Helping Portland's Homeless since 1994

In the winter of 1994, Goose Hollow Family Shelter opened its doors to serve the homeless families of Portland, OR. They incorporated as Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) and were approved as a nonprofit charity in 2009, just two years after hiring their current executive director, Brandi Tuck. Since then, PHFS has expanded their community partnerships and increased their capacity to serve even more families experiencing homelessness.

Last week, our class selected PHFS as one of the finalists for the Students4Giving grant award. Once the site visit was posted on our discussion board, I signed up immediately. During a recent class discussion, we came up with several questions for interviews with our finalists. The day we met at PHFS, we got to speak with their Executive Director, Brandi, and I had a few questions of my own. So much of what I have learned from this philanthropy class has helped me with my own work serving vulnerable families in the Portland area. As a peer mentor for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence, I often see the intersection of survivors who have experienced trauma and those who are facing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Trauma comes in many forms, death or incarceration of a family member, domestic violence, etc. Brandi explained what it truly means to address critical housing needs as a response to those who have experienced trauma. Not only does PHFS provide shelter, food, clothing, emergency funds for rental assistance, etc., they do what it takes to get a family connected to their community, to become self-sufficient and eventually self-reliant. This cannot happen only by building another affordable housing unit or paying someone's rent. More must be done for families to experience long term housing stability. Through the creative and compassionate services of PHFS staff and volunteers, families are effectively housed and linked into a caring community.

I am looking forward to hearing from my classmates about their site visits and being able to discuss more about my experience at PHFS with them. The decision will not be easy,

but I know we will do our best to choose wisely

While homelessness across the nation continues to decline, Oregon has the highest percentage of homeless.

 

Rents are climbing 8.4 percent across the city. The average monthly rent rising by about $100 and keep going up.

There are 3,801 homeless people in Portland, Oregon.

Homelessness is one of the most visible issues in the Portland. Portlandia have been shocked by the increasing number of homeless That they find when they get here.

People sleep outside in tents or on the streets every night. Especially, When the weather gets nice. That includes children, families, seniors and people with disabilities.

My apartment locates at Goose Hollow area, and I have to walk about 15 minutes from the bus stop. On the way, I can see many homeless people. Someone is getting drunk. Someone is sleeping on the street. 

These make me feel unsafe when I walk through, especially at night. In contrast, I thought how can homeless live when the weather get bad. If they have children, how their children live....

Homelessness is one issue that should be realized and solved.....

Nattawan P.

Week Seven

It is week seven of our introduction to Nonprofit & Philanthropy and is one of the most exciting weeks of the term. Week five and six we learned about financials and key roles of board members in an organization, we also had the great pleasure and opportunity to listen to some of the best individuals who currently serve and participate on local nonprofits here in Portland, Oregon. 



After weeks of exploring community needs, class discussions, selecting a community need, and putting together a request for proposal, we finally have the opportunity to hear from them.

Week seven is most exciting because after weeks of substantial research and learning about community needs, we finally get to review proposals and ultimately narrow the number organization who we believe it could benefit the most and maximize the return on our investment. The process requires of heavy critical thinking and attention to details.

While some of the proposals did a great job at providing details others struggle to convey their message and request for money. As we go about reviewing and grading organizations proposal, I find myself reflecting on life while also feeling inspired by those individuals in our community. 

At times, it is often hard not to drop a tear or two while reading some of the proposals. However, it was key to remain focus in order to provided a fair grade based on financial reports (allocation of money), organization attempts to address the issue, and most importantly a solid case for their importance and impact in society. 

During this process, I learned about the many other issues that come up as result of inadequate housing. I also learned that money is not the only way to help others but there is also time, and time is more valuable. Volunteerism is an investment in our community and the people who live in it. 

Thursday class of week seven, we had the opportunity to discuss our chosen organizations. After narrowing down the list, we are ready for week eight where we will have the opportunity to visit some sites. 

Note: The proposals were graded using a rubric system modified and approved by the class members of spring 2017. 

To be honest I took this class thinking that it would be just about boring lectures on nonprofits and philanthropy. Well, I was completely wrong. It all started with my first couple of days of being into the Students4Giving program, we were all assigned a given task to choose one community need to focus on. Basically, after countless amounts of discussions and conflicts about which need is actually needed or not, we’ve settled upon the one ideal community need that would possibly solve or get rid of many other community needs. Therefore, we settled on the need of low income housing, it was simply agreed that it would be the most needed need in our community. After that process, we were allowed to choose a nonprofit organization that we would sooner or later donate money too.

One thing that was really quite nice during this class was that every student was heard and nobody had their feelings hurt. But, however; we just had one problem. The small issue encountered was choosing the right nonprofit organization, out of many organizations, to donate 3,000 dollars too.

This Students4Giving program PCC provided is amazing, and it really gave me a sense of belonging of where I stand in a community. Moreover, I truly believe every community college should experience these amazing ways to help make the world a better place. Here's to the Students4Giving program for making a big difference!

Here is the list of the majority of nonprofit organizations that we were interested in:

1). Neighborhood Partnerships/ Oregon Housing Alliance

2). Portland Homeless Family Solutions

3). Community Transitional school

4). Right 2 Dream Too (R2D2)

5). Human Solutions

6). Outside In

7). Street Roots

8). Welcome Home Coalition

9). Janus Youth Programs

10). Naya Family Center

11). Portland Youth Builders

12). Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT)

Students4Giving 2016, Granting $4000 to PROWUS

My Blog of this experience with the Students4Giving has taken many turns. I started the first week writing a weekly experience. Narrating what this class and the other students were like. My account of what we were reaching for as a whole, as many strangers placed into one room with a far shorter timeline then our semester counterparts. My attempt to narrate how so many different people could align quickly on such an important decision as the one we had in store for us.  I would try to see this class from my classmate’s perspective and get some background on why we are passionate about this class and our chosen topic. Together we would be going over the details of what I thought of this experience. But by week three I decided that instead; my riveting life expose was the way to go with detailed accounts as to how my life has led to this class and in turn this class has deeply and personally brought meaning to my life. How choosing which non-profit to grant money to may have some larger more fate like plan for me in my future. Which is true but after re-reading my pages of work I found myself at the precipice of either full on writing a book about it, or changing once again to a new topic. Then as I am sitting in class about to listen to our guest speakers for that day I began to consider making the speakers my blog topic. Just as I am spinning out on the possibilities my teacher walks past my seat and hands me a short and to the point email about last year’s grant recipients. At last, the word blog rears its ugly head to remind me, that once again my life is little to do with me and the now out of hand autobiography, and a lot more to do with this short class term and my blogs impending deadlines. Alas the time has come to take account of where this class has been and all its possibilities to come.

We are in a rare moment in this class after all. It is ten years since this class was born and like all good decades there are things to learn from what has been done, things to praise for their great accomplishment and as my class seems to hang onto, the hope of leaving it better then we found it. I am saluting the previous class and praising a job well done. The Students4Giving granted PROWUS $4000 last year to as they put it “Help kids find their song…” This nonprofit was obviously a great pick. The President sent us her event details from January's concert, which you can rock out to a short clip below. This group started out as some concerned parents and they didn't stop with just their kids, or even their school.. They have created a nonprofit to address this problem out in the open where anyone can get help and each of us can help make these students futures that much brighter. 

The President is so transparent with her need that she even included financials in her follow up email.  Which is a beautiful thing when you think of how many financials are being hidden in the world today. Here we can look and see this nonprofit can make a difference. They told us what it would cost for them to keep the lights on and then they turned their ideas into more money raised to provide resources to kids. They certainly made the money count for longer and for more students then they promised to with the Students4Giving grant. They stuck to their word. They not only put on a performance, they did such a tremendous job that they raised money and are now able to offer more scholarships then they had originally planned to for more award dates then they thought they could. What a fine job our group did picking these guys! They raised $9000, we gave them $4000. Well these folks are making music happen in the young lives of Portland kids ages 8-18 who have a dream, to be inspired to reach for the stars even when the stars would cost them a pretty penny. That’s where PROWUS (Portland Rock Out With Us) is here to provide financial support to those aspiring musicians who cannot afford to play without help from people like you! Here you can like them on Facebook.  I hope that I can attend their next event and I hope you can to. To learn more: https://www.facebook.com/prowus.portland/ or check out their website http://www.prowus.org/get-involved/

Why We Do What We Do

 It's no secret that you will most likely never be rich working for a non-profit, which leads many to question why anyone would want to go into this line of work. Our world values money and wealth, why go into a job that you know will not provide you with such things? This past month has reminded me why we do what we do.
Recently my dog has become really ill, to the point of multiple nights of hospitalization. My dad and I have exhausted all of our resources to pay for the procedures that he needs, even calling on friends and family to help. Still, the bills keep piling up. So I have turned to looking at local charities to help alleviate the cost.
 Non-profits have always helped my family. We lived below the poverty line for most of my life and without them I don't know where I would be. They really do make a difference in the lives of others, even if it is not always visible.
 We want to be involved in non-profits to help others in their time of need. It seems like most of the time people are slamming the door on those that need it most. We want to be the type of people who remove that door so everyone has a fair chance. Other jobs might make you rich, but our jobs will help make a difference.