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The nonprofit organization Human Solutions is hoping to expand its services to homeless families by renovating a building at 14410 S.E. Stark St. in Portland. Plans are in the early stages and the agency must first obtain a conditional use change from the city, said Charles Hodge, the agency’s emergency services manager.

The 12,000-square-foot building, formerly a discount hotel furnishings store, will help Human Solutions expand its services to homeless families, Hodges said. The agency has outgrown its family winter shelter a few blocks away, he said.

Human Solutions requested a pre-application conference with the city last week. Hodge said his agency hopes to move soon on the project because more services are needed for homeless families.

鈥淭hat’s one of the reasons we needed to talk to the city immediately, to see whether it’s going to be possible,鈥� he said.

Hodge said the agency will be reaching out to neighbors this week to get their input on having a homeless shelter in their neighborhood.

Hodge is meeting with Holst Architecture, the architect, this week on the project to go over some preliminary drawings and see what needs to be done to accommodate more homeless families at the site.

鈥淲e hope to be putting it (the work) up for bid in the next few weeks,鈥� he said.