Portland is an amazing city, full of compassionate people wanting to help those in need. There are concrete things that each of us can do that will truly make a difference in the lives of those who need it, and the following are some key contacts/information from our outreach and service provider organizations.

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Blanchet House

About: Blanchet House provides free hot meals, beverages, clothing, and hygiene kits to people experiencing homelessness or in need of a helping hand. They also assist people in their transition from houselessness to housing by offering sober transitional housing at their downtown location and a farm in Carlton. 

Opportunities: Compassionate people ages 14 and up are needed to serve and prepare meals at Blanchet House in downtown Portland. Sign-up and orientation are done online at BlanchetHouse.org/Volunteer. Volunteers at home are needed to make care kits, sack lunches, and donate adult-sized clothing. Instructions can be found at BlanchetHouse.org/Get-Involved. Questions can be emailed to info@blanchethouse.org or call 503-241-4340.

 

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare

About: Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare works as a community health and housing safety net provider for Oregonians of all ages experiencing mental health and addiction challenges, trauma, poverty, and homelessness. Their service continuum includes mental health and specialized mental health care, addiction treatment, primary care, affordable housing and homeless services, facility-based living, community supports, and crisis services.

Opportunities: Please visit their website for various giving opportunities: https://cascadiabhc.org/give/ways-to-give/.

 

Catholic Charities

About: Catholic Charities works to respond to the ever-emerging needs of the poor and vulnerable throughout western Oregon. Their mission is to partner with the most vulnerable, regardless of faith, to achieve lasting solutions to poverty and injustice.

Opportunities: You can find both volunteer and giving opportunities by visiting their website: https://www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org/.

 

Central City Concern

About: Central City Concern (CCC) meets its mission through innovative outcome based strategies which support personal and community transformation. They provide direct access to housing which supports lifestyle change; integrated healthcare services that are highly effective in engaging people who are often alienated from mainstream systems; the development of peer relationships that nurture and support personal transformation and recovery; and attainment of income through employment or accessing benefits.

Opportunities: For information on how you can volunteer with CCC, please visit http://www.centralcityconcern.org/volunteer or contact volunteer@ccconcern.org.

 

HandsOn Greater Portland

About: Find volunteer projects in the greater Portland area that fit your area of interest. You can discover new ways to volunteer, search existing volunteer opportunities using keywords of interest, and even create your own volunteer team.

Opportunities: There are several searchable opportunities. Individuals will need to register using an email address. Please visit https://www.handsonportland.org and click on “For Volunteers” and then “Search Opportunities” in the drop down tab to search opportunities in the Portland area.

 

Janus Youth

About: Janus Youth works primarily with youth struggling with homelessness and drug addiction and has grown since its inception in 1972 to become one of the largest nonprofits in the Northwest operating more than 40 programs in both Oregon and Washington. Their mission is to be a leader in creating innovative, community-based services which enhance the quality of life for children, youth, and families.

Opportunities: There are many different opportunities to give or get involved. Visit their website at http://www.janusyouth.org/how-to-help to make a difference.

 

JOIN

About: JOIN exists to support the efforts of houseless individuals and families to transition out of houselessness into permanent housing.

Opportunities: JOIN's Basic Service Center, often called the "House," is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 3pm and offers basic services to houseless people in a welcoming, low barrier setting. House volunteers commit to a weekly shift, usually lasting between 2 and 3 hours. Volunteers must be available during open hours.

For more information about volunteers at the House, please contact DiJonnette at dijonnettemt@joinpdx.org.

Company volunteer opportunities offer another way for groups of people to serve. This type of opportunity usually consists of activities like cleaning, building, sorting, painting, or other manual labor around JOIN's facility.

For more information about company volunteer opportunities please contact Sydney at slinden@joinpdx.org or 503-232-7052 ext.103.

 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors PDX

About: A small group of Community Volunteers who come together to enhance neighborhood livability and serve as a bridge between neighbors-- housed and unhoused.

Opportunities: Have a question? Want to volunteer or donate? Individuals can call 971-386-4746; Facebook (www.facebook.com/NeighborsHelpingNeighborsPDX); email NeighborsHelp12@comcast.net; or mail 4834 N Lombard, Portland, OR 97203.

 

Operation Nightwatch

About: Operation Nightwatch is a local non-profit that has been serving Portland’s homeless population since 1981. Their mission is to provide nighttime hospitality for Portland’s unhoused population to promote community, dignity, and social connection. Operation Nightwatch currently operates two drop-in centers- one in Downtown Portland (1432 SW 13th Ave) and one in SE Portland (8800 SE 80th Ave). At these centers, guests who are living on the streets or who live in poverty can access food, blankets, socks, basic medical care, mental health support, companionship and social connection.

Opportunities: Whether volunteers choose to help out once or on a regular basis, a few hours of a volunteer’s time makes a huge impact in the lives of countless others. Visit https://www.operationnightwatch.org/volunteer/ to volunteer, donate, or to learn more about their work.

 

 Transition Projects

About: Transition Projects helps people transition from houselessness to housing. Each year, they assist more than 10,000 people through a broad array of services, resources, and tools.

Opportunities: For information about volunteering opportunities, please visit http://www.tprojects.org/volunteer/. For more information, contact Tamara Chacon at tamara@tprojects.org or at 503-280-4741.