Joint Office of Homeless Services tests tool showing availability of shelter beds

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The Joint Office of Homeless Services is testing a new tool that could help houseless residents learn how much shelter space is available at any given moment.

Multnomah County and Portland officials launched the pilot phase of the “real-time Shelter Availability Tool” on Aug. 31.

According to the Joint Office, the resource fills a gap for community members and organizations who need a more efficient way of getting unsheltered people off of the streets.

Staff from the county and city’s Street Services Coordination Center will lead the pilot phase, which will only include availability within a “specific subset” of shelters funded by officials.

“The tracking tool will provide real-time information about beds at the 11 shelters that currently participate in the City of Portland and Multnomah County’s Shelter Set-Aside Program,” JOHS added in a release. “These shelters regularly keep beds in reserve to accommodate people who are referred from camps facing removal.”

In addition to the number of open beds, the tool will feature a profile on each site so outreach workers can help homeless residents find the shelter that fits their needs the best.

The pilot phase is expected to last through 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.