Portland to open 200 overnight winter shelter beds in two locations starting Jan. 7

Mayor Ted Wilson and Portland Solutions Director Skyler Brecker Knapp announced that Portland will open 200 overnight winter shelter beds at two sites beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7, as part of an emergency push to reduce deaths and severe harms among people living unsheltered.

The partnership with Multnomah County and local providers will put the beds into operation immediately, with the county providing $375,000 and the city matching that amount, Skyler Brecker Knapp said. "We will be partnering with the Salvation Army," Knapp said, identifying the organization as the initial operator for the two sites.

City officials described the sites as low-barrier, life-saving emergency shelters intended to ensure that "every Portlander has a safe place to sleep every night." The sites will operate initially for 90 days and will remain part of the city and county continuum of shelter services beyond that timeframe, Knapp said. Officials said the two locations are being evaluated and that specific addresses were not specified during the briefing.

Knapp and the mayor said the shelters will be staffed to a 1:20 client-to-staff ratio. "We've worked with the Salvation Army to establish a 1 to 20 client,…