On World Homelessness Day, October 9–10, Portland Rescue Mission took to the streets—not to protest or perform, but to listen. For 24 hours straight, Interim CEO Erin Holcomb sat on a simple wooden bench outside the Mission’s Burnside Shelter in Old Town, livestreaming candid, unscripted conversations with neighbors, alumni, ministry partners, donors, and curious passersby.…
Read MoreWe’re just a few days away from our Conversations on a Bench livestream! Starting on October 9th at noon and streaming through noon on October 10th, we will be broadcasting live from a bench outside of our Burnside Shelter for the 24-hour event. However, we have a dilemma…in light of World Homeless Day, we want…
Read MoreWhat if one bench could transform the way our community sees homelessness? That question sparked Conversations on a Bench, a 24-hour livestream event to shift the narrative around homelessness during World Homeless Day. On October 9 at noon, our interim CEO, Erin Holcomb, will be broadcasting live from a bench outside of our Burnside Shelter…
Read MorePortland Rescue Mission has been named one of the “Top Workplaces” in the Oregonian for 2025! The Top Workplaces Award celebrates organizations that prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of their employees in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We are honored that Portland Rescue Mission emerged as a standout among a myriad of organizations, earning this recognition…
Read More What began as a reluctant five-week commitment to Portland Rescue Mission’s Discovery Program blossomed into a year of healing and transformation for Jovanna through our New Life Program. Jovanna’s story is a powerful reflection of the “Recover” pillar in the PRM Transformation Model. Her journey isn’t just about overcoming addiction, it’s about restoration through…
Read MoreThis weekend, Portland Rescue Mission has the incredible opportunity to run Hood to Coast, the world’s largest relay race. But for our team, Sober and Thriving, it’s more than a race. It’s a celebration of recovery, resilience, and hope. Our runners, including Chad and Israel, know firsthand the pain of homelessness and addiction. At their…
Read MorePRM’s “Sober and Thriving” Team Takes on Hood to Coast 2025 Each summer, thousands of runners take on the epic 199-mile Hood to Coast relay. But for Portland Rescue Mission’s Sober and Thriving team, this isn’t just a race—it’s a powerful, Christ-centered mission to bring hope to men, women, and children in crisis. In 2025,…
Read MoreMichael was fighting a battle he believed he could never win. His addiction took root with his first drink at age 12, and it escalated to substance abuse after high school. Despite multiple stints in treatment centers, Michael couldn’t maintain sobriety. Every relapse drove him deeper into despair. Sitting alone in a smoke-filled apartment, drained…
Read MoreTheresa spent years caring for others, but on the inside, she felt lost and trapped in a cycle of addiction. After decades of struggle and unsuccessful attempts at recovery through secular programs, she knew it was time to go back to her roots and reconnect with her faith. Theresa’s decision to find a faith-based recovery…
Read MoreSpring is a season of renewal, and for two courageous mothers, Emily and Theresa, it also marks a powerful new beginning. Both women came to Shepherd’s Door, Portland Rescue Mission’s New Life Recovery Program for women and women with children, seeking more than sobriety. They longed for healing—for themselves and their children. This Mother’s Day,…
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