Portland Mayor Keith Wilson plans to open 50 new shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness and seeking opioid addiction treatment.

The city will pay Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a privately run North Portland homeless shelter, to operate a 17-month pilot program using funds the city received through a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. The total cost of the pilot project is unknown.

Wilson announced this program weeks after unveiling a broad plan to end unsheltered homelessness by December. That plan focuses predominantly on opening nighttime-only shelters. The Bybee Lakes shelter will be open 24/7. In a media statement, Wilson pointed to the importance of a mix of shelter styles.

“Homelessness does not have a one-size-fits-all solution,” Wilson said. “Our community has a deep need for 24-hour shelters specializing in opioid addiction recovery, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring hope and recovery to the individuals we can now serve.”

Wilson was scheduled to talk about his plan to address homelessness in a Monday interview on OPB’s “Think Out Loud.”

Bybee Lakes currently runs 175 shelter beds. Last week, Multnomah County said it was “in talks” with Bybee Lakes to fund 100 additional beds, to make up for plans to shutter a current shelter in downtown Portland. Wilson said his plan is unrelated to the county’s proposal.

This story will continue to be updated.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/03/addiction-treatment-bybee-lakes-keith-wilson/