The Future: A New Building For CSS!
Summer 2025: Letter from the CSS Directors
Dear Friends,
Because of your support, we’re growing into something bigger—two new spaces designed to better serve our unhoused neighbors.
Community Supported Shelters is in the middle of an exciting transformation. After over a decade at our Grant Street location, we’ve purchased a new building that will allow us to bring our internal teams together under one roof. This space will house our administrative, operations, facilities, and outreach staff, provide private meeting rooms for client services, and include essential features like firewood storage, an expanded pantry, and a full kitchen to support our food program. It’s a significant step forward in our mission to provide low-barrier, trauma-informed services to people experiencing homelessness.
At the same time, we’re expanding and enhancing our Access Center at 1845 W 11th Avenue—the heart of our direct service work. Thanks to a generous grant from Lowe’s Hometowns, we’re making significant improvements to the site, including a covered outdoor seating area for year-round comfort, space for partner organizations, and added resources like a community garden, food pantry, and clothing closet. As part of our service consolidation, our front desk and client check-in will move to the Access Center, making it easier for unsheltered individuals to connect with support, hygiene services, assessments, and supplies.
These two locations will work hand-in-hand to streamline care, strengthen operations, and improve outcomes for the people we serve.
Now, we need your help.
We’re launching a capital campaign to fund the renovations, construction, and infrastructure needed to bring these visions to life. Your support will directly fund:
- A welcoming, accessible office and meeting space for staff and clients
- Firewood storage and processing areas to support cold-weather survival
- A community kitchen and food pantry to meet essential nutritional needs
- Infrastructure improvements that will sustain and grow our services
Your gift to the capital campaign is an investment in dignity, safety, and community.
Together, we can build something that lasts—something that changes lives.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Heather Quaas-Annsa and Blake Burrell, Co-Executive Directors
Community Supported Shelters
What will the new building space look like?
We're in the process of getting layout renderings from architects. In the meantime, Blake, Director of Community Impact, offered sketches of his vision. (Cell phone users, swipe over the tabs to see all six.)
Central Meeting Space
Central meeting space for client programs, board meetings, training, seminars, and staff trainings. Flexible space centered in the middle of the building, focused on offering a place for community engagement and gathering.
Navigation & Outreach Office
Service navigation and outreach office for shelter and street outreach participants.
Reception Hall
Reception area for shelter participants accessing shelter and navigation support. On the north side of the building.
Pantry
Dry storage and grocery items for weekly supplemental food, food deliveries, and work party meal preparation.
Yard
The yard will host a Conestoga Hut, staging areas for property management manufacturing, and storage for firewood donations. This will also be our central area for Hut components and other heavy equipment.
Logistics Area
Logistics area for Safe Spot supplies, donations, and office inventory.
News & Events
To stay connected to CSS, subscribe to our quarterly newsletter. If you are a member of the media who is seeking info, contact
community@cssoregon.org.
