Heartwood Commons Permanent Supportive Housing
washington county permanent supportive housing
ALOHA | OREGON
Client
Housing Authority Washington County
Size
54 Units of Permanent Supportive Housing
Built
Projected Early 2023 Completion
Shelter has become a word that feels deeply temporary, which unfortunately it often is when it comes to providing a warm, dry place for people to be when they need it. For a person or a family that finds themselves without a home, mere shelter is too often the extent of what’s available. Aloha Inn is different in that its rapid renovation provides permanent, stable housing with services that support personal growth and provide opportunities for people to again find safety and security.
Here you can find peace and privacy along with community and a listening ear. Rooms have been upgraded to improve comfort, air quality, and usability complete with small kitchens and accessible fixtures. Ample indoor and outdoor shared spaces mix art, nature, and abundant daylight; along with access to the amenities of the Aloha community just a short walk away. It’s housing that meets you where you are, a spot of hope and potential for whatever comes next.
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• Solar-ready roof
• Energy improvements & upgraded ventilation thru oregon mep program
• 80% W/M/ESB certified A&E design team
• MEP system upgrades, roof replacement, strategic exterior improvements
• Entire design process completed in 2 months
• Design-bid-build
• Supported public procurement process
• Renovated common spaces, kitchen, counseling spaces & shared laundry
• Interior Design
• Extensive Art Integration and mural space
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Housing of every kind is in short supply, especially the deeply-affordable kind. New housing can take years to employ, but converting an underutilized hotel like this one can be done in months. It’s essential to couple this kind of housing with the kind of management and services that meet people’s needs in areas that housing alone cannot provide. This is really the best opportunity around to support equity for our neighbors and make the most of resources that already exist.
We hope this incredible collaboration with the Housing Authority of Washington County will lead to many more opportunities like this one to improve existing assets and meet community needs in such tangible ways.
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Despite a tight budget, very short timeline, and a lot of code requirements to juggle for the change of occupancy, our team found numerous light touch solutions that offer high impact improvements through a trauma-informed design approach.
Aloha Inn serves formerly houseless residents, adding kitchens in each former guest room along with accessibility upgrades and an added mechanical ventilation system that provides a healthy living environment with otherwise minimal changes. The most important goal of the project was to improve and increase community spaces where supportive services and social interaction can work together to enhance quality of life for every resident. Enclosing the former porte cochere and entrance driveway created a hub that knits existing spaces together into a more vibrant and functional whole.
The new community court creates opportunities for large murals to be guided by the residents along with planter boxes and furnishings arranged around artwork on the ground to define space and create many choices for active and quiet spaces alike. This gives residents opportunities to connect with each other or find solace with access to nature.
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Access to public transit, on-site supportive services, community space, and common gardens on-site.
Photography and Renderings by INK BUILT