Partnering to help solve homelessness.
Our Partners
Our community is hurting. Homelessness is a grave reality for a growing number of individuals and families across Portland and throughout the state. In fact, Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the U.S. with more than 14,000 men, women, and children sleeping on the street, in parked cars, or between shelters every night. Trends show that without a holistic solution, those numbers will rise at double-digit rates as more of our neighbors struggle to find safe, secure, and permanent housing, putting themselves and our communities at great risk.
While the homelessness crisis gains more public attention, it’s not news to us at Catholic Charities, Providence Health & Services, and the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. We serve the poor and vulnerable every day. We know it is a problem that requires our collective strength and resources. If we work together, as partners, we can make life-changing differences for thousands of people in our communities.
We share the belief that everyone deserves the dignity of a place to call home. We believe health is a basic human right and that housing is at the core of good health. We are bold enough to believe we can help solve homelessness here in the Rose City and in all communities across Oregon.
Our partnership has a common goal: healthy housing for all. That means creating safe and affordable places to live, ensuring easy access to primary health care, providing hands-on support to find jobs, building life skills, and increasing our clients’ self-sufficiency. Our hope and commitment to end homelessness is unwavering, but to reach our goal we need you. This is important work. We must take action now, or the problem will worsen. With your help, we will not let that happen on our watch.
Together we can make a difference. Join us.
Deacon Rick Birkel, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Oregon
Lisa Vance
Chief Executive, Providence Health & Services Oregon
Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
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