People and Programs

Portland has an international reputation for compassion

Families move here. Families move out from under America's bridges and out from under our wobbly world's worst regimes.

If you count only people landing at PDX, that is: not counting those driving, bussing, or otherwise making their way here, Portland ranks 11th among US cities resettling international refugees.

That's a lot for a medium-sized metro, up two river bends, and a bit down economically. And yet it works. It all gets done with great civility, on account of kindness.

Portland is a compassionate place.

Our city's resettlement helpers

Settled Portlanders assist the social and economic integration of new Portlanders at several different levels and in many-many ways.

Government does a little, but newcomers' family, their friends, their faith and ethnic communities do the actual heavy-lifting.

Portland is home to several kinds of agencies receiving several kinds of funding from private, charitable, or government sources - all for getting our parents to work, and their kids into school, as quick as can be. Self-sufficiency is central to their services.

Portland's two types of resettlement and integration agencies are set out below.

1. Local organizations providing resettlement and employment services to refugees include:

Click on a refugee service agency to know more about what each does. Please note: only the federal government funds refugee resettlement, job training and employment referral. Help is limited to a few services, for a short time.

2. Local organizations with social, educational, health, legal, and advocacy services for immigrants:

Please note: these non-profit organizations deliver culturally-specific services. Portlanders served may or may not be immigrants.

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