A
line of hungry people trails along the sidewalk leading up to the front door of Portland Rescue Mission. This scene has taken place every day for the past 65 years. For most of those years, the neon lighthouse sign has hung over our Burnside Shelter, symbolizing a refuge of hope to countless people in great need and despair. In the early years of Portland Rescue Mission, we served primarily older men just like those in this photo from the 1950s. Today, we do so much more than just serve hot meals, and our guests are far more diverse. The needs of the people we serve have changed dramatically, so we have too. On page 10 of this report, you can read about “The Changing Face of Homelessness” and our response over the years to meet the growing needs of those trapped in homelessness. I am so humbled by this rich legacy. Over six decades of history have taught us much at Portland Rescue Mission. The roots of homelessness involve much more than economics. Most of the people we serve have deep emotional wounds and inadequate life skills, usually due to very difficult upbringings or severe trauma. Therefore, the provision of meals and housing are not enough to bridge people to a brighter future. This is why our focus today is on more than ending homelessness. It’s about saving lives, healing broken hearts, restoring families and rebuilding futures.
• The men’s Link Program at the Burnside Shelter was significantly expanded because of space made available due to the relocation of the New Life Ministry. This 3-4 month program moves men quickly from homelessness to housing and employment. • The women’s Connect Program was launched at the Burnside Shelter to duplicate the highly successful Link Program for men. • The women’s New Life Ministry at the Shepherd’s Door facility in NE Portland expanded its services to women with children by launching the Family Life Center, which focuses on parenting and family development. In honor of both our history and our robust growth, we are rebranding this year. You probably noticed our new logo on the cover. It retains our lighthouse symbol that has become emblematic of Portland Rescue Mission and of the light of God’s love and healing that is offered to all who enter our door. Thank you for helping us shine Christ’s love brightly into the lives of the people we serve,
Eric Bauer, Executive Director
This past year Portland Rescue Mission has experienced more expansion than any previous year in its history! Because of God’s faithfulness expressed through generous community support (we receive no government funding), the following expansions have taken place in our services. • The men’s New Life Ministry, a one-year residential program for addictions recovery, was moved from the Burnside Shelter to The Harbor – a new facility in NE Portland that has a capacity for 42 men.
1
J
osh sits quietly at a table in the Burnside Shelter dining room, eating dinner with a few other men. He nods to the conversation, but mostly keeps to himself. He’s one of the lucky ones. A few weeks ago, he jumped off the Burnside Bridge – and lived. “Once you get down this low, it’s really hard to get back up.” A comment our staff and volunteers have heard many times from men and women coming to us for help.
Our goal for men and women suffering from homelessness and addiction is nothing short of a total life recovery
2
– healing from the past with tangible hope for the future. Simply placing people in housing isn’t enough to accomplish that. Without resolving the underlying issues, relapse is too likely to occur. Instead, we meet people where they are and walk with them at a pace they can sustain. We provide a staircase that first meets their most basic needs (food, shelter, hygiene), provides inner emotional healing and spiritual growth, equips them with practical life skills, and launches them into opportunities for success.
“
A meal at the Mission is everything. It’s community. The staff are friendly. I wasn’t judged. I felt human again for just a couple of hours. I’m in the Link program now and I get to give that feeling back to other people.” Aubrey, Men’s New Life Ministry
Meals
Chapel Services
Breakfast and dinner, plus lunch on weekends, provided free of charge – up to 950 meals per day. Every meal is a chance for us to learn a person’s name, listen to their story and offer resources to help them take steps toward a new life.
Church groups provide worship music and encouragement from the Bible in our evening chapel services (not required in order to receive food or other assistance). We also provide Sunday worship services at our Burnside Shelter.
Shelter
Referrals
Up to 200 men reside with us each night. NEW IN 2014: We’ve added 16 beds for Connect, a 3-4 month program to help homeless women quickly transition to safe housing, employment or recovery care.
We actively partner with area social service agencies to help men and women receive medical attention, resolve legal issues, gain housing and receive other assistance.
Restrooms Safe, private restrooms at the Burnside Shelter provide dignity and hygiene to both men and women 24 hours a day – one of the only locations in Old Town.
Showers / Clothing Socks, underwear, blankets and other items are provided at our Guest Relations Desk at the Burnside Shelter. Overnight guests receive showers and clothing as needed.
Mail Service Around 1,000 people a year use our Burnside Shelter as a mailing address, helping them stay in touch with friends and family. Having an address is essential for employment applications.
15,917
people experienced homelessness in Portland last year
61,696
nights of safe shelter were provided by the Mission last year
283,837
hot, nutritious meals sustained hurting people at the Mission last year
3
I
t was Doug’s first night sleeping outside. He found a dark corner, lay down on the asphalt in the rain and tried to go to sleep. But it wasn’t much use. “I woke myself up a couple hours later shivering from the cold and soaked to the bone. I was shaking so hard, and not just from the cold. I was sad. Never thought my life was going to be like that.”
“
I couldn’t wait until breakfast at the Mission, because I knew that the food would be hot and the people would be nice. I knew I wouldn’t be alone.”
The Mission became Doug’s lifeline. He learned about our 12-month residential New Life Ministry at The Harbor to help him with his addiction and the deep emotional pain behind it. “It seemed too good to be true. These people… they were filled with compassion and love. They cared about me. For the first time, I was in a treatment facility and I wasn’t just a file folder with a name on it. These guys didn’t get any bonus if I graduated or if I made it into my next phase of development. They actually cared. It just blew my mind.” “For the first time, I saw grace and mercy and the love of Jesus Christ modeled through humans,” says Doug. “I never had really experienced that. It made me realize that this place wasn’t too good to be true. I have to thank God for that. It’s really changed my life.” www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Doug 4
L
ink, a new ministry at our Burnside Shelter, fills a gap in resources for men who have no relational support and need advocacy assistance to successfully attain employment and housing. During their 3-4 month stay, men are provided with safe shelter, meals, showers, clothing and advocacy and referral assistance. They build supportive relationships with one another and our staff that cultivate hope and faith. In exchange for what they receive, Link men give back by working about 25 hours a week to keep our Burnside Shelter running smoothly. They serve our homeless guests by cooking meals, washing blankets, preparing the evening shelter mats and keeping the facility clean. Since its launch, the Link ministry has placed 62% of participants into housing and/or employment.
I
n June 2013, we officially opened the doors to The Harbor, our renovated men’s recovery location in northeast Portland. The men’s New Life Ministry was lo located in the Burnside Shelter – this relocation
expands the program to 42 men in a more engaging environment that encourages relational healing. The expansion freed up two floors of our Burnside Shelter for exciting new ministries to homeless men and women.
The Harbor Dedication: (Left to Right) Terry Stokesbary, Senior Program Director of MJ Murdock Charitable Trust; Eric Bauer, Executive Director of Portland Rescue Mission; Kathy Anfuso, Board Member of Portland Rescue Mission; Roger Wood, President & CEO of Tosoh Quartz Inc.; Ken Cowdery, Executive Director of Home Builders Foundation 5
I
t all happened so fast for Lauren. The drug raid. Her four-year-old, Mckayla, snatched from her arms. Then handcuffs and jail.
Hope sprung when Lauren was offered the chance to forgo prison and enter Portland Rescue Mission’s addiction recovery program at Shepherd’s Door, our residential facility for women and children. Not only could she get the help she desperately needed, but maybe, just maybe, she could also have a shot at getting Mckayla back. “From the time I got here I was willing to do whatever it took,” she said. Lauren formed healthy relationships with staff and other residents and began to slowly heal from a lifetime of pain and addictions.
After several months of continued growth, Lauren received incredible news. She would be reunited with her daughter. “When I found out Mckayla was going to move in here with me, I was in complete shock. It was amazing.”
“
If it weren’t for the Mission, I would have given up. I would have been sitting alone in prison. Now I have hope and happiness again.”
P
ortland has a severe lack of shelter and resources to help homeless women – the fastest growing segment of homelessness for the last decade.
In 2014, we launched Connect, a program to rescue vulnerable women from the dangers of the street. Up to 16 women can stay in a newly renovated floor of our Burnside Shelter. A dayroom with caring volunteers and staff will provide relational care and referrals to help women get resources they need to move toward a healthy new life.
“
We’re looking to encourage these women, to bless them, to bring hope to them, bring care to them, and to give them a new start in life. From the street to permanent housing.” Judy Turley, Connect Program Manager
U
p to 42 women and their children embrace recovery through our New Life Ministry at Shepherd’s Door in northeast Portland.
A new initiative in 2013 is helping mothers with practical parenting skills. Many women who come to us for help have experienced abuse, causing deep emotional pain and relational difficulties. Our Family Life Center helps them establish positive relationships with their children through parenting instruction and interactive bonding experiences. Strong families create an end to the generational cycle of homelessness, addiction and abuse.
7
G
reg hated school. Just opening a textbook caused flashbacks to feelings of failure.
As part of his 12-month recovery journey in our New Life Ministry, Greg worked one-on-one with a volunteer tutor to help him overcome his fear of learning. By the end of 16 weeks, Greg made a remarkable change. “Greg really improved his writing skills,” says his tutor. “But his real growth came in overcoming the shame he felt. This was an opportunity for him to push through and feel great about succeeding.”
“
T
hings happen to you as a kid that spill over into your adulthood,” says Gina. Abuse was a normal part of her childhood. Little wonder that she dropped out of school after 9th grade. By then, she’d lost herself in addiction. When Gina came to the Mission for help as an adult, counseling helped her heal from the trauma of her past. But her lack of education limited her ability to live to her full potential. Thanks to the support of friends like you, Gina worked hard during her recovery to complete her General Education Diploma. She graduated from our New Life Ministry program in January 2014 and works in our Administration Office in a one-year work training program. Afterwards, she hopes to attend college.
www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Volunteer
8
Hurting people hurt people. The men, women and children we serve have suffered tremendous abuse and trauma – often at the hands of people they trusted. Tragically, the victims often repeat the cycle, wounding others. So a generational cycle of homelessness, addiction and pain continues.
Childhood Trauma Sexual, physical, emotional, mental abuse Abandonment, lack of parenting Negative role models Addiction as a normal part of life Anger at God
Adult Condition Lack trust in others Lack self-worth, trapped in false beliefs Unable to problem solve, work through stress, resolve conflict Likely to repeat abuse Inherited addictive behaviors Distant from God
As the grace of God and love of Jesus are expressed to the men, women and children in our New Life Ministry, they experience freedom from the chains of their past. Through caring one-on-one mentors, small group participation and immersion in a caring residential community, they’re shown healthy ways to relate to other people. As they experience God’s forgiveness for their own mistakes, they’re able to forgive themselves and others for the pain in their past.
Breaking the Cycle Healed from past wounds, free to live for the future Increased confidence, feelings of self-worth Reconciled to friends, family and loved ones Living in daily recovery from addiction Making healthy choices Experiencing God’s love and forgiveness
9
Post-War Challenges
The Mission Responds
Most of us think of a middle-aged man in tattered clothes and a grizzled beard. It’s an image left over from post-war 1950s America. “Hobo”, “tramp” and “bum” were the common terms for men who hit hard times, drank too much and survived by doing odd jobs. In spite of their circumstances, most of these men respected authority and possessed a work ethic.
Moved with compassion, John Van Diest Sr. began serving meals out of the trunk of his car in downtown Portland. In 1949, Portland Rescue Mission was founded. At the Burnside Shelter, men enjoyed daily meals, shelter and chapel services.
Homeless services in this era were more limited due to such a specific homeless demographic.
Rise of Drug Culture
The Mission Responds
Tumultuous changes swept through America with political and moral confusion, especially related to the Vietnam war. Epidemic use of drugs and a disintegrating values system wore at the fabric of society. Significant government budget cuts for mental health services only intensified the problem, resulting in a notable rise of the mentally ill within the homeless population.
Meals and shelter at the Burnside Shelter steadily grow. In addition to Bible study and chapel services, the Mission offers counseling and addiction recovery.
“Bums” and “tramps” gave way to younger heroin addicts, alcoholics, and Vietnam veterans, adding psychological and emotional needs to an increasingly complex range of homelessness needs.
Breakdown of Family
The Mission Responds
Economic growth stabilized the number of homeless due to poverty, but the sexual revolution and decay of family structure bore bitter fruit with the dramatic rise of homeless women and children: 5% in 1980 - 42% by 2000.
The original Shepherd’s Door opens in 1994 as a small house on NE Halsey Street with just a few bedrooms to help homeless women and children.
Crack cocaine, mental illness, domestic violence, “babies having babies” and absent fathers led to a rise of single mothers in need. Those trapped in poverty often lacked education, job skills and a support network that would help them rise above circumstances, leading to a sense of hopelessness. 10
The Mission adds job, education and life skills training to help men and women achieve long-term success.
Generational Cycle Continues
The Mission Responds
Family breakdown now affects its second and third generation. Adults trapped in a lifestyle of addiction and abuse raise children who see trauma as “normal”. These kids are ill-equipped to overcome the relational brokenness they’ve experienced, and are likely to repeat the cycle.
The causes of homelessness today are complex and affect a vast range of people. The Mission continues to build integrated services and highly relational, individual care.
The government’s greatest cut in mental health funding since the 1960s brings more mentally ill people into the number of homeless. Veterans from modern wars struggle with post-traumatic stress. More destructive drugs like meth increase deaths and violence on the streets. Recession brings many to homelessness who once lived stable, productive lives. Homelessness now encompasses all ages, genders, races and ethnicities.
I
The new Shepherd’s Door facility opens in 2003, offering recovery for up to 42 women and their children. The Harbor opens in June 2013, offering recovery for up to 42 men. Two new ministries begin: Link (for men) and Connect (for women) help transition people in need to stable housing, employment or additional recovery care in just 3-4 months.
n the early days of the Mission, John Van Diest Sr. would load a large pot of soup into the trunk of his car and drive to downtown Portland to feed hungry people on the street. His small acts of compassion grew into a ministry that provides over 283,000 meals a year, over 61,000 nights of shelter and life-giving addiction recovery care to hundreds.
Today, Portland Rescue Mission is much more than a soup kitchen. But the core of our ministry remains: expressing the love of God to people who feel alone, broken and without hope. We’re excited to share our new logo that more clearly represents some of the Mission’s key attributes. A shining light of hope. An open door of hospitality for all. A safe place for people to find rest, healing and total life recovery. With God’s blessing and your support, even more men, women and children will experience new life. Thank you.
c. 1959
c. 1995
2014 11
NE Prescott St
NE Fremont St
Burnside Shelter 111 W. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209 503-906-7690
lvd
Meals, shelter, restrooms and more
B dy
an
Link and Connect programs
S NE
NE Broadway
Na
NW Broadway
ito
Pk wa y
30
NE Halsey St
84 30
E Burnside St
N W 99E
E S Drive Away Hunger 8301 NE Halsey St., Portland, OR 97220
99W
12
26
503-906-7673 Car sales and donations
205
213
105th Ave
102nd Ave
The Harbor 10336 NE Wygant St., Portland, OR 97220 503-980-3307
84
New Life Ministry for men
30
132nd Ave
122nd Ave
NE 82nd Ave NE Halsey St
NE Glisan St E Burnside St
213
Administration Office
Shepherd’s Door
1507 NE 122nd Ave.
13207 NE Halsey St., Portland, OR 97230
Portland, OR 97230
503-906-7650
503-906-7619
New Life Ministry for women and children
13
M
ore than anything else, our work at the Mission is focused on relational healing. It’s what sets us apart – a genuine smile, a listening ear, careful guidance to help a man or woman take their next courageous step toward a new life.
“
That kind of relational healing doesn’t happen easily. We’re grateful for over 3,000 dedicated volunteers each year who help us serve meals, teach classes, tutor and mentor recovery residents, answer phones and so much more.
Matthew is just 10-years old and helps us serve breakfast on Saturdays at The Harbor. He hasn’t missed a single Saturday and continually asks his dad when the next breakfast will be. He genuinely loves the men at The Harbor. His eyes have been opened to see their humanity so that he doesn’t see an addict, but a man worthy of God’s love.”
Tim Crownover, Northside Baptist Church
T
hanks to the generous support of the community, essentials like food, clothing and toiletries give practical help to thousands of people in need. Every meal, pair of socks, or toothbrush we hand out is an opportunity for grace. We learn a hurting person’s name, listen to their story and provide resources to help them take their next step toward a new life.
1,000,000
Pounds
800,000
Dollars
600,000 400,000 200,000
Donating your car to the Mission turns wheels into meals! • Car sales provide meals, shelter and recovery care for hundreds of hurting men, women and children • Donors receive the maximum tax deduction allowed • Certified mechanics safe check and carefully recondition each car before it is sold, ensuring that we sell quality cars at a great price
• New undergarments
• Disposable razors
• Socks
• Toothbrushes
• Blankets
• Toothpaste
• Backpacks
• Travel-size toiletries
• Deodorant (spray or solid)
• Jeans
0 Toiletries
Clothing
Food
From October 2012 through September 2013, sales from donated cards netted $321,000 to restore the lives of men, women and children in Portland. That’s 200,625 hot, nutritious meals or 35,666 nights of safe shelter!
www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Car
• Life Recovery Bibles (NLT)
www.PortlandRescueMission.org/DonateItems 15
Where Funds Come From
83% Individuals 9% Foundations 5% Businesses 2% Churches 1% Other
$1.60
provides a hot, nutritious meal to a hurting person in need. Our meal costs are down 15% thanks to food donations, volunteer help and significant reduction in overhead. Your support goes further, providing more meals to assist with the growing need.
$9.00
provides one night of shelter, including showers, clothing and relational care
How Funds Are Used
$15.00
76%
provides one day of meals, shelter, advocacy and relational care in our Link program
Programs
18%
Fundraising
$62.00
6%
provides one day of meals, shelter, advocacy, recovery and relational care in our New Life Ministry
Administration
Fiscal Year 10/1/2012 to 9/30/2013 Revenue Cash Donations Other Cash Revenue
Expenses $5,979,230 $69,677
Sales of Donated Vehicles
$1,220,497
In-Kind Contribution
$3,008,430
Program Services
$7,599,495
Fundraising/Development
$1,857,327
Administration
$567,238
Total revenue
Total expenses
$10,277,834
$10,024,060
Change in net assets $253,774
16
1. Stay In Touch www.Facebook.com/pdxmission www.Twitter.com/pdxmission Monthly E-News Updates: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Email Latest blog articles: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Blog
2. Volunteer Apply online: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Volunteer
3. Donate Socks, Blankets, and Other Items Current listing and address information at: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/DonateItems
4. Donate Monthly Join our “Circle of Friends” at: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/COFEnroll
5. Donate a Car Easy and convenient: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Car
6. Leave a Legacy of Hope Free resources to plan your estate: Call George Vaughan, 503-746-9685
7. Refer A Friend In Need of Recovery For women, call: 503-746-9743
For men, call: 503-906-7690
P.O. Box 3713 Portland, OR 97208-3713 503-MISSION (647-7466) www.PortlandRescueMission.org
EXECUTIVE STAFF Eric Bauer Executive Director Bill Meadowcroft Chief Operating Officer Dallas Lange Director of Men’s Ministry and Partnership Christine Ourada Director of Women and Children’s Ministry Dave Whiting Manager of Burnside Operations Nathan Smith Director of Development Ministry
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Stratos, Chair Todd Sheaffer, Vice Chair Kathy Anfuso Howard Turner Merrit Quarum, M.D.