Project Location:
2250-2344 N Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97217
Contact Information:
Valeria Degutis
dvaleria@pdx.edu

WORKING DATES:
May 25th, 7am - 12pm
June 1st, 8am - 4pm
June 2nd, 8am - 4pm
June 7th, 8am - Finish

Tasks will include moving materials such as wood, gravel and plantings, using power tools to build mobile benches, privacy screens with planters, wood platforms for resident porches, painting and more!

Kenton Women's Village was recently moved to a new location and is in need of some place-making. Over the weekend(s) we'll be building privacy screens, planters, benches and a sense of community and comfort. This project is done in collaboration with Portland State University Architecture Students and the Center for Public Interest Design.

Kenton Women’s Village is a creative, collaborative pilot project, offering a new potential approach for addressing houselessness at a small scale, which could be adapted and implemented in communities across the country. The village was created through partnerships with local government, nonprofit, and educational institutions: Catholic Charities, City of Portland, theJoint Office of Homeless Services, the Village Coalition, Prosper Portland, Almar Contracting, Portland State University School of Architecture’s Center for Public Interest Design, Kenton Neighborhood Association, Catlin Gabel InvenTeam, and dozens of other community businesses, organizations, and individuals.

The residents of the Kenton Women’s Village are drawn largely from the Kenton and North Portland areas. Through Catholic Charities, the 14 formerly houseless women are receiving access to services including case management,  employment assistance, access to legal and financial services, mental and physical health care, and support creating and implementing a personalized plan to transition to permanent housing by the time they leave the village. The residents range in age from 20s to 60s.