full.
The bus stop shelter on Lombard has been removed for a six-month trial. Neighbors report zero problems since its removal.
The free little library project will be moving forward and installed near the Denver/Lombard gate. A volunteer has stepped forward and produced the little library and another person will do the installation, paid for with a neighbor's donation.
A community trash pickup is launching in March, organized by Arbor Lodge neighbor Ginger, covering a two- to three-block radius around the shelter. Volunteers needed! The first pick up will occur on Monday March 2, 1:30-2:30pm. The next pick up will be on March 16, 6:30-7:30pm and all following pick up events will occur twice a month on the first and third Monday at 6:30-7:30pm.
A CAC member, Peggy, connected with local business owners near the shelter who expressed stress about declining business and the visual impact of trash in the area. The upcoming cleanup efforts may help address some of these concerns.
The Multnomah County FY2027 budget process is underway, with a $60M+ gap to address. Public hearings are expected in April and early May. The department's requested budget prioritizes keeping currently housed individuals housed. Budget related resources if you would like to learn more:
March 31, 2026
If you would like to contribute donations, you can check the "Give Support" section below for the items the shelter most greatly needs right now. You can drop off donations to the shelter, or contact arbor-lodge-shelter-cac@googlegroups.com to coordinate for a member of the CAC to pick up your items.
Update from December 30, 2025 Community Advisory Committee Meeting
General Updates
The Emergency Management Office operates the county's severe weather shelters. The county's on-call staffing pool is now better resourced to support these operations.
There is a new intake packet that the shelter made that is more supportive of the neighbors, mostly being clearer about their impact on the neighborhood.
The Arbor Lodge Staff has been coached as to guiding exiting participants so as to make sure they have as much support and resources available, to have minimal impact on them and the community.
Puzzles from the Multnomah County Library have been enjoyed, especially during the cold, rainy days.
The shelter has books that the library donates, and the manager is asking for any community volunteers to build a “free little book library” on the parking strip part of the property to share books with the neighbors as well.
Soon the outdoor light shields will arrive for the Shelter to protect the neighbors from the harsh nighttime lights on the Shelter Property. The shipping date is this week.
The St. Johns day shelter visitors and their issues do get addressed and referred to the Arbor Lodge shelter at times. Arbor lodge Shelter also collaborates with the Thayer Family Foundation Veterans' Recovery and Sober Shelter in Kenton.
The shelter kitchen is understaffed and has applied for approval for funding for more help in the kitchen. Presently, there are two workers making about 1400 meals/week.
An anti-graffiti top coat has been applied to the outside Mural so that graffiti can be removed easily without damaging the mural.
There is a new “Team Lead Supervisor” named Dave.
The latest priority list of shelter needs:
Men's/women's sweatpants: XL, XXL
Coffee
Razors and shaving cream
Toothpaste
Colored pens and pencils, yarn for crafting and knitting
Incontinence depends and pads (M/L, XL, Small)
Towels and washcloths
Shower shoes (XL/L/M/S)
Next Meeting: January 27, 2026
We are happy to report that neighbors have been contributing various items and donations, and if you would like to contribute, you can check the "Give Support" section below for the items the shelter most greatly needs right now. You can drop off donations to the shelter, or contact arbor-lodge-shelter-cac@googlegroups.com to coordinate for a member of the CAC to pick up your items.
This is our first monthly update! The Community Advisory Committee has had two monthly meetings so far. At the meetings, representatives from the shelter, Kenton and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods, Do Good Multnomah, and the County's HSD ( Homeless Services Department) meet over Zoom to discuss how things are going, good or bad, and discuss ideas for improvement.
Updates on the shelter:
Currently housing about 100 participants, and things are maintaining
Student nurses are volunteering from the University of Portland to gain practical experience
Due to budget cuts, the shelter has had to cut back on meal service, so they are now only serving two meals per day: breakfast and dinner, and snacks around lunchtime
We are happy to report that neighbors have been contributing various items and donations, and if you would like to contribute, you can check the "Give Support" section below for the items the shelter most greatly needs right now. You can drop off donations to the shelter, or contact arbor-lodge-shelter-cac@googlegroups.com to coordinate for a member of the CAC to pick up your items.