C(3)PO Coalition

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2020 Gather:Make:Shelter joined with twelve other local organizations, the City of Portland, and the Joint Office of Homelessness Services to open three sanctioned camps for our unhoused community to shelter in place. This coalition is collectively referred to as Creating Conscious Communities with People Outside, or C(3)PO.

DATE

2020–2021

LOCATION

Portland, OR

PARTNERS

City of Portland, Joint Office of Homeless Services, Street Roots, Equi Institute, PDX Trans Housing Coalition, Hygiene4All, Right 2 Dream Too, JOIN

**Gather:Make:Shelter’s community-based art and social practice**
**programming was essential** to transforming three temporary emergency spaces into
cohesive, self-determined communities, **not only capable, but inspired** to continue living
and building together as the pandemic subsides.

—Athen O’Shea, PDX Trans Housing Coalition

You need a shelter to shelter in place.

COVID-19 had an extreme and direct impact on Portland’s most vulnerable populations and required rapid and effective action. Each of the three C(3)PO villages sheltered about 50 people at a time, allowing space for social distancing as well as access to hand washing, toilet and trash services, showers, nutritious meals, mental and physical health services, and community support. The villages respectively prioritized BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people over 50 years old for residency.

Although established as short-term camps, the C(3)PO villages became much more as residents built community and trust. C(3)PO villagers established the GMS gardening program, participated in the INTERLACE community weaving project, sold artwork in the ART FROM THE VILLAGES exhibition, and traded works with local artists in the VALENTINE exhibition. Villagers became regular participants and stakeholders in GMS programming.

In March 2021 C(3)PO residents moved into more permanent tiny homes purchased by Multnomah County. In October 2021 management of the three villages was transferred to the Do Good Multnomah organization. While the C(3)PO Coalition has moved on to new projects, Gather:Make:Shelter continues its onsite programming and support of villagers as an individual organization.

Due to the success of the C(3)PO villages, the City of Portland has committed to building six more alternative shelter villages. Gather:Make:Shelter’s participation in the C(3)PO coalition likewise launched alternative shelter programming as a permanent interest of our organization.