There is an urgent need in our community to reengage homeless individuals who who have been unable to access the traditional system and its supports to move off the street. Oftentimes the experiences of chronically homeless individuals are characterized by isolation, alienation, and degradation.

We meet this need by placing Outreach Workers on the streets of Portland, where they establish relationships with homeless individuals and help them identify any existing barriers to finding and maintaining housing. JOIN's Outreach Program strives to emphasize the strengths of the people we serve and support their efforts to move into permanent housing. We support individuals' housing searches through advocacy, payment of move-in costs and rental assistance, and ongoing engagement helping new tenants rebuild social networks, create a sense of community, and strive for greater self-sufficiency.

JOIN is ever cognizant of the community's need to develop compassionate and constructive responses to homelessness. JOIN partners with the Portland Police Bureau to address the impact of homeless camping on homeowners and businesses. This working relationship encourages JOIN Outreach Workers to make first contact with homeless people in areas of community concern. This allows Police Offers to focus their efforts on other public safety concerns. It also ensures that homeless individuals avoid legal entanglements that inhibit their transition off the street.

Click here to learn more about the impact of JOIN's Outreach services.