Do you happen to know of any housing/accomodations near the area aside from the one the school offers?
Well, there are some apartments that are rented by students (apartment sharing community) and if somebody is finished with training and he moves out, someone else moves in. When I started my training I stayed at a school apartment at first and moved into a student apartment later on. You'll get to know quite a few students at school.
You can use Trimet MAX for commuting and then walk to the school.
Right, there is a MAX station just across the street. The MAX is probably the best way to get to the school from Portland downtown. But don't forget, the downtown area is more expensive and it's probably at least a 30 to 40 min commute to get to the school. You'll safe time and it's more convenient if you live in an area close to the school.