TIGARD, Ore. — Washington County is taking a unique approach to boost up some of its most vulnerable students.
Over the past year, the nonprofit Family Promise of Tualatin Valley has transformed a motel into a shelter. It has 70 rooms supporting families, housing over 200 people at any given time.
"When your basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are not met, and you're experiencing homelessness, it's really hard to get on your feet," said Rose Money, the executive director of Family Promise of Tualatin Valley.
The organization provides clothing and food pantries on-site, connecting with other community partners to help families become self-sufficient. The average stay is 4.5 months.
In Beaverton, almost 1,900 kids are homeless in grades K-12. Statewide, homeless students struggle in school. Data from the 2022-23 school year shows under 65% of homeless high school seniors graduated from high school.
Now, Family Promise is providing a summer curriculum for students at the Tigard shelter to prevent learning loss. Kids can take science, cooking and nature courses. Volunteer instructors will also hand out some homework assignments, Money said.
"So, we're just gearing up to actually get our summer programming in place for all of the kids," Money said.
The hope is to curb learning loss that is common during summer break and advance students’ education.
"We don't have any other place to go or any other family,” Maria Isabel, who recently immigrated from Venezuela and is staying at the shelter, said. “And this shelter has opened the door for me and my family."
Isabel is currently staying at the shelter with two daughters and her husband.
The Tigard shelter has also been successful in helping families into housing. Two-thirds of families who have entered the shelter have found stable, permanent housing, officials with Metro said.
That’s 10% higher than the average rate of permanent housing seen across similar shelters in the region.
“This building has been a game changer for our community,” Money said.
Another 500 people are on a waitlist for the Tigard location and other similar shelters in Washington County.
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