Related Northwest, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and Catholic Charities of Oregon executives joined funders from Metro, Portland Housing Bureau and Oregon Housing & Community Services to mark the grand opening of Glisan Landing, 137 units of affordable housing for families and individuals.
A public-private partnership with Related Northwest, IRCO and Catholic Charities, Glisan Landing will provide affordable and supportive housing for low-income households with a range of incomes from 30% to 60% area median income, with on-site amenities, resident services and employment opportunities.
Located at the southeast corner of Northeast 74th Avenue and Glisan Street, the 1.65-acre development consists of two buildings.
Aldea at Glisan Landing is 96 units of family-focused affordable housing.
Aldea offers a range of unit sizes to accommodate small and large households, including intergenerational families, earning 0-30% or between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Residents will enjoy amenities such as a community room and kitchen, multicultural reading room, playground, picnic area, community garden, fiber arts studio, a movement/fitness room and a teen room.
Residents can enroll their children in an IRCO-led preschool which, once complete, will provide culturally responsive early childhood education from its location next door to Aldea.
IRCO will provide on-site resident services, an after-school program, job training classes, ESL classes and a multitude of on-site enrichment activities. Related Northwest and IRCO have collaborated on three other affordable developments, although Glisan Landing is their first co-ownership development.
“IRCO is thrilled for this opportunity to integrate affordable housing, low barrier wraparound services, and no cost preschool learning for immigrant and refugee families. This project aligns with our vision for a future where refugees and immigrants belong and all communities thrive,” said Lee Po Cha, executive director of IRCO.
Beacon at Glisan Landing offers 41 units of permanent supportive housing.
Beacon provides homes with federal rent assistance and wraparound services to people exiting homelessness and at risk of homelessness, with a focus on serving BIPOC seniors. The building includes a telehealth room, community gathering space, and access to shared outdoor amenities.
A partnership with Stone Soup PDX will bring a café and job training program to the ground floor, supporting workforce development. This is Stone Soup’s first eastside location.
Catholic Charities of Oregon will provide robust wraparound services including mental health, crisis prevention, self-sufficiency and resources and referrals for employment and health care. This is the second co-ownership partnership between Related Northwest and Catholic Charities of Oregon.
“Beacon at Glisan Landing is a compassionate and sensible response that comes at a time when some people are overwhelmed by Portland’s homelessness crisis,” said Kaleen Deatherage, chief executive officer for Catholic Charities of Oregon. “Here, residents will not only have a roof over their heads but will have a chance to thrive because of onsite services and community interaction. This kind of project should give everyone hope.”
“Glisan Landing is the type of innovative project we need, addressing our city’s housing and homelessness crisis from both sides,” said Portland Housing Bureau Director Helmi Hisserich. “While Beacon will serve as a refuge for chronically homeless Portlanders moving off the streets, Aldea will help low-income families from falling into homelessness in the first place. PHB is grateful to be a partner on this development.”
“As a former struggling single mom, I wish I had a home like Glisan Landing—a safe and affordable place where my child and I could feel at home culturally and access a supportive community to give us strength during tough times,” Metro Regional Housing Director Patricia Rojas said. “Thanks to the Metro affordable housing bond, thousands of households in similar situations across our region will find the help I once needed in communities like this.”
“This development is a testament to public and private entities partnering to provide quality affordable housing with on-site amenities, resident services, and employment opportunities for local residents. We are grateful to the City of Portland and Metro for taking action to provide housing to the most vulnerable populations,” said Ann Silverberg, chief executive officer of Related California Northern Cal Affordable and Northwest Divisions.
Funders of the development include Metro Affordable Housing Bond, Metro Transit Oriented Development, Metro ULI Funds, Portland Housing Bureau (Portland Housing Bond), Portland Community Energy Fund (PCEF), Oregon Housing & Community Services, General Housing Account Program (GHAP) Funds – OHCS, Housing Trust Fund administered by OHCS, Citibank, US Bank, Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program participants and Business Oregon.
The architect of record is Holst Architecture and LMC Construction is the general contractor.
Here is the complete text of Kaleen Deatherage’s comments at the April 11 grand opening:
Father Greg Boyle, founder of a successful Los Angeles gang recovery project, once spoke in Portland. He said this: “There is no us and them. There is only us.”
That concept resonates and sticks with me. I believe it’s at the heart of Glisan Landing. This building is more than a set of rooms – it’s a home where a diverse and wonderful family of human beings will move forward in life — together. That includes residents and staff from all over the world who now are here, in this place, all growing and learning — together.
Working together as an US, is the ideal response to the urgent call to address homelessness. The research repeatedly tells us that isolation only deepens the human struggle. That’s why the Beacon building offers a balance of personal and communal space, plus vibrant community services.
Our Catholic Charities staff will provide residents with those services, including: crisis prevention, eviction prevention, and access to benefits and healthcare. We’ve learned at other sites that the ability to utilize these services and integrate them into a new way of life works better when we create environments that promote connecting and community, this is why we focus on offering activities like potlucks, game nights, lectures, and classes.
We are excited that our friends at Stone Soup will have a cafe in Beacon. Nothing fosters the “us” in life like good food, and Stone Soup really knows how to get that done.
At the same time, we need to be aware that the path ahead will not always be simple. Many of our new neighbors will face the challenge of overcoming significant trauma. That requires a will in everyone to forgive slip-ups and celebrate small progress. Yes, patience is a one of the biggest parts of being an “us.”
Thank you to Related Northwest, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, Citibank, US Bank, Metro and the many other funders and donors who have made this possible. Truly, they got the process going so a wide array of people could become one family.
Thank you.