Oak Street Village: Building Community Trust for a New Safe Park Shelter
In collaboration with LC Strategies
Challenge
Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department was preparing to launch Oak Street Village, the county’s first Safe Park–style shelter designed for people living in vehicles. The need for this model was unmistakable: regional leaders had set an ambitious goal of sheltering 18,000 people by 2025, and hundreds of residents were already living in cars across East Portland.
At the same time, public understanding of the Safe Park model was limited. Neighbors raised concerns about safety, livability, and the concentration of homeless services along SE 82nd Avenue. Trust was fragile, and shelter outcomes across the system were under scrutiny. Before the site could open, the Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department (formerly called the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS)) needed a communications and engagement strategy that could clearly explain how the model worked, address community concerns, and demonstrate how Oak Street Village would operate safely, responsibly, and with accountability.
Solution
In partnership with LC Strategies, we developed a comprehensive strategic communications and community engagement plan to support the launch of Oak Street Village. The process included stakeholder interviews with county staff and service providers, review of program design and safety protocols, and synthesis of best practices from similar village-style shelters.
We produced a full suite of clear, accessible materials—including core messages, FAQs, fact sheets, safety and operations summaries, neighborhood impact explanations, timelines, and talking points for County leadership—ensuring consistency across public meetings, media engagement, and one-on-one conversations. Communications framed Oak Street Village as a stability-building intervention for people already living nearby in vehicles, supported by 24/7 staffing, onsite case management, and safety practices informed by best-in-class pod villages.
Equally important, the strategy emphasized relationship-based engagement. County leaders met directly with neighbors and stakeholders to explain the plan, listen to concerns, and clarify what could and could not change. Community feedback informed site design adjustments and operational commitments, helping address safety and livability concerns without compromising program integrity. We supported the development of a Good Neighbor Agreement, prepared leadership for community presentations, and helped introduce the site manager to the neighborhood to establish clear, ongoing points of contact.
Results
The integrated communications and engagement strategy helped JOHS build the clarity and credibility needed to move Oak Street Village through public scrutiny and into implementation. It supported a transparent public process that contributed to County approval of a $4 million capital investment and prepared neighbors for site operations.
When Oak Street Village opened—with 29 sleeping pods, capacity for up to 40 adults, 24/7 staffing, case management, private security, showers, laundry, and a kitchenette—media coverage reflected the strengths of the model rather than controversy. Coverage emphasized safety, dignity, and the site’s focus on transitioning people from vehicles to stable housing.
The work became foundational for JOHS’s broader shelter communications and engagement approach. The frameworks, materials, and relationship-building practices developed for Oak Street Village now inform how the County introduces new Safe Park and village-style shelters across the system—demonstrating how transparency, consistent messaging, and direct community relationships can rebuild trust during critical phases of homelessness response.
Media Coverage
Multnomah County approves homeless village project in Portland's Montavilla neighborhood
Multnomah County OKs plans for Montavilla tiny home shelters
Residents in Montavilla neighborhood debate homeless village project
Portland shelter Oak Street Village set to open on 82nd Avenue
Multnomah County allocates $4M to build village shelter in Southeast Portland
Inside Montavilla's Oak Street Village, opening soon in Portland
New SE Portland village-style shelter to offer wraparound services for 40 adults
FAQs
How do you build trust with neighbors when launching a new shelter or Safe Park site?
Building trust starts with direct, early, and ongoing relationships. For Oak Street Village, that meant meeting with active neighbors and stakeholders before the site opened, clearly explaining the Safe Park model, listening to concerns, and staying present throughout the process. Engagement wasn’t limited to public meetings—it included smaller stakeholder conversations, presentations, and follow-up discussions that allowed for honest dialogue and accountability.
How do you balance community engagement with the need to move projects forward?
Community engagement works best when expectations are clear from the start. For Oak Street Village, we established publicly available timelines that outlined when input would be gathered, how it would be reviewed, and when final decisions would be made. We were transparent about which elements were fixed and where community feedback could meaningfully shape outcomes, including site design, operations, and neighborhood interface.
This clarity helped residents understand how their input fit into the process and ensured engagement strengthened the project rather than delaying it.
How do communications support trust-building with neighbors?
Communications are most effective when they reinforce relationships. We ensured that materials, presentations, and talking points aligned with what neighbors heard directly from County staff, creating consistency between written messaging and lived interactions. This reduced misinformation and helped neighbors understand how decisions were being made.
Why is relationship-building with neighbors essential to successful shelter projects?
Relationship-building turns abstract concerns into shared problem-solving. At Oak Street Village, County staff and partners met directly with neighbors, held small-group stakeholder meetings, hosted community forums, and introduced the site manager before opening. We established clear points of contact so neighbors knew who to reach and how concerns would be addressed.
Trust grew not because concerns disappeared, but because neighbors understood who was responsible, how the site would operate, and how issues would be resolved over time.
What is a Good Neighbor Agreement, and why does it matter?
A Good Neighbor Agreement formalizes accountability. It clearly outlines expectations related to site operations, safety, communication, and responsiveness—both during planning and after opening. For Oak Street Village, this agreement helped shift conversations from fear of the unknown to confidence in ongoing oversight.
By documenting commitments in writing, the agreement reassured neighbors that engagement did not end once the shelter opened.
How can community engagement help counter skepticism about new shelter models?
Community skepticism often stems from uncertainty and lack of visibility, not opposition to solutions themselves. Engagement for Oak Street Village focused on meeting people where they were, explaining how the Safe Park model served people already living nearby, and grounding conversations in facts about safety, staffing, and outcomes.
By pairing proactive communications with direct engagement—and by highlighting how shelter participants contribute positively to the neighborhood—the project helped reframe shelters as part of a community-wide solution to homelessness, not a burden placed on one area.
How does Oak Street Village fit into the region’s broader approach to addressing homelessness?
Oak Street Village is one piece of a coordinated regional strategy to reduce homelessness by expanding safe, stable, and dignified shelter options while strengthening pathways to permanent housing. Village-style and Safe Park shelters are designed to serve people already living in the surrounding area, providing immediate stability through 24/7 staffing, case management, and clear referral pathways.
Oak Street Village demonstrates how communities can respond to homelessness in ways that are both humane and effective. The communications and engagement framework developed for this project now informs how Multnomah County approaches future shelter sites, helping build a system that is more coordinated, trusted, and capable of delivering long-term housing outcomes across the region.