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