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When the Willamette Center was acquired by Multnomah County in 2016, the 1947 vintage building had been most recently used by St. Vincent De Paul for offices and food distribution. In converting the building to a shelter, the county sought to fill a critical need: providing temporary housing that allows couples to stay together. Multnomah County tasked Merryman Barnes to undertake a fast-tracked renovation of the 11,400 square foot building to provide shelter for up to 125 individuals. When it opened in 2016, it doubled Portland’s available shelter for couples.