Miracles are common at the Mission. And there is nothing greater than attending a graduation to come face-to-face with the stories of men and women who have fought hard and come through a dark night to find life and hope restored. Sherri is a recent graduate from our women and children’s program, Shepherd’s Door. …
Read MoreAre you longing for something more when it comes to your vocation? Come join our team in the transformational work at Portland Rescue Mission. Men, women and children are daily discovering hope–that life is good and they can heal from the past and live free from addiction. If you have a compassionate and courageous…
Read More“Portland Rescue Mission pretty much saved my life,” said Cornell. This summer marks a year since he became homeless. “Every day that I woke up, I kept telling myself that ‘if you slept in the rain last night, and you survived sleeping in a wet sleeping bag, then obviously there is something out there for…
Read MoreWhen you are on the streets your hair gets dirty and greasy, matted and messy. Everyone needs a haircut, and our friends on the streets are no exception. At Portland Rescue Mission, we exist to give hope and restore life to…
Read MoreFreedom and independence … it’s what this time of year is all about when we celebrate the Fourth of July. And for the many men and women that come through our New Life Ministry at The Harbor (for men) or Shepherd’s Door (for women and children) and graduate from the program, that means freedom and…
Read MoreWe don’t always know what we need. But we usually know what we want. Men and women like Bradley, our featured story in our 2016 Summer Newsletter, want more than anything to their agony. Usually, long before people become homeless, they experience loss and trauma. In a desperate attempt to deal with the pain, they turn…
Read MoreBradley laughed at the dark irony. For the last 30 years, he justified his growing addiction with the shallow, comforting thought. “I might be an alcoholic. But no matter how bad it gets, I won’t be living in a tent or under a bridge.” But he was wrong. Walking out of the hotel with just a…
Read MoreSix years ago, John received the one phone call he never thought he’d get. It was his son. Even though John had abandoned him years before, his son reached out, desiring reconciliation in their relationship. John’s son wasn’t going to give up on his dad. Even while the days and years passed by, he continued to believe…
Read MoreStop by the Burnside Shelter on a Wednesday evening and you might run into Kyle Earlywine. Volunteering in the Guest Relations Office each week, Kyle greets everyone with a kind smile and an eagerness to see each guest facing homelessness get the help they need. Sometimes it’s answering a call and reassuring someone in distress.…
Read MoreXavier was finished with failure. His whole life had been filled with it, and he knew that if he were going to ever stop perpetuating the cycle of brokenness, fear and destruction in his life, it would have to be now. No more excuses. Xavier was desperate for something different in his life. “From the…
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