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Staff Feature
The City of Portland Shelter Services could not have served nearly 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in the past two years without the invaluable staff who provide daily support at our 10 alternative shelters. We asked our partners at these sites why they do this work. Here's what they said:
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‘From darkness to light’: Charlene’s story
Fifty-year-old Charlene faced nearly two decades of homelessness and addiction, but her life took a transformative turn when she found support at Clinton Triangle, one of the City of Portland’s alternative, transitional shelters.
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'From survival to stability': Pat’s story
After facing unexpected hardships, Pat Olson found himself living out of an RV on Portland’s streets for five years, struggling to take care of his health and find a safe place to park. At Sunderland RV Safe Park, Pat worked toward self-sufficiency, ultimately transitioning to permanent housing.
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"My Mother's Ethical Will" - What Drives our Director
Driven by her mother's legacy of compassion and service, Brandy Westerman reflects on her transition from international humanitarian aid work to tackling Portland's homelessness crisis as the City’s Emergency Humanitarian Operations Director.
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‘I have a little more zest for life': Brandi's story
Stranded in the January 2024 winter storm, Brandi and her husband were living in their car when they were offered refuge at Clinton Triangle. Six months later, they are housed.
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Streets to Stability: Sharing Stories
The City of Portland Shelter Services blog is a space to share stories from our program.
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'I’ve never had such good sleep': Chris' story
Chris, age 46, said staying at a low-barrier City shelter has given him the much-needed safe space to recover from half a lifetime unsheltered.
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“This place has been a blessing”: Tehanna’s story
Nine months ago, Tehanna Welch learned she was pregnant while homeless. Today, she and her partner are housed and expecting their first child.
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Transitions: Jessica’s story
For 12 years, Jessica struggled through homelessness, addiction, and instability. Today, she's living her first ever apartment.
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