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A Portland property manager and developer has agreed to host more homeless individuals in a downtown building.

Jordan Menashe of Menashe Properties has struck a deal to bring in 165 homeless women after a shelter closed at the Sears Armory building near Multnomah Village. They will join 100 men already staying at Menashe鈥檚 Washington Center building at 425 S.W. Washington St.

鈥淚 almost felt obligated to step up and help bridge the gap,鈥� Menashe said.

Since January, Menashe has welcomed homeless people into the Washington Center. He said neighboring businesses have been understanding.

鈥淚鈥檝e gotten no complaints from any of the other owners nearby,鈥� he said.

Menashe said he鈥檚 even fielded calls from other property owners asking how they can help.

Portland nonprofit Transition Projects is managing the shelter. Menashe spoke highly of the relationship with Transition Projects, saying it鈥檚 like working with a 鈥渇irst-rate management company.鈥�

Mayor Charlie Hales has been sued by a coalition of civic organizations for allowing overnight camping on sidewalks, although the policy has also received widespread media attention. Portland has declared a homelessness emergency.

Menashe said the Washington Center shelter isn鈥檛 a permanent fix, but it will help for now.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a solution,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 put a small, thin Band-Aid on a large and complex problem that we鈥檝e had in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.鈥�