Volunteer

Put Your Talents to Good Use at These Portland Organizations and Nonprofits

Using your skills to give back can make you feel good, too.

01/01/2021 By Fiona McCann

Light a Fire

This Nonprofit Helps Those Experiencing Houselessness Build Skills with Art

“I feel that the more that we can express and share our creativity, the healthier we’re going to be as a planet.”

12/02/2020 By Gabriel Granillo

Light a Fire

This 50-Year-Old Housing Org Offers Hope to Portland’s Most Vulnerable Residents

Transition Projects combats homelessness with deeply affordable housing units built for long-term societal change.

12/02/2020 By Morgan Westling

Design

How Retired MAX Cars Could Help Portland’s Most Underserved Communities

A revolutionary concept dubbed "The Afro-Village Movement" aims to reconstruct the models to offer food, hygiene, and therapy for those experiencing homeless...

11/23/2020 By Sam Pape

First Responders

Portland Street Response Just Got a Huge Budget Boost

Here’s what that means.

09/09/2020 By Fiona McCann

Report

Public Parks and Onramps Are Biting Back Against Camping. But Should They?

Hostile design can prevent someone from pitching a tent. But some say the urban design trend just creates more problems.

08/27/2019 By Fiona McCann Illustrations by Neil Webb

Design

These Tiny Home-Inspired “Sleeping Pods” Provide Shelter for Portland’s Homeless Women

The Kenton Women’s Village relocated in April with brand-new units designed by local architects.

08/09/2019 By Conner Reed

Community Report

These 4 Nonprofits Are Fighting Homelessness One Meal, Bed, or Trash Bag at a Time

When it comes to tackling homelessness, bigger is not always better.

06/25/2019 By Fiona McCann

Community Report

We Know How to Solve Homelessness in Portland. What’s Stopping Us?

“These are not intractable problems. They can be solved.”

06/25/2019 By Fiona McCann

Community Report

These Are the People Cleaning Up Portland's Homeless Encampments

Central City Concern’s Clean Start employees are uniquely qualified for the job: they used to be homeless, too.

05/28/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Community Report

One Woman’s Story of Living on Oregon’s Streets

Corrine Penning tells us how she became homeless, and what that experience was like.

05/28/2019 By Fiona McCann

Community Report

Understanding Homelessness in Portland

We ask what Portlanders need to understand about a thorny issue in a city grappling with its ideals.

04/23/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann

Homelessness: Numbers

The Numbers Behind Oregon's Homelessness Crisis

A quick look at the vital stats

04/23/2019 By Wriik Maui

Homelessness: Neighborhood

How One North Portland Neighborhood Is a Microcosm of Our Homelessness Problem

When it comes to the encampment-dotted Peninsula Crossing Trail, neighbors want a safe space; homeless Portlanders want the same thing.

04/23/2019 By Sam Pape

Homelessness: Viewpoints

What Don't We Understand About Homelessness in Portland?

We spoke to a shelter worker, someone who has lived on our streets, a cop, nonprofit directors, and more to find out.

04/23/2019 By Fiona McCann, Rebecca Jacobson, Kelly Clarke, Marty Patail, Margaret Seiler, and Ramona DeNies

Books

The Hero of This YA Book Is a Houseless High Schooler

Portland author Connie King Leonard’s debut novel, Sleeping in My Jeans, tackles the effects of homelessness on kids.

12/27/2018 By Emma Luthy

Light a Fire 2018: Best New Nonprofit

This Portland Nonprofit Transforms Homeless Youth into Filmmakers

At Outside the Frame, street kids take charge of their own stories.

10/17/2018 By Rebecca Jacobson

Politics

Kate Brown and Knute Buehler, in Their Own Words

We ask the major-party gubernatorial candidates about what's best for Oregon.

10/17/2018 By Marty Patail

Sports

An Innovative Grassroots Soccer Tournament Takes on Homelessness

Timbers stars and community activists will kick off in the Portland Social Change Cup, harnessing street soccer for good causes.

05/25/2018 By Sam Pape

Real Estate: A Good Place

An Innovative Recovery Center Breaks Ground in East Portland

Central City Concern brings social services to a fast-growing, oft-neglected section of the city.

03/27/2018 By Zach Dundas