[NOTE: the following session descriptions are preliminary  and are subject to change.  Scheduling will be posted no later than Friday May 30, 2025]

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Session Title: Bridging the Gap: Healthcare, Disability, and Social Support

Presenter(s): Lisa Rose Gagnon (Homeless Services Department) & Adam Peterson (HealthShare of Oregon)

Abstract: Many individuals within the homelessness response system require healthcare, disability, and social service support in addition to housing navigation and support. This session seeks to encourage collaboration among service providers regarding the needs, access challenges, and available resources for clients (and their providers) throughout the homelessness to housing continuum. The session will include several rotating small group discussions focusing on areas like physical healthcare, specialty care, mental health and substance use services, and long-term in-home care.

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices

 

Session Title: Cross Sector Case Conferencing: Healthcare and Homeless Services Connections

Presenter(s): Adam Peterson (HealthShare of Oregon) & Jenny Greenberg  (Homeless Services Department)

Abstract: Health Share of Oregon has partnered with Multnomah County Homeless Services Department to create dedicated pathways to health care for chronically homeless folks above the age of 55 living in supported housing services. This pilot case conferencing project is part of a larger regional effort called the Regional Integration Continuum (RIC). The RIC is a coordination hub at Health Share for each of our three county’s homeless services divisions, and the development of a data infrastructure that will create more alignment between the healthcare system and the homeless services system. Come learn about this integration and provide feedback on where more connection is needed!

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices

 

Session Title: Equity in Focus: Introducing the New HSD Program Dashboard Prototype

Presenter(s): Jenna Kivanc, Marisa McLaughlin & Kalera Stratton  (Homeless Services Department)

Abstract: The HSD data team is excited to offer a first look at our new program dashboard prototype, launching in FY26. Join us to explore its innovative features including; measuring equitable outcomes across programming. This session will introduce the new tool, offering hands-on experience, and a collaborative space to share potential applications and insights.

**Attendees should bring their laptops to allow full participation

Conference Track(s): Leadership in Challenging Times, Emerging Needs and Opportunities

 

Session Title: Homelessness and Older Adults in Multnomah County – Status Report

Presenter(s): Laura Golino de Lovato (Northwest Pilot Project)

Abstract: As the number of older adults becoming homeless grows, and with more at risk of homelessness, how are service providers working together to serve this vulnerable population?  We’ll explore the impact of the prioritization of older adults within homeless and housing services, the gaps in senior-specific services, and ways that we can collaborate more effectively.

Conference Track(s):  Frontline Strategies and Best Practices

 

Session Title:  Improving Case Manager Housing Search: The Community Hub Training

Presenter(s): June Kissel (Housing Connector)

Abstract: Housing Connector’s Community Hub is an online platform centralizing over 530 units in Multnomah County that have reduced screening criteria. By improving case manager efficiency, the Hub allows case managers to do what they are best at: supporting clients. Gain access to the Community Hub by joining Housing Connector’s Community Partnership Manager, June Kissel in an interactive training. 

Laptops are recommended but not required. 

** Please note **: In order to be eligible for this session, you or another agency must be able to provide resident retention support for the first year of their tenancy.

Conference Track(s):  Frontline Strategies and Best Practices, Emerging Needs and Opportunities

 

Session Title: Landlord Engagement Scenarios: Collaboration with Property Partners along the Housing Placement Timeline

Presenter(s): Casey Kunzat, Jack Spaeth (New Narrative), Ahlam Osman (Somali Empowerment Circle), Jason Wilde (Housing Connector), Khadija Sheikh, Mohamed Amir (IRCO), Terri Hsieh & Destinee Sanchez (Homeless Services Department)

Abstract: The Housing Multnomah Now (HMN) Landlord Engagement partners, including Somali Empowerment Circle (SEC), New Narrative, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), and Housing Connector, are presenting a collaborative panel presentation/discussion that aims to focus in on a few scenarios that may come up along the housing placement timeline (creating a physical timeline in the space to add post-it note scenarios to).  We would plan to have representatives from each of our respective agencies speak on their experiences during the Landlord engagement pilot with a desire to highlight scenarios where creative collaboration between property partners and landlord engagement providers at the various stages of housing placement led to increased housing stability or identified opportunities for growth.  The stages along our Housing Timeline cycle would include, Pre-Move-In, Move-In, Post-Move-In, and Renewal/Rehousing/Move Out. This would open up an interactive activity leading into discussion where attendees could submit scenarios by writing on sticky notes and tag them on the timeline to describe a situation they dealt with where they would have benefitted from landlord engagement support or wish to increase their awareness for engaging with this work in the future.

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices, Emerging Needs and Opportunities

 

Session Title: Non-Exploitative Storytelling

Presenter(s): Jenka Soderberg (Homeless Services Department) & Nili Yosha

Abstract: Although it is impossible to completely avoid exploitation when sharing someone’s story of their lived experience with homelessness, we work to minimize the impact of sharing these stories. Because sharing personal stories is important to this work – but how can we do this while minimizing harm? This workshop will offer some tools and techniques that we use to minimize the harm of sharing people’s personal stories.

Conference Track(s): The Power of Lived Experience

 

Session Title: Pathways Research Project: Leading with Lived Experience

Presenter(s): Kathleen Conte (Portland State Homeless Research and Action Collaborative) & Doc Ramblings (Homeless Services Department)

Abstract: People who have experienced being unhoused can provide expertise and unique insight into how the homeless system works – or doesn’t – and help to identify needed improvements. The “Pathways through Homelessness” research study is currently exploring how people navigate homelessness in Multnomah County. Researchers at Portland State University have assembled a committee of 17 individuals with various backgrounds who have lived experiences of homelessness. The committee has been working since the beginning of the study to guide, design, and implement this mixed methods research project. The study includes a large-scale survey and in-depth qualitative interviews. In this session, a panel discussion with the project’s lived experience committee members, researchers, and HSD representatives will describe the committee’s work, present early findings, discuss the value of lived experience in informing research, practice, and policy, and answer audience questions.

Conference Track(s): The Power of Lived Experience

 

Session Title: Rapid Participatory Action Research in Portland Non-Profit Setting

Presenter(s): AJ Fouts, Rhonda McIntosh, Ty Brown, Susan Halverson & Summer Hausman (Cultivate Initiatives)

Abstract: Cultivate Initiatives has completed two rounds of program evaluation and improvement using a Participatory Action Research approach, which involves program users as full collaborators in evaluating the programs they have participated in. This has proven to be a viable method of conducting research to understand program performance and inform improvements to our programming, with relatively little time and cost investment. Including program users in all phases of the evaluation – identifying research questions, selecting methods, collecting data, making sense of the data, and presenting the findings – had at least three main benefits. First, it ensured that we were studying aspects of the program that are important to program users. Second, it increased the likelihood that we were collecting data in a way that was comfortable for the program users. Finally, it resulted in practical suggestions for program improvement that have had material impacts on our programs’ quality of service. Other ground-level service providers can utilize this approach to understand their programs in a way that directly involves and empowers community members with lived experience.

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices, The Power of Lived Experience

 

Session Title (pending): Supporting the Supporters: Organizational Practices That Honor Neurodivergence and Lived Experience

Presenter(s): Krysten Hall (WeShine), Katie Cox, Madeline Adams Equi Institute), Geoff Moser (MHAAO) & Dawn Duran-Conrad (NARA Northwest)

Abstract (draft): Many social service and housing organizations rely on the strengths of neurodivergent staff and those with lived experience of trauma, housing instability, or marginalization. While these perspectives are invaluable, the support structures in place often fail to meet the complex and diverse needs of the very people driving the work. In this interactive session, panelists will explore how organizational assumptions, limited systems, and one-size-fits-all approaches can inadvertently harm staff—and by extension, the people they serve. Through real-world insights, collaborative strategies, and lived experience, this conversation will offer tools to build trauma-informed, equitable, and sustainable workplace cultures.

Conference Track(s): The Power of Lived Experience, Leadership in Challenging Times

 

Session Title: That’s Not My Job! -The Unfortunate Misconception That Finance and Program Can’t Work Together

Presenter(s): Erin Telles (NAYA Youth and Family Center) & Laura Golino de Lovato (Northwest Pilot Project)

Abstract: We’re all working towards the same goal in our jobs in the housing and homeless services area: to get the best housing outcomes for our clients. While we work together, the ways to do so are different, sometimes different enough that we get stuck in the mindset that “It’s not my job to do xyz” – such as finance staff not being responsible for client qualifications, or direct service staff not being responsible for making the numbers work. But at the end of the day, it’s everyone’s responsibility to serve the community by putting every single contract dollars to work in the most appropriate, allowable, and effective ways regardless of our individual roles.

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices, Leadership in Challenging Times

 

Session Title: The Village Model

Presenter(s): Victory LaFara, MSW & Lisa Larson (Dignity Village)

Abstract: The true foundational principles of the Village Model, created by Dignity Village in 2000, are rooted in democratic structure, mutual aid, professional support, and specialized mobile services. A key element is the authentic empowerment of unhoused individuals, achieved through the legally protected right to vote in their 501c3 and investing in their leadership development to effectively advocate, organize, and take the lead in shaping service systems design for their own needs. To provide a comprehensive understanding, we will be hosting a panel of village experts who will offer an overview of the model. Following this brief presentation, we will have an extensive question and answer session to ensure all attendees gain a clear grasp of the principles and practices involved.

Conference Track(s): Frontline Strategies and Best Practices, The Power of Lived Experience, Leadership in Challenging Times