Portland's Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites (TASS), Safe Rest Villages, and motel-based bridge housing are operated under the city's HOST (Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction) Program and the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), a city-county partnership with Multnomah County. Operating standards include 24/7 staffing, sanitation, case management, and code compliance.
Portland's bridge / transitional shelter system is governed by a combination of: (1) the City Council ordinances establishing the Safe Rest Village (SRV) and Temporary Alternative Shelter Site (TASS) programs (most recently expanded by Ordinance 191305 in 2022); (2) the Portland HOST Program operating standards adopted by City Administrator's directives; and (3) the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) - a city-county collaboration headquartered at Multnomah County - which contracts with nonprofit providers including Do Good Multnomah, Cultivate Initiatives, and All Good NW. Operating standards require 24/7 onsite staffing, basic hygiene facilities, trash service, case management referrals, pet accommodation where feasible, and ADA compliance. Sites are sited via City Council approval, typically with neighborhood good-neighbor agreements. Bridge housing units (master-leased motels and modular pods such as the Powell-Holman, Reedway, and Multnomah villages) follow building code Type R-2 or R-3 occupancy and are inspected by Portland Permitting and Development. The 2023 Mayor's Executive Order on Homelessness and the 2024 amendments to PCC 14A.50 (camping) tie sanctioned shelter capacity directly to enforcement of unsanctioned camping bans.
Operators that fail to meet HOST/JOHS standards face contract noncompliance findings, withholding of payment, and contract termination. Building code violations are enforced by PP&D; ADA violations may trigger federal complaints. Bridge housing residents have grievance rights through the operator and JOHS Ombudsperson.
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