Hotel Alder Fire: Nearly 100 Residents Will be Displaced for Months

The 92 people who lived in affordable housing at the Hotel Alder, which was badly damaged by a fire on January 4, will be displaced for months not weeks as previously thought. That's the word from Central City Concern, which owns the building.

"The cause of the fire hasn't been officially determined, but fire and water damage is very extensive, and it will take several months before the Alder is habitable again," Central City Concern said in a statement.

Many of the displaced residents had been housed in a temporary Red Cross shelter at the University of Portland but that was shut down last Friday. Central City Concern says they are working on housing those residents, "most of whom require additional support services to keep them safe and healthy."

As the organization looks for temporary homes, they have opened transitional shelters in two of their downtown residential buildings.

Central City Concern is accepting donations of cash as well as other items.

They say that one urgent need is commercially prepared meals for 60 people, starting Jan. 21.

The organization says that, unfortunately, they can't accept homemade items. Please contact Eric Reynolds (503-200-3893; eric.reynolds@ccconcern.org) if you're able to donate commercially prepared meals. A full list of needs is available at www.centralcityconcern.org/donate.

Donated items can be delivered to CCC's admin office at 232 NW Sixth Ave. (please call 503-200-3903 during Mon.-Fri. business hours to arrange a weekend drop-off).

Central City said they are grateful for the help they have received from many organizations and businesses since the fire, including: the Red Cross and the University of Portland, the City of Portland, Multnomah County, TriMet, and Health Share of Oregon, as well as these generous donors: Sock it to Me for their donation of 400 pairs of socks, City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement and CareOregon for donations of cold weather clothing and gear, and Old Town Pizza & Brewing and Elephants Delicatessen so far for food.

Photo Portland Fire and Rescue