Michael knows what it feels like to be homeless. After all, he spent the last five years of his life on the streets. He’s fought to survive. He’s tossed and turned in a wet sleeping bag, worrying where his next meal will come from. But just a few months ago, Michael’s entire life changed when he…
Read MoreWe need volunteers! During the summer, our volunteer numbers typically go down even though the need for services remains high. To help operations run smoothly, we’re looking for relational, compassionate volunteers to engage our homeless guests and recovery residents in a variety of positions. Apply to be a volunteer today! Current Needs: Guest Relations Office…
Read MoreHave homeless people become so invisible we wouldn’t notice our own family members living on the street? In a social experiment done by New York Rescue Mission, several people agreed to pose as homeless men and women sitting on the sidewalk. Then they had their unsuspecting family members walk by them. Check out the video…
Read MoreWeather reports have indicated this summer will be the hottest in years. If these predictions hold true, the Portland area could see as many as 20 days above 90 degrees. While the warm sun is a relief to the homeless men and women who’ve fought through the harsh winter, oppressive heat can be just as daunting…
Read MoreIt’s pretty safe to assume that everyone has encountered someone on a street corner asking for help. They often ask for money, prompting the thought, “What do I do? I don’t want to give them money, but I don’t have anything else to offer them.” Melody ran into this predicament several months ago. A man…
Read MoreA week ago we celebrated the birthdays of all the homeless guests we serve with our annual Birthday Party for the Homeless! Many of our homeless friends watch as their birthdays pass by year after year, uncelebrated. For others, this is their first year on the streets. For them, a birthday party simply makes life…
Read MoreRobert is in our Link program, a 3-4 month transitional program that helps men get back on their feet to transition out of homelessness and into a job and housing. The Mission provides the men a bed, three meals a day, advocacy support, and other important tools to help them become independent. In return, the…
Read MoreFor the past 20 years, Willie Baronet has stopped his car to ask homeless people on street corners, “Can I buy your sign?” He first asks how much the person wants for the sign, and then negotiates a price. He buys most signs for about $10. After two decades of collecting signs, Baronet has amassed…
Read MoreOn Sunday, May 18th, eight men from The Harbor, our men’s addiction recovery program, successfully completed the Portland Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon! The guys trained for 14 weeks through rain, cold and occasional sun in order to fully prepare for the event. “Training for this event gave me the opportunity to set a goal…
Read MoreIt’s dark outside. Imagine tossing and turning in a weathered sleeping bag; the cold, unforgiving hardness of the sidewalk pressed up against your body no matter how you lie. When you finally get “comfortable,” you struggle to fall asleep because you know everything you own could be gone when you wake up. Yes, your most…
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