County Steps In
Multnomah County has ordered on-site monitoring of a Southeast Portland homeless shelter after complaints surfaced about its management. Beginning in October, county officials will conduct interviews, review policies, and inspect client records at the Oak Street Shelter, a 29-pod village near Southeast 82nd Avenue and Stark Street.
While all shelter providers are subject to monitoring at least once every three years, the decision to review Oak Street less than a year after opening reflects mounting concerns.
“There’s no getting out of this,” said Anna Plumb, interim director of the county’s Homeless Services Department. “If contract violations or other major concerns are raised, a provider’s willingness, ability, and documented remedies will determine whether we continue the partnership.”
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Allegations Surface
This summer, three homeless service providers who refer clients to Oak Street brought complaints to county officials. Among the allegations:
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Locked restrooms limiting resident access
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Insufficient or unhealthy meals
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Rude treatment of clients
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Family members of staff living on-site
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Pressure to attend church services led by shelter director Dwight Minnieweather, who is also a pastor
Additional concerns included unclear rules, a lack of trained peer support workers, and meals that sometimes consisted of fast food instead of planned community dinners. One provider who frequently phoned a client at Oak Street reported hearing “yelling and dysregulated tones” in the background.
Rev. Sara Fischer, an Episcopal priest with long experience ministering to unhoused Portlanders, confirmed she had also expressed concerns to the county. “Everything I’ve heard from people who’ve stayed at that shelter is that they don’t feel respected or dignified,” Fischer said.
Shelter Leaders Push Back
Minnieweather, executive director of Straightway Services, and Latoya West, the shelter’s lead site coordinator, categorically denied the allegations.
In meetings with the county and a written response to The Oregonian/OregonLive, they said the claims were false or based on misunderstandings.
“Even though we had some people say this, which I know is not true, my love and the way I feel will never change,” West said. “You’re never going to be able to please everybody.”
On the issue of relatives allegedly living on-site, West and Minnieweather explained that cultural norms in their community may have been misinterpreted. “As an African American BIPOC community, we use ‘uncle,’ ‘cousin,’ ‘auntie,’” West said. “These people aren’t kin to us—they’re terms of endearment.”
Residents Share Mixed Views
Current resident Amanda Watson, 52, told reporters she had lived at Oak Street for seven months and was satisfied with the shelter. Sitting outside her pod, decorated with potted plants, she described the staff as supportive.
“If I didn’t really like it, I’d leave,” Watson said. “The food is good, the bathrooms are usually unlocked, and they’re wonderful people.”
Watson said she attended church services briefly but stopped without pressure from staff. “They didn’t give me any crap about it,” she added.
Reporters could not reach residents who had raised earlier complaints.
Addressing Meal Concerns
West insisted that Straightway fulfills its contract by serving a hot meal nightly at 5:30 p.m. Once a month, she said, residents choose a “special meal” that may include fast food.
To demonstrate compliance, Straightway leaders showed reporters a pantry stocked with fruit, milk, ribs, and other items, along with a locked second storage room also filled with supplies.
A Pastor’s Motivation
Wearing a maroon tracksuit and a shirt reading “Jesus loves you, but I’m his favorite,” Minnieweather explained his personal drive to run the shelter. He described overcoming addiction 30 years ago thanks to someone who valued him.
“When I was out there, there was nobody out there for you,” he said. “That’s the reason I stepped to the plate.”
This is Straightway’s first county-regulated shelter, though Minnieweather says he has provided informal homeless services in Portland for decades.
County Balances Oversight and Need
County officials acknowledged Straightway’s enthusiasm when it applied to operate Oak Street, especially given that many established providers were already at capacity.
“If we don’t build the base of organizations supporting this work—and support them through challenges even as we hold them accountable—we will not succeed,” Plumb said.
Concerns about Straightway’s readiness arose as early as March 2023, when its contract was announced. Emails show county staff asked Straightway to adjust its budget and improve data tracking, but both sides say those issues were later resolved.
The county finance office has also launched a fiscal compliance review of Straightway’s finances.
Outcomes So Far
According to county records, of the 15 people who exited Oak Street between February and August, four moved to permanent housing, four returned to homelessness, and the rest were listed as “other” or “unreported.” The 27% housing placement rate is slightly above the county average.
Still, Fischer, the Episcopal priest, said she remains concerned. “If I was responsible for monitoring this shelter, I’d put my staff on site 24/7,” she said.
What Comes Next
Beginning in October, Multnomah County staff will conduct an on-site review of the Oak Street Shelter. Findings could determine whether Straightway Services continues operating under county contract.
For now, Oak Street remains open, serving nearly 30 residents while its leadership defends its record. The case illustrates the delicate balance between holding providers accountable and expanding shelter capacity in a city where the need continues to outpace resources.
