Beaverton Neighbors Raise Concerns Over New Transitional Housing Facility

Washington County plans to convert a former hotel into low-barrier transitional housing, drawing pushback from nearby residents.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:56am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated icon of a simple hotel sign or symbol, rendered in a grid of overlapping neon colors and heavy black outlines to conceptually represent the debate over a new transitional housing facility in Beaverton.A pop art-inspired illustration captures the tension between the county's plans for a new transitional housing facility and the concerns of nearby residents.Beaverton Today

Washington County is converting a former hotel off Cornell Road in Beaverton into a 85-bed transitional housing facility. The low-barrier program will not require background checks for residents, drawing concerns from nearby neighbors about safety and security. While the county says they have safety measures in place, residents feel their concerns have been dismissed and have started a petition opposing the plans.

Why it matters

The debate over the new transitional housing facility highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in balancing the need for homeless services with neighborhood safety concerns. As cities across Oregon grapple with rising homelessness, this case illustrates the tensions that can arise when local governments try to implement new housing programs.

The details

The Cornell Road Recovery building will provide transitional housing for up to 85 people without requiring background checks. The county says the goal is to pair housing with recovery programs to help residents get into long-term stable living. However, nearby residents are concerned about the lack of security and background checks, as the facility is located within a mile of two schools and across the street from a large residential neighborhood.

  • The transitional housing facility is set to open this fall.
  • Residents have been raising concerns with the county for over a year.

The players

Dan

A homeless man who panhandles in the area, unsure of what to expect from the new transitional housing facility.

Jes Larson

The assistant director of the Washington County Housing Services Department, who says the county has safety measures in place for the new facility.

David Ogle

A nearby resident who is concerned about the lack of background checks and on-site security for the facility.

Meghan Hill

A neighbor who supports the program's goals but wants more safeguards implemented.

Stephanie Davidson

A nearby neighbor who says the county has dismissed their concerns about the facility.

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What they’re saying

“We were surprised, because we didn't get any notification from Washington County that this facility was coming in.”

— David Ogle, Nearby Resident

“We support the foundation of the program, so the issue isn't that we are trying to get the program to stop in its entire capacity. What we want is safeguards.”

— Meghan Hill, Nearby Resident

“Safety is our number one priority in this program, just like it is for our neighbors. But we use a full suite of safety measures to ensure that, when this program does open and get underway, that the neighbors don't see an increase in safety issues.”

— Jes Larson, Assistant Director, Washington County Housing Services Department

What’s next

The county plans to have housing staff on-site 24/7 and enforce a code of conduct for residents when the facility opens this fall. Residents say they hope the county will address their concerns and earn their trust through a demonstrated track record of safe operations.

The takeaway

This debate over a new transitional housing facility in Beaverton highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in balancing the need for homeless services with neighborhood safety concerns. As cities across Oregon work to address rising homelessness, finding ways to implement programs that meet the needs of both the unhoused and local residents will be crucial.