Just Compassion

Tigard, OR, United States

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Just Compassion

Tigard, OR, United States

Firm

Urban Patterns

Type

Government + Health › Community Center

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

BUDGET

$5M - 10M

Photos

The Morrisons (15)

Just Compassion is a non-profit organization providing services to houseless adults in Washington County. Urban Patterns partnered with Just Compassion to develop and design a safe and hospitable resource center with accessible emergency housing to meet the needs of unhoused and marginalized individuals. As the first purpose-built shelter in Washington County, the almost-10,000 square foot new-construction facility features a robust day center with dining, bathing, and social support services on the bottom floor and a sixty-bed emergency shelter on the upper floor. Designed to also act as a community shelter in the event of an emergency, the building is equipped with a backup generator to remain 100% operational in the event of an outage. The building's structure is optimally positioned for energy generation, with the roof's solar panels producing more than 100% of it's modeled electrical consumption.

The resource center is a human-forward design, with an emphasis on warm, residential-style finishes that also meet the safety and security needs of the population. Comfort and friendliness are prioritized through the use of residential aesthetics and a color palette that brings levity and playfulness to the space. Inspiration is drawn from the natural world and the colors of the Pacific Northwest, incorporating recycled materials wherever possible. The layout and furniture selections support both privacy and social connection, encouraging a sense of safety, ownership, and dignity within the space. Community storytelling is embedded throughout the design by sourcing from previously homeless, local, independent, and BIPOC makers, artists, and businesses whenever possible. Just Compassion envisions a community space where guests are seen, heard, and known—leading to transformative relationships that positively impact people’s lives.