CAC: Community Advisory Committee for Multnomah Safe Rest Village

NOTE: the Multnomah Neighborhood Association (MNA) has not taken a position for or against the Multnomah Safe Rest Village (MSRV), but we want a successful Good Neighborhood Agreement (GNA). Our representatives to the CAC work to achieve that success.

Latest News

The Affordable Housing Opportunities Project (AHOP) Recommended draft was passed by the Planning Commission on August 26 and sent to the Portland City Council for review, testimony, and adoption on a date in the Fall to be determined.
On July 16, the Multnomah NA Board voted to oppose it. See the resolution links below.

The AHOP proposal would modify the current zoning (EG2) to allow for permanent residential housing and commercial services (CM2 zone) on the site, which is not permitted under the current zoning. The proposal does not include detailed information on how the zoning change would impact or support emergency response capabilities for residents on the West-side of the Willamette River.

Key links:

Another proposal, RICAP 11*, would allow up to 200 units on a site like MSRV.
On July 16, MNA Board voted to oppose it.
*RICAP 11 stands for Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11

The Proposed Draft will be considered by the Portland Planning Commission during an upcoming hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 23. See item # MP14 on pages 104-107 for proposed change related to outdoor shelters.

There are two ways to submit testimony: 

  1. Submit verbal testimony through the project’s Map App by Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.

  2. Give verbal testimony at the hearing. To submit verbal testimony, pre-register for the meeting by Monday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.

LINKS

MNA Letter 7/15/2025 to BPS re AHOP

MNA resolution 7/16/2025 opposing AHOP

MNA resolution 7/16/2025 opposing RICAP 11

AHOP 8/1/2025 Proposed Draft Pages 42-43 are on Sears Armory

RICAP 11 proposed draft
See item # MP14 on pages 104-107 for proposed change related to outdoor shelters.

All public comments on AHOP and RICAP-11

Community comments received by MNA

Update from our CAC representatives September 1, 2025:

Urban Alchemy is still working on improving their communications path with nearby neighbors and the MSRV. While a direct phone line isn’t yet available, adjacent neighbors have been given phone numbers for UA on-site supervisory staff. UA will be installing equipment that should improve contact and responses.

Ongoing conversations about impacts of the MSRV on adjacent neighbors continue. Noise and problems on the periphery of the MSRV were discussed. Urban Alchemy has adjusted some conditions inside the MSRV and will be looking into others. Their neighborhood ambassadors are being supplemented by on-site staff when issues outside the MSRV occur at night.

Classes and services offered to participants are being added. A “Financial Beginnings” class is being offered through September.

More information can be found in our September CAC report.

Sincerely,

MNA reps to the CAC

Lisa Carney-Fenton, Paloma Norris-York, and Mark Booth

MNA Representatives and CAC Role

MNA Reps to the CAC

Near Neighbors
Lisa Carney-Fenton
Mark Booth

Farther Away Neighbors
Paloma Norris-York

MNA Board Liaison (Not a CAC member)
Will Fuller

CAC Members and Responsibilities

The CAC is a standing, collaborative, problem-solving committee that meets monthly.

Its members are drawn from three stakeholder groups:

  • The Neighborhood Stakeholder group, with 4 members from MNA and 2 from West Hills Christian School. Two of the MNA members are near neighbors of the SRV and 2 are from other parts of the neighborhood

  • The City team, with one member each from the City Shelter Services Team and Portland Solutions

  • The shelter operator, Urban Alchemy.

It is responsible for:

i. Helping ensure that strong lines of communications are maintained between the City, the Operator, and the Community.

ii. Ensure that the commitments in the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) are being upheld.

iii. Identifying opportunities for greater collaboration among the parties that enhance the benefits of the Multnomah Safe Rest Village for Village Participants and the Community.

iv. Identifying and developing solutions to any problems that are recurring and have not been adequately addressed through the problem-solving communications strategies outlined in the Communication Structure section of the GNA.

Contact Information

Organization/Position Name Mobile # Email

City Shelter Services Team Laudie Porter 503-823-6425 laudie.porter@portlandoregon.gov
MSRV Onsite Manager Damien Rouse Damienrouse@urban-alchemy.us
MSRV 24/7 Hotline 971-269-0024
Operator Founder & CEO Lena Miller 415-757-0896 San Francisco
MNA * Elected Positions mna-4srv@mnapdx.org
WHCS * Traci Vogt 503- 977-5523 traci.vogt@whcs.org
Portland Solutions Hendrik Broekelschen 503-823-8582 hendrik.broekelschen@portlandoregon.gov

*Acronyms
CAC - Community Advisory Committee
CEO - Chief Executive Officer
GNA - Good Neighbor Agreement
MNA - Multnomah Neighborhood Association
SRV - Safe Rest Village (MSRV - Multnomah SRV)
WHCS - West Hills Christian School

Resources

Community Organizations Serving Our Houseless

Click on the articles to read about them.

Friends of Multnomah Safe Rest Village

SW Outreach - Updated 11/15/2024

"As the Safe Rest Village (SRV) team and our construction contractor were putting the finishing touches in, before handing keys over to All Good Northwest, the Friends of Multnomah SRV donated food, bedding, and other supplies."