Gov. Tina Kotek plans to work with Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers after the nonprofit’s leaders announced last week that a precarious financial situation could force the organization to close all of its homeless shelters before the end of the year.

Helping Hands, which started in Clatsop County in 2002, operates 11 facilities and provides over 430 beds for the homeless in Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Multnomah and Yamhill counties.

Alan Evans, the nonprofit’s founder and president, told The Astorian that without significant financial intervention from the state and counties, the nonprofit would be lucky to stay open until the end of September.

To preserve diminishing cash reserves and delay closure, he said the nonprofit decided to temporarily suspend new referrals.

Danny Moran, a spokesperson for the governor, told The Astorian that Kotek is assessing next steps with her policy staff.

“She is particularly concerned about the 10 shelter sites in Clatsop, Lincoln, Tillamook and Yamhill counties, and has the goal of working with the organization to keep existing shelter beds open as the winter approaches,” Moran said in an email.

Evans said he felt like the severity of the nonprofit’s situation would force important conversations with local governments and the state about how to move forward. He said the level of government support Helping Hands receives is not enough to sustain operations.

Evans, who started Helping Hands after being homeless for nearly 27 years, told The Astorian on Aug. 25 that he is grateful for the governor’s response and has been having conversations with her office.

“And we’re really excited about moving forward,” he said. “There’s definitely a light at the end of the tunnel right now.”

Evans said he could not detail the potential arrangement at this time, but he expects a quick resolution.

“All of it is very, very positive,” he said. “What they wanted to make sure is that if they help us in these communities that we’re viable. They’re looking at more than just throwing us a lifeline — making sure we have a plan in place for longer-term sustainability, which we’re grateful for because it’s the conversation we’ve been wanting to have for quite some time.”

He said stabilization funding of up to $500,000 from the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization for operations in Clatsop and Tillamook counties could help the nonprofit open to new referrals as early as next week.

Sara King Cole, a spokeswoman for Columbia Pacific, said the terms of the support are still be finalized. “Helping Hands provides essential services on the coast, and we are looking at long-term solutions to support their work,” she said in an email.

As far as Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a 175-bed shelter at the former Wapato Jail in Multnomah County that opened in 2020, Evans said the nonprofit is having productive conversations with Multnomah County about the future of the facility.

“I think what this has allowed us to do is say that we’re an important part of providing homeless services in five counties,” he said. “And in the past, we haven’t felt heard. But today we feel heard. And because of that, we’re having real positive conversations with the state. We’re having real positive conversations with Multnomah County.”