PORTLAND — Five major hospitals in Portland and a low-income, nonprofit health plan are donating a combined $21.5 million to build nearly 400 housing units for the city’s homeless population.
National experts said Friday the investment by private health care providers is the largest of its kind in the nation.
The housing will be strategically located in three areas of the city where there are a high number of homeless people, including North Portland, where many long-time residents have been displaced by rapid gentrification in the booming city.
One of the complexes will include a medical facility for people with mental illness and drug addiction, and will provide palliative care for homeless people who are dying.
Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and the housing should be completed by 2018.
