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Darla Samuelson and Sue Stevens didn’t plan on starting a homeless shelter.  Both women had full time jobs, but they couldn’t help noticing the homeless men hanging out near the trail they frequently ran upon.  One day they stopped and asked what the men needed most.  Their answer was simple: a place to shower and wash clothes so that they would be able to apply for jobs.  Over the next few years, Darla and Sue met with friends and associates to discuss the situation and formulate a plan to meet homeless’ needs.

The answer came in stages.  In 2009, Darla, Sue, and a group of volunteers established a “showers and laundry day” in Downtown Tigard.  Tigard Fitness donated its facility for several hours on one Sunday per month and the men were shuttled there by volunteers.  (Tigard Fitness no longer exists, but other shower locations are available.)  Laundry is taken to Rosalita’s Laundromat.  Last month volunteers did 40 large loads of laundry.  Shuttles are available to homeless people for whom transportation is the major obstacle.

As of January 2015 there were 776 homeless people in Washington County, 125 of who resided in eastern Washington County.  Astoundingly, there is currently only one other WA County homeless shelter; in Cornelius.  Beaverton closed the facility it once operated.  For the most part, homeless in our area have relied on emergency shelters such as those run by St. Anthony’s.

In 2010 a coalition of concerned community members, religious and service organizations, and businesses was formed to begin threshing out a plan to address the problem.  In 2016 the dream was finally realized when Just Compassion Day Center opened.  The center is located in the Tigard Foresquare Church and has space for 30 adults to congregate for several hours, once per week.  Just Compassion is set up with comfy couches so that folks can safely rest, store belongings, and obtain food, clothing, and hygiene products.  The organization also provides severe weather shelters, mental and physical health support/referral, and housing assistance.  Since the center opened in January they have had 80 guests.  Most are men between 30 and 50 years of age.  Sadly, the center is not set up to take families.

Darla and Sue said that, in general, we need to see people living on the streets as part of our community.  When asked if they were ever concerned for their safety, the women replied that this is rarely a problem.  Rules are in place to prevent problems from arising and to address issues that may come up.  For example, an individual who is acting out is quickly isolated from the group; Police are called if necessary.

The next phase of the project is to find a more permanent location so that they can be open 3 days per week and hire a part-time manager.  Eventually, the group hopes to be open five days per week with a full-time manager.  All of this takes money, and as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Just Compassion is set up to take donations.  The organization is also in need of volunteers.  The board of directors and member organizations meet on the first Thursday of the month from 7:30 – 9 AM at Davidson’s Restaurant in Tigard and all are welcome.

Darla Samuelson is the Director of Master’s Programs at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.  She has been working in seminary education for nine years.  She obtained an MDiv from George Fox and is a PhD candidate at Gonzaga University.

Sue Stephens is a Job Readiness/Career Coach in Portland.  She spent over seven years as a school-to-career coordinator for the Tigard Tualatin School District.  She has been a volunteer for St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Anthony’s for over 10 years.

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