Portland opened a new $50 million facility Thursday for homeless people. It's named after a former mayor. And it's a state-of-the-art drop-in center, shelter and 130-bed apartment complex.
For years, services for the homeless have been scattered around Portland. Bud Clark Commons brings them under one roof. So when a homeless person walks into the drop-in center to stay warm, he or she can be linked with other services; find a bed for the night.
And Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish says they might also get an apartment to start their journey towards self-reliance.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Nick Fish: "And we will be judged on the basis of how many people move onto a better life. That's the vision. No other city has made a bigger bet in a project like this. And then of course it's the Portland way, it's a leed platinum building, it's built to last forever."
It's also looks pretty smart, squeezed in between Portland's Pearl District and the Greyhound Station.
The money came from the city, local housing authorities, private donations and stimulus money.
It represents the city's biggest step yet in its 10-year plan to end homelessness.
