July 1, 2013 -- Northwest Portland’s Friendly House is launching a new program to support low-income people, most typically children, youth, and their families, but also families of choice, living in the Chapman School catchment area, a long-ignored segment within the popular urban core.
Backers say that the project will be operated without government assistance and instead rely solely on private foundation, business and individual support to fund a family advocate staff position, and assist people with job training, budgeting, in-kind donations of fresh food, bus tickets and gift cards to Fred Meyer and Target.
Friendly House Executive Director Vaune Albanese said the organization expects to serve about 100 families a year, mainly women and children, families with adult children who are disabled and others, when the project is launched later this summer.
Since 1982, Friendly House has provided transitional housing, case management, food, school supplies and clothes to support low-income and homeless families close to its locale in NW Portland through a county contract.
However, as rents increased in the area, the agency was forced to house homeless families far from its neighborhood, mostly in East County. Families were not able to participate in any activities at the NW site since the transportation burden was too daunting. The organization recently relinquished its Homeless Families Program to its partner Neighborhood House, with the intent of creating this new program to replace it.
“NW Portland is one of the best communities in our region for low-income people to live due to convenient mass transit, great walkability, excellent schools, grocery stores, parks, faith based organizations and Friendly House itself. With our new program, people in danger of being evicted will have access to all Friendly House programs and services. Our goal is to work with people so they can live in the Chapman catchment area and realize their hopes and dreams,” Albanese said.
