The Bybee Lakes Hope Center
at the Jordan Schnitzer Campus
Creating access to trauma-informed, data-driven, person-centered homeless services for the Portland Metro Area.
history of BLHC
Converting a Never-used Correctional Facility into a Therapeutic Healing Space
Bybee Lakes Hope Center (BLHC) transforms the never-occupied, 155,400 square foot Wapato Correctional Facility in the Port of Portland into a trauma-informed, data-driven transitional housing facility to support Portland Metro community members experiencing homelessness.
The land and building are owned by Jordan Schnitzer, who had a dream of using the site as a homeless shelter. After meeting with many other organizations, Mr. Schnitzer decided his dream was not possible due to many hurdles, until he met Alan Evans. With a proven track record of success in other communities, Alan's team took on the task of transforming the Correctional Facility into program-based transitional housing, following the model Helping Hands created.
After developing a local Advisory Board, touring many local shelters, and securing funding commitments, construction began. When the Covid-19 pandemic caused so much economic uncertainty, some committed donors withdrew their commitments and construction halted to not incur debt, with 1/3 of the building ready to occupy. BLHC opened in October 2020.
seeking services
All Programs Are Referral-Only
Helping Hands provides services to those experiencing homelessness who are ready to make sustainable changes to achieve self-sufficiency. Referrals to the Hope Center are accepted from registered community partners, listed below. Referrals are welcome 7 days a week between 8am to 5pm, for same-day placement to the shelter when capacity allows.
The Hope Center serves homeless men, women, and families with children. Participants must be ready to be clean and sober (even if today is day one!), and must not be registered sex offenders of any class since we serve children.
If you need assistance locating a referral partner, please call our office at 971-333-5070!
Current Referral Partners
Ainsworth United Church of Christ
Black Burn Center
Central Eastside Together (ESD)
Children Family's Community Connections
City of West Linn
Clackamas County Behavioral Health
Columbia River Mental Health Services
Community Outreach
Behavioral Health | Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Department of Human Services (DHS)
Dual Diagnosis Anonymous of Oregon
The Father’s Heart Street Ministry
Father's House City Ministries
Gladstone Municipal Court Administrator
Goodwill of the Columbia-Willamette
Greater New Hope Family Services
Holistic Healing Behavioral Health
Hooper Detox
Hood River County Sheriff's Office
Inverness Jail
Lents Neighborhood Livability Assoc.
Medicine Wheel Recovery Services
Mother & Child Education Center
Multnomah County Department of Community Justice
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office
Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon
Morrison Child & Family Services
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA)
Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA)
New Narrative Integrative Mental Health
North Clackamas Family Support Center
North West County Community Outreach
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
Oregon Office of Public Defense Services
Parent Child Representation Program (PCRP)
Portland Public School District
Project Response
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
RW Attorneys
Sterling Company
Sweet Jasmine Boutique
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
Sweet Jasmine Boutique
Transition Projects Initiative
US Probation Office - District of Oregon
Washington County Parole & Probation
Wolf Pack Therapeutic Services
Yamhill County Probation
Unity Legacy Medical
Up and Over Portland
How to Register as a Referral Partner
Each individual who would like to refer clients to services at BLHC attends a 1-hour online training at no cost to their agency. The training includes an overview of programs and services, the referral process, and Trauma-Informed Care training to ensure the trauma-informed experience begins at the earliest interactions with our network.
For questions or to enroll in the next training class, please email us with the button below.