2008 –2009 Annual Report
God is at work during times of struggle. He provides when there is nothing, comforts when there is pain and answers when He is called. Residents in our New Life addictions recovery ministry are living testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Faced with trauma that many of us never could imagine, these hurting men and women learn to trust in the Lord when there is nowhere else to turn. We see lives bruised and battered from a homeless existence become transformed through renewal of mind, body and spirit.
The ministry of Portland Rescue Mission has seen its share of challenges over the past year as well. Giving has lagged while demand for our vital services has risen significantly. But God has been faithful. He has sustained us. In fact, during these trying times, we have added and strengthened programs through robust volunteerism and more efficient operations. We know many of our faithful donors have also struggled in these past 12 months. Great financial trouble has struck every corner of this country, and it’s affected families, foundations, businesses and churches. But a feast has been made from bread and fish. God has sustained the community of people who are Portland Rescue Mission through it all. We are
awestruck and humbled by God’s constant expressions of mercy and care. Your support over the past year has fueled positive changes in this important ministry. It’s led to significant community betterment. It’s touched the hearts of hundreds of struggling souls and propelled them to healing and self-sufficient living. Thank you for your partnership in bringing hope, transformation and total life recovery to homeless and hurting people of Portland. God indeed continues to give something more!
Thousands of homeless men, women and children receive care for urgent needs at our Burnside Shelter each year. These vital services restore dignity and open a relational door for us to invite hurting men and women into our New Life recovery programs.
MEALS We provide free breakfast and dinner each day— more than 500 meals a day, 365 days a year. SHELTER Up to 120 men have short-term shelter with us each night.
RESTROOMS Safe, secure restrooms are open to both men and women 24 hours. CHAPEL SERVICES We offer chapel services daily (not required in order to receive food or other assistance).
Annual Increase in Meals and Shelter
10/07 to 9/08
10/08 to 9/09
248,986 meals
67,748 beds
234,952 meals
Projected 20% increase in meals since 2008 recession
63,315 beds
Thanks to the compassionate support of our donors, all of these services are provided free of charge.
207,488 meals
MAIL SERVICE We serve as a mailing address for around 1,000 homeless guests.
REFERRALS We actively partner with area social service agencies to help homeless guests get assistance.
56,609 beds
SHOWERS / CLOTHING We distribute socks, underwear, blankets and hygiene items to our guests. Overnight guests receive showers and additional clothing as needed.
10/09 to 9/10
At our two residential recovery sites — Burnside Shelter and Next Step — up to 45 men participate in our New Life recovery programs. The process of recovery is relational, not just clinical. At the heart of most addictions are emotional wounds caused by negative relationships. Healing homelessness and addiction means resolving these deep wounds, showing men new healthy ways of relating. And that takes a lot of love and time. Over 12 to 15 months, each man progresses from homelessness toward hope, taking on increasing growth and responsibility.
ORIENTATION Acclimate to life off the streets. Begin the process of recovery through introductory classes. STABILIZATION Demonstrate greater openness to learning and changing behaviors. Engage in healthy church and mentor relationships. TRANSFORMATION Identify key problem areas and take ownership to self-correct. Dig deeper into personal growth through support groups, mentor relationships, individual counseling and self-evaluation.
TRANSITION Complete commitments in the Learning Center and group counseling. Take leadership roles in recovery settings. Establish plans for employment, housing and ongoing success. DISCOVERY PROGRAM This new 9-week introductory program invites men to live at our Burnside Shelter and take part in addictions recovery education, counseling, case management and spiritual guidance. Some men may choose to return to independent living after nine weeks, while others may choose to enter our more intensive New Life recovery ministry.
Jeff spent many nights frozen to the ground. Homeless in Portland, he often slept under the cover of some bushes, and on winter mornings would have to snap his cold body from the earth when he woke up. “But I’m a woodsman by trade, so it wasn’t all that bad.” For Jeff, what was worse than waking up frozen stiff was living in complete isolation and distrust of others. Jeff spent part of his childhood in juvenile institutions. His adulthood is scarred by a failed marriage. Understandably, this trauma hindered Jeff when it came to asking for help from others. He even avoided simple conversation. But nights spent alone in the extreme cold finally brought him to seek help at Portland Rescue Mission.
Jeff knew that our New Life recovery ministry offered something that other recovery programs didn’t — it would introduce him to the power of a real relationship with Christ. He’d accepted Christ into his life as a child, but made a recommitment in recovery. “Becoming truly saved lifted a big weight off my chest. I feel cared for by the men in the ministry here who help guide me down that road of recovery.” It’s been nearly two years since Jeff entered our doors at Portland Rescue Mission, and he’s working hard on his future plans. The woodsman in him wants to pursue a career of a park ranger. We’re excited to see how God helps Jeff move out of his past and fulfill his potential in life.
Watch video of Jeff’s story at www.PortlandRescueMission.org/JeffStory
Shepherd’s Door, our women and children’s ministry center, is a refuge of safety and healing.
Generational healing is the heart of Shepherd’s Door.
Up to 37 women and their children engage in recovery during their 12- to 18-month stay.
Bright colors, open spaces and play areas help kids regain their childhood. Our on-site, statecertified Children’s Center helps kids grow healthy while mom attends classes during the day.
In our New Life addictions recovery ministry, women: • attend classes that help them understand their addictions • interact in support groups that help them evaluate and make better choices • learn how to heal from past wounds and open up to new, healthy relationships • study the Bible and experience spiritual renewal • pursue their GED and learn new life and job skills
Evenings and mealtimes are spent together as a family, making positive memories and a new “normal.” Each woman and her children enjoy a private room where they establish a feeling of home and safety.
Before Emily came to Shepherd’s Door last year, just after getting out of jail for drug use, she promised her parents that she’d complete recovery quickly and move on with life. “I wanted to rush through this program. Do it in nine months and be done.” But Emily’s initial progress was slow. She realized that the issues she needed to address went far beyond her drug addiction, a habit that started during
her marriage at age 18. In conjunction with being raped at the age of 13 and having an abortion at 22, Emily was set up for an unending cycle of codependency issues. After being here for 15 months, Emily’s addressed those issues head-on. As Emily worked through these struggles, she started to see other issues that were obstacles to her full recovery. For one, she was able to identify a struggle with food and healthy body image that she’d had since early childhood. Emily says it’s a gift from God that she was able to recently enroll in a healthy eating class as part of her recovery.
“God told me that I’m going to get the whole deal. He’s not going to let me leave the program with these issues that I’ve lived with my whole life. Food’s been there since I was a kid. I’m excited to find freedom from that.” This is total life recovery. A new woman, inside and out, healed from addiction and dependence in its myriad forms. Emily’s smiling eyes tell her story. She’s a changed woman. She’s healthy. She knows that the grace of God has changed her past into a hopeful future.
Watch video of Emily’s story at www.PortlandRescueMission.org/EmilyStory
Lifting a hurting person out of homelessness takes teamwork — many people working together to meet both physical and relational needs over the long haul. This year, dedicated individuals, churches and businesses donated 22,700 hours to give hope to hurting people.
Volunteers help change lives every time they: • cook, serve and enjoy meals with our homeless guests • assist in our Learning Center to help a man or woman gain basic education or a GED • mentor an addicted man or woman through recovery • sort donated clothing and food at our warehouse • reduce overhead costs by assisting with mailings and administrative projects • paint, clean and help maintain our facilities At Portland Rescue Mission, we partner with more than 3,000 volunteers each year to touch lives for today and for eternity.
Thousands of people come to us each year with urgent needs. Men need jeans and hoodies. Mothers come in looking for vegetables and meat. Thanks to the generous support of the community, we distribute to these hurting people literally tons of supplies — 764,800 pounds to be exact. Where does it all come from? Individuals, businesses and churches hold clothing and food drives.
Bulk food items are generously donated by grocery stores like Winco and organizations like Tree of Life and Birch Community Services. Valued volunteers help us sort donated items and distribute them to the homeless people we serve. We share any donations we receive beyond our needs with other likeminded agencies to relieve needs throughout the Portland area.
October 2008–September 2009
Food 567,563 pounds
Clothing 179,671 pounds
Toiletries 17,564 pounds
When people give their cars to our Drive Away Hunger auto donation program, we turn wheels into meals! • car sales provide meals, shelter and care for hundreds of hurting men, women and children • donors receive the maximum tax deduction allowed • our certified mechanics safety check and carefully recondition each vehicle before it is sold, ensuring that we sell quality cars at a great price
• men and women in our recovery program learn practical job skills in auto mechanics and customer service This year, sales from donated cars netted $239,596 toward care for men, women and children in Portland. That equals 127,445 meals or 37,204 nights of shelter.
REVENUE Cash donations $5,190,090 Other revenue $111,224 In-kind contributions $3,409,867 Total Revenue $8,711,170 EXPENSES Program services $6,149,451 Fundraising/Development $1,519,054 Administration $740,403 Total Expenses* $8,408,908 CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
$302,262
* Cash basis (no depreciation)
Annual audit performed by Delap LLP, an independent audit firm. Portland Rescue Mission is an Accredited Charity of the Better Business Bureau.
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84% Individuals
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74% Program and Services
9% Businesses
9% Administration
** Does not include donated supplies or volunteer time.
$1.88
provides a hot, nutritious meal
$6.44
covers the cost of a warm bed for one night
Portland Rescue Mission started in 1949 as a soup kitchen by the Burnside Bridge. Sixty years later, we’re still known for compassionate care to homeless men, women and children. Your support provides for urgent needs like food, shelter and clothing. And you help offer a powerful solution to the root causes of homelessness through addiction recovery, spiritual renewal and life skills training.
PORTLAND RESCUE MISSION P.O. Box 3713 Portland, OR 97208 503-MISSION (647-7466) www.PortlandRescueMission.org ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 1507 NE 122nd Avenue Portland, OR 97230 503-906-7619 BURNSIDE SHELTER 111 W. Burnside Portland, OR 97209 503-906-7690 SHEPHERD’S DOOR 13207 NE Halsey Portland, OR 97230 503-906-7650
You help us give something more. More than a meal. More than a bed. You give HOPE.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eric Bauer, Executive Director J.R. Baker, Senior Chaplain Tim Killen, Finance and Technology Tom Lister, Vocational Ministry Jan Marshall, Women and Children’s Ministry Bill Miller, Development Ministry George Vaughan, Partnership Ministry
Bob Elfers,* Chair John Van Diest,* Vice Chair Janine Schulwitz, Treasurer Kathy Anfuso, Director Barb Deeming, Director Greg McWade, Director Merrit Quarum, M.D., Director Todd Sheaffer, Director Rick Teeny, Director *term ended December 2009