For the past 40 years, Central City Concern (CCC) has supported personal and community transformation in Portland through an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness. By combining safe and supportive housing, primary and behavioral health care, and meaningful employment, we provide a stable foundation of support to help people experiencing homelessness overcome life’s biggest challenges.

Finding meaningful work is an important step toward self-sufficiency for anyone, and CCC has many paths that lead to permanent employment. Our Employment Access Center is the first stop for many job seekers, where employment specialists work one-on-one with individuals to address barriers, build skills, seize training opportunities, and prepare them for employment. We not only match employers with employees, we also hire our own past clients in a variety of roles at the agency—from building maintenance positions and office staff to case managers and medical professionals. CCC’s social enterprises—CCC Clean Start, Central City Coffee, and Central City Staffing—provide workers with an opportunity to contribute to the community and rebuild their lives after facing homelessness and substance use disorder.

Soon, CCC’s integrated services, from housing to health care to employment, will be available under the same roof. Blackburn Center, opening summer 2019 in East Portland, will give our city’s vulnerable populations access to the full range of support they need to stabilize and rebuild their lives—all in one place.

CCC is ending homelessness and helping people achieve their highest potential. Learn more about our work and Blackburn Center at centralcityconcern.org/blackburn.