Maybelle Center will break ground next month on crucial assisted living renovations after receiving confirmation that granted funds are currently secure
Maybelle Center was awarded a $2.3 mil grant from the Portland Housing Bureau and $1.6 mil from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to construct a much-needed second elevator for our assisted living facility, as well as improved heating and cooling in Residents’ rooms. These essential repairs will support the long-term sustainability of Macdonald Residence, one of the few facilities supporting residents transitioning from long-term homelessness and experiencing behavioral issues that complicate care and communal living.
Last week, news of the federal funding freeze emerged just as we were preparing to announce that we had been awarded two major grants enabling us to begin urgently needed renovations in our assisted living facility. While the funding uncertainties for non-profits are certainly not resolved, we are pleased to report that our partners have assured us that the awarded funds for our assisted living renovations will continue to be available.
This means that pending permits, we will begin construction in March to install a much-needed second elevator in our assisted living facility and install permanent heating and cooling units in Resident rooms. Both projects will be completed before the end of this year and run concurrently to minimize Resident disruptions. The balance needed for the combined project after the government grants is estimated between $1.1 and $1.7 million and will be funded through private foundations, individual donors, and organizational reserves.
We are grateful to the Portland Housing Bureau, the Portland Clean Energy Fund, and dedicated donors like you whose support ensures Macdonald Residence remains a leader in affordable assisted living care. In 1999, we were the first assisted living in the nation to exclusively serve Medicaid-eligible adults. Today, Macdonald Residence is one of the few facilities in Oregon that supports residents transitioning from homelessness, particularly those with complex medical and mental health issues that make communal living challenging.
Thank you for helping to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality care when it’s needed most and working towards a Portland where we all belong.
Assisted Living Renovations FAQ
Q: Can you give me an overview of the project?
- Elevator: We are finally getting a desperately needed second elevator for Macdonald Residence! A four-story elevator tower will be built in the Courtyard and attached to the building on each floor.
- Generator: We are also investing in a generator to ensure the elevator will be operational during power outages, which will be located adjacent to the elevator tower. This generator will also ensure continuous operation of kitchen refrigeration, our medical records system, building internet, and select electrical units that could power a CPAP or other medical equipment if needed.
- Upgrading our heating & cooling system: The grant will allow us to install mini-split heating and cooling units for each Resident room and in a few common areas. The units will be located on our roof, with the pipes running down into the building to each apartment. Currently, Resident rooms are heated using wall Cadet heaters and cooled using portable window units. The cooling and air quality of the existing units is frequently poor, which results in Resident discomfort and sometimes negative health impacts.
Not only will the HVAC upgrade enhance resident comfort, but it will also lower energy usage and costs while alleviating the burden on our Facilities Team of installing and uninstalling the cooling units for off-site storage each season. - Roof: Since our roof is nearing the end of its useful life, we will replace it while installing the mini-split units, so we won’t have to uninstall and reinstall the units to replace the roof in the future.
Q: Why is a second elevator so urgent for Residents and staff?
In 2023, when we last counted, our elevator was down for 1590 hours over 66 days! That’s after we requested the repair company to buy a replacement part for any component they anticipated might break. Residents living on the upper floors who use powerchairs often complain, rightfully so, that they feel stranded during outages. In fact, you might have seen an interview with one of our Members in the news last year during a particularly long outage! When the elevator is down, it also means we must hire additional staff to deliver meals, medical care, and housekeeping equipment up several flights of stairs or assist Residents downstairs with manual emergency evacuation chairs.
Q: Why does our current elevator break down so much?
When the building was constructed in 1999, very few of our Residents used power chairs. Today, most of our Residents use mobility devices. During the same period, the weight of mobility chairs has also risen substantially. We are pushing the limits of our elevator every day, creating too much stress on a system that regular or even anticipatory maintenance can’t mitigate.
Q: Why can’t we just remodel the existing elevator?
We need an elevator that can support the increased loads required for modern mobility equipment. The shaft of our existing elevator is simply too small to fit the kind of elevator we require. We would need to remove the current elevator and expand the shaft, which would mean the elevator would be out of service for nearly a year.
