Rebuilding Belonging: How Community Connections Can Keep Portland Housed

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Rebuilding Belonging: How Community Connections Can Keep Portland Housed

Cate Pocitari


Photo Credit: JOIN PDX
JOIN PDX Mobile outreach program staff and volunteers providing resources to Portland residents experiencing housing insecurity.

When we talk about homelessness in Portland, we usually picture tents, shelters, or people holding signs downtown. But what if part of the solution starts with something more human...like helping people feel like they belong somewhere again?

A new report from Portland State University, “Where Will My Family Go? The Financial, Housing, and Health Challenges of Families Facing Eviction,” shows how eviction isn’t just a financial crisis—it’s an emotional one too. Researchers found that when families lose their homes, they also lose stability, community, and often their sense of safety (Cholula et al., 2025). Parents in the study said their children’s well-being was their biggest worry. Many described how eviction disrupted school routines, medical care, and their kids’ mental health.

These stories, are a reminder to us that homelessness is a multifaceted challenge, connected to belonging. When families are forced to move again and again, it isn't just their address that changes, but their support system, friendships, and the ability to feel secure. 

In Portland, groups like JOIN and Portland Street Response are actively working to rebuild that sense of connection. Instead of focusing on short-term housing fixes, these programs work to build something permanent; relationships and trust. JOIN helped more than 600 people move from the streets into permanent housing in 2023, showing how connection and consistency can help people find stability (JOIN, 2024). And programs like Portland Street Response meet people, offering care and mental health support, not punishment.

A stable home is about more than walls and a roof. It’s about knowing you belong somewhere, that someone sees you and cares what happens next. When people feel supported, they’re more likely to reach out for help, find treatment, or stay in school. It’s a cycle of care that starts small; one conversation, one neighbor, one family at a time.

Imagine a Portland where no one has to wonder, “Where will my family go?” because the community around them already has an answer. A city where neighborhoods work together to prevent eviction, support mental health, and make sure every child has a safe place to grow up.

Check out JOIN PDX and Portland Street Response to get involved and become part of the change you want to see in Portland.

References

Cholula, N. J., Farrington, A., Bates, L. K., Zapata, M. A., & Greene, J. (2025). "Where Will My Family Go?" The Financial, Housing, and Health Challenges of Families Facing Eviction. Evicted in Oregon. Portland State University

https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/usp_fac/390/

Portland Street Response. (2024, March 11). Annual Report 2024. City of Portland.

https://www.portland.gov/streetresponse/documents/portland-street-response-report-january-march-2025/download

JOIN. (2024). Annual Impact Report 2023. JOIN PDX.

https://joinpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/annual-report-2024-FINAL.pdf


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