A Partnership Dedicated to Ending Homelessness

The Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) and Multnomah County Human Services are partnering in the redevelopment of HAP’s current University Place Apartments. The new building will become the home of the County’s Bridgeview program.

Purchased by HAP in 2002 as a redevelopment opportunity, the existing 28-unit (12 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units and 16 one-bedroom units) building is in disrepair and will be soon demolished. Work began in November 2008. While HAP was reviewing redevelopment options, Multnomah County requested HAP’s assistance to locate a new home for the Bridgeview program and the two efforts were combined. The new building will include 48 SRO’s to serve very low income residents.
Each unit will have a private living area and a half bathroom (with showers down the hall) and a kitchen sink and under-counter refrigerator (with a centralized kitchen/dining area for shared cooking facilities).

HAP will continue to own the building and will master lease it to the County’s newly designated operator (Luke-Dorf, Inc.) for client services and property management. Via an
ongoing commitment by Multnomah County to fund the Bridgeview program, Luke-Dorf will provide extensive direct services to clients.

Multnomah County’s Bridgeview Program

The Bridgeview program has provided services in the downtown area for twenty years. With consistently high, measurable outcomes, it now serves as a key element in the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. Using a “housing first” model, Bridgeview provides short-term housing stabilization that serves as the first step in building a positive rental history, obtaining treatment services and developing essential life skills for people who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.

With Luke-Dorf providing 24-hour staffing on-site, clients who have mental illness will receive treatment and case management to help them learn to be successful in their housing.

Extensive services provided by the Bridgeview program will include case management, mental health treatment, and clinical supervision; supportive services (such as assistance with SSI, food stamps and other benefits), and housing services including an on-site housing specialist to assist with a long-term housing plan.

Clients sign a six month lease and are expected to move to more independent housing within 18 months, with a maximum stay of 24 months.

Becoming a Good Neighbor

HAP, Multnomah County, and Luke-Dorf are committed to ensuring that the Bridgeview program will serve as a positive asset to the south downtown neighborhood (located
adjacent to Interstate 405.) Plans are underway to contact stakeholders and the neighborhood association during the summer for initial outreach and discussions. A Good
Neighbor Agreement will be developed with input from all interested stakeholders in the neighborhood.

For more information, please contact:

Sandy Haffey, Safety Net Services Manager
Department of County Human Services
Multnomah County
(503) 988-5464 x26659
Sandy.j.haffey@co.multnomah.or.us

Mona Knapp, LCSW
Director of Client Services
Luke-Dorf, Inc.
(503) 726-3704
mknapp@luke-dorf.org

Pamela Kambur, Community Relations Manager
Development and Community Revitalization Department
Housing Authority of Portland
(503) 802-8508
pamelak@hapdx.org

Visit the Bridgeview Frequently Asked Questions >>

Project Timeline

August/September 2008
Provide notification and information to community partners and neighbors

October 2008
Complete relocation of current residents and prepare for demolition

April 2009
Begin construction of new building

April 2010
Construction completed. Residents will begin to move into the newly redeveloped University Place  

• Program opened in 1988 by Mental Health Services West
• Funded by local, state, and federal dollars
• Designed to serve 48 clients at any given time in individual small apartments
• Residents have a history of homelessness or being at high risk for homelessness, and are engaged in mental health treatment
• Housing Model -  residents are prepared to move into other housing within 6-24 months
• The on-site program provides two meals per day, nursing, medication, social supports, and mental health treatment
• 7 day a week/24 hours per day on-site credentialed staff (Qualified Mental Health Associates and Qualified Mental Health Professionals). Three or more staff are always present from 8:00 a.m. – midnight, and two staff members work overnight. During day and swing shift hours  5 days a week, additional interdisciplinary staff are at the site,  including a nurse, skills trainer, housing specialist, case manager, and program manager
• Crisis contact: Community members can always call the Multnomah County Call Center (503-988-4888) or may contact program staff at 222-4906. This is the lobby phone which is staffed 24 hours a day
• Security: It is a secure building, and staff monitor entries and exits by tenants and any guests who go in and out. Security cameras are located on all floors of the building as well as outside areas, and are monitored via viewing screens by staff on a consistent basis