Metro, Central City Concern and Partners to Mark Affordable Housing Complex Grand Opening With Halloween Celebration

The opening of 85 new, affordable homes aimed at housing some of the region’s most vulnerable people will be celebrated with a Halloween-themed ribbon cutting ceremony this Thursday., Oct. 31, 1 – 3 p.m., 11280 SE Division St.

Festivities will include a taco truck and music from Conjunto Alegre, as well as speeches and building tours, as elected officials from Metro and other agencies join Central City Concern at the grand opening of Meridian Gardens in Southeast Portland’s Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

The new community will offer housing, wrap-around services and stability for people who are in addiction recovery and who are either exiting homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The apartments will serve adults earning less than 30% to 50% of the area median income.

Metro oversees two voter-passed measures that helped fund this project: The Metro affordable housing bond allocated through the Portland Housing Bureau put $13.3 million toward construction, and $1.1 million in Metro supportive housing services dollars allocated annually through Multnomah County will fund the wrap-around services and case management available to residents of the 65 homes that are designated as permanent supportive housing. These homes also come with federal rent assistance vouchers.

Central City Concern’s culturally specific program Puentes will provide peer-delivered services to residents and serve as a main partner in referring residents to the building. The nonprofit’s River Haven recovery program will also refer potential tenants.

"For our neighbors struggling with substance use, housing alone isn’t always enough.

"They need support to achieve lasting stability,” Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang said. “At Meridian Gardens, people with lived experience will be onsite to offer residents a hand up, from someone who gets it, who knows what they are going through, and that means everything.”

Metro also contributed $500,000 through its transit-oriented development program, which is aimed at locating affordable housing near high frequency public transit. 

Central City Concern will own and operate the property. It’s the third development to open on the nonprofit’s Division Street campus, which offers housing ranging from permanent supportive and deeply affordable to workforce.