Washington County and partner agencies reported this week that the Hillsborough year‑round shelter is open and accepting clients as the county moves to consolidate temporary sites.

Mike McLeod, a strategic project specialist in the Homeless Services Division at Washington County, said the shelter — operated by Project Homeless Connect (PHC) — opened in November. "We opened the Hillsborough year round shelter, on 17th Avenue in Hillsborough," McLeod said. "There are 39 non congregate beds and 36 congregate beds." County staff said they have been transitioning people from Aloha pods and the recently closed Cloverleaf shelter into the Hillsborough site.

The county also confirmed plans to relocate up to 60 pallet shelters to a single, permanent site in unincorporated Washington County and said it expects that site to be ready for move‑in in summer 2026. McLeod said the location is not yet public because staff are still notifying nearby neighbors and businesses.

Project Homeless Connect executive director Kim Marshall described on‑the‑ground shelter operations and partner coordination, including daily referral procedures through Community Connect and a morning lottery for open beds. "Our shelter has space," Marshall said, and she invited partner agencies to use shelter space for coordinated case work.

County staff said the Hillsborough site is part of a broader strategy that includes new access centers: PHC will operate a Hillsborough access center with both SHS (Supportive Housing Services) capital and ongoing operational funding, planned to open in late 2026 or early 2027; Open Door Housing Works will operate a western county access center tied to the Cornelius Safe Rest Village, with a planned opening in late 2027.

Officials urged providers to follow Community Connect referral processes for shelter placement and to monitor county procurement notices for upcoming site and operator opportunities. The county said it will share more details on the pallet shelter site and access center NOFOs as neighbor notification and procurement steps are completed.