Ready to go home to family or friends?
The City of Portland's Reunification Program helps people reunite with families and loved ones who can support you in getting back on your feet.
If you are homeless and you're ready to return home, please:
- Call 311 or
- Request a City Street Outreach Worker. Be sure to check the box about going back to family or a previous home.
How it works
Reunification is a voluntary program designed to help unsheltered Portlanders reunite with their loved ones by removing barriers and cutting red tape.
Our outreach workers have worked in this field for decades. We start by having a deep conversation with you. Why do you want to go home? What's it like there? Is it a supportive environment? What are your needs? Will this really work for you?
We also connect with the family member you want to reunite with. Are they ready for you? Do they have a room in their home for you? Can they provide the support you need?
We do some other basic checks and follow guidelines based on our experience.
If reunification looks like a good solution for you, our workers can help with the cost of transportation. For local destinations, that might be a ticket for a bus or a train. For destinations further away, it might be airfare.
We can also help resolve other issues that might prevent you from returning home.
Our goal is to get you into a safe, supportive, stable situation.
Context
Reunification is not the right solution for everyone. In 2025, the City helped 214 people reunite with families and loved ones. That is a small fraction of the total number of Portlanders experiencing homelessness.
While the number is relatively small, the impact is big.
For more resources, check out our Homelessness Assistance Guide.
See how we're responding to the homeless crisis at Portland's Homeless Response.
In the News
Portland.gov: Helping Stacey Get Home
OPB: Portland program places unhoused people with family and friends outside the city