New Push To Turn Wapato Jail Into Homeless Shelter?

Portland, Or. – There appears to be a new push to turn the empty Wapato Jail into a homeless shelter. The Oregonian/Oregonlive was first to report the release of a new video featuring neighborhood activists, non profit leaders and the head of the Portland Police Association advocating for the effort.

Multnomah County built the jail in 2004, but never used it. It sold the facility to developer Jordan Schnitzer last year and he has put out a community call for some good ideas on how to use it. Schnitzer appears in the video and says “it breaks my heart to see anyone in  distress in this community and we are not seeing the leadership that I think we expect.”