Do Good Multnomah

An evening of honor and celebration! On November 7th, Do Good Multnomah proudly hosted our 9th Annual Veterans Day Benefit, dedicated to gathering and paying tribute to the Vets we serve. This special night was a chance to shine the spotlight on our incredible community, sponsors, staff, and the programs that empower houseless individuals to further their dignity and independence. The event was filled with laughter, award recognitions, a delicious dinner, live auction, and empowering stories from Veterans who are thriving as they work toward securing housing and achieving their goals. Deepest thanks to our generous sponsors, supporters, Do Good staff, volunteers, and compassionate donors. Your commitment is the foundation of Do Good’s mission and the driving force behind every success. ?? Thayer Family Foundation Wells Fargo OnPoint Community Credit Union Beneficial State Bank Comcast CASTAWAY PORTLAND, LLC Lawyers Title

Today, we celebrate Veterans Day across Do Good Multnonah. Our Veteran participants, staff, community members, donors, and volunteers inspire us all to serve with resilience, strength, and commitment. Today, we?come together to honor and express our gratitude to all those who have served the United States, its citizens, and the opportunities and values that make us who we are. Do Good Multnomah lives into this spirit of service by providing over 700 Veteran-preferred shelter beds and prioritizing the lived experience of our Veteran staff, who build the trust needed for so that all Vets can define their own futures. Whether it’s providing shelter, permanent housing, peer support resources, or expertise in accessing Veteran benefits, Do Good exists to serve Veterans. Thank you, Veterans.

At this year's Do Good Veterans Day Benefit presented by the Thayer Family Foundation, we will be highlighting the "Homecoming" story of Gary, a U.S. Army Veteran, who found a place of belonging and security after living on the streets for over a decade. "Do Good brought me back my self-respect, my esteem, my courage, and my strength." - Gary Learn more and support our work in empowering Veterans like Gary at dogoodbenefit.org

A heartfelt thank you to Home First Development, a Champion Sponsor at our 2024 Veterans Day Benefit. ? Since 2015, Home First has been an essential partner of Do Good, building affordable housing for Veterans and others throughout the Northwest. Their commitment to providing housing for all has strengthened communities and supported those in need. ? In partnership with Do Good Multnomah and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Home First developed Findley Commons, a 35-unit affordable housing project for Veterans, completed in 2021. They were also essential partners in building Portsmouth Commons, an innovative affordable housing project for Vets on faith-based land. ? Thank you, Home First, for your dedication to building hope and tackling Portland’s housing crisis. We can't wait to see you on Thursday!

A huge thank you to Wells Fargo, our Champion Sponsor, for their incredible support at this year’s Do Good Veterans Day Benefit! Wells Fargo has been a valued partner of Do Good for the past three years. Their consistency and dedication uplifts military and Veteran communities in the PNW. With their leadership and support, Do Good can continue providing hope and security to our houseless Veterans. We’re so grateful for this partnership!

Les is a U.S. Navy Veteran who's working towards housing while staying at the Clackamas Veteran's Village. He's well-known in the community for caring for the grounds and grilling on community event days. "My biggest barrier to housing is my health. I've been struggling with my health for three years, and it's difficult being tired and exhausted all the time. Vet Village has given me a space to heal. That's what I've focused on more than anything—getting myself on a good vitamin regimen, eating healthy, and trying to strengthen my immune system. That way, I have the energy and motivation to secure housing." - Les, Participant at Clackamas Veterans Village

We'd like to offer our sincere gratitude to the Presenting Sponsor of 9th Annual Do Good Veterans Day Benefit: The Thayer Family Foundation. Their continued support and collaboration transforms the lives of Veterans every day. The Thayer Family Foundation was established to provide funding and support for Oregon Veterans, military personnel, and first responders, as well as educators, musicians, and artists. Each year, the Foundation emphasizes a particular theme under the banner of “Celebrating Service and Inspiring Hope,” guiding its efforts to uplift and honor these communities. The Thayer Family Foundation has generously been a Presenting Sponsor of our Veterans Day Benefit since 2021. The Foundation also gives to our programs regularly, such as hosting a Christmas gift exchange to the Veterans residents at Findley Commons and Clayton Mohr Commons last December. Thank you, thank you, Thayer Family Foundation!

Portland’s Newest Shelter Opens TONIGHT! ?? Its always a great day when you can announce a new shelter program. The first few participants moved into the Arbor Lodge shelter. Walking in for the first time, their faces lit up with smiles as they discovered their bunks, comfortable recreational spaces, and personal storage areas complete with shower caddy and a fresh towel. The Arbor Lodge Shelter was intentionally build to serve the houseless community of North Portland. We’re very happy that all 106 beds are already assigned and the shelter will be at capacity over the next few days. The site is a combination of a congregate shelter and pod village. The facility offers a total of 106 beds total. Inside the main building, there are 88 beds, including beds for couples. “I can confidently say that every square foot in this building has been thought through with a lens of trauma-informed care... with the purpose that individuals who will call this home for a short period in their lives...that is a safe and amazing experience for them.” - Daniel Hovanas, Do Good Multnomah CEO

We are proud to introduce one of our newest programs, The North Portland Outreach Team and Drop-in Center. These were built from the NoPo community's desire for increased, accessible support for those experiencing houselessness. Do Good's Outreach Team pounds the pavement and side of NoPo everyday, cultivating relationships with those living on the street and providing essential resources like clothing, food, water, bus tickets, peer support, and referrals to 24/7 shelter. The?Outreach?Team is soon to be coupled with the North Portland Drop-In Center, opening in downtown St. Johns later this year. This space will offer showers, meals, mail services, and ongoing case management to eliminate barriers that unhoused folks experience when connecting to support systems throughout Portland. "Showing up is the foundation of outreach. Fulfilling a little promise with those on the streets can go a long way in building trust. Once we build that trust, then we can have that conversation in providing assistance in shelter, treatment, or whatever they need." - Rae Fender, Program Manager of the North Portland Outreach Team and Drop-in Center These essential programs not only save lives, but empower those currently living outside to start the process of working towards permanent housing, even before they move into shelter.

"Working at Do Good has been extremely fulfilling. Being enabled to use my compassion to see people, activate my tenacity to come alongside others, and find unique solutions leading to long-term thriving gives me deep job satisfaction. I’m so grateful for a team to collaborate with, to seek resources,?and celebrate move-in day together with our participants." - Erin, Navigation Specialist at Kiggins Village