Mission

Our mission is to provide day shelter, resources, emotional support, and community connections to women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness and poverty. Our vision is a community where everyone has safety, stability, love, health, and home. As the <B>ONLY</b> day shelter of its kind in downtown Portland, our low-barrier model makes us the <b>first point of contact</b> for many who are seeking social services, and the only option for many who do not have documentation. Since 1997 we have offered programs based on our guests' self-defined needs, <b>bridging critical gaps in service delivery for women and children seeking sanctuary.</b> Serving 120-150 guests a day, we not only address immediate needs for food, hygiene and medical support, but also provide resources for guests to address their long-term goals of housing, health, and stability. In 2024, we served 4,294 guests, including 870 children and 1,532 brand new individuals. As an organization that <b>does not rely on government funding</b>, we still face the growing pressure of limited resources, increased demand, and a competitive philanthropic landscape - all while continuing to center the needs and voices of our guests and those pushed to the margins. <b>We all want the same thing:</b> a community where everyone has the chance to live with dignity, safety, and hope.