Safe. Dignified. Community-Built Shelter for Portland’s Unhoused.
WeShine creates safe, supportive micro-villages that help Portland’s unsheltered adults find stability, community, and a path toward permanent housing. Together, we’re transforming lives and neighborhoods—one home at a time.
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Youtube: WeShine 2025 Anthem
Weshine Snapshot Statistics
WeShine stands for Welcoming, Empowering, Safe Habitation Initiative with Neighborhood Engagement. Our villages are located in residential neighborhoods, with wraparound services and robust volunteer engagement. In conjunction with other types of shelter, WeShine is an important component of the region’s shelter ecosystem. And, WeShine villages help reduce the region’s unmanaged encampments.
3+
Villages
30+
Villagers
$1M+
Donations Raised
15+
Graduations To Housing
30+
Service Provided
15+
Dogs
6+
Cats
Core Functions Overview
Villages
Safe, supportive micro-villages offering transitional housing and wrap-around services that help villagers rebuild their lives with dignity.
Volunteers
Our dedicated volunteers bring warmth, skills, and compassion — the heart behind every WeShine initiative and success story.
Donations
Your generosity powers WeShine’s mission — every contribution helps provide shelter, safety, and hope to those in need.
Site Partner
Together with Site Partners, WeShine transforms compassion into housing — uplifting Portland’s most vulnerable communities.
Villages
St. Andrews Community Village
Location:
7600 N. Hereford Avenue, in North Portland
Site partner:
St Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Opened:
April 2025
Capacity:
10 sleeping pods for up to 10 adults
Participants:
Adults who are age 45 or older or adults of any age with a physical disability. Priority for those who also identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or who have been camping in the nearby area.
Avalon Community Village
Location:
2539 SE 19th Ave., in Portland’s Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood
Site partner:
Portland Bureau of Transportation
Opened:
August 2024
Capacity:
10 sleeping pods for up to 10 adults
Participants:
Female-identifying adults, with priority for those who are also Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, those who are older or who have disabilities, and those who have been camping nearby.
Parkrose Community Village
Location:
12501 NE Halsey St., Portland
Site partner:
Parkrose Community United Church of Christ
Opened:
August 2022
Capacity:
10 sleeping pods for up to 10 adults
Participants:
Adults who identify as LGBTQIA+, priority for those who are also Black, Indigenous, or People of Color or who have disabilities or who have been camping nearby.
Villager Testimonials
A place to be our true selves
“ WeShine’s acronym stands for Welcoming, Empowering, Safe, Habitation Initiative (with) Neighborhood Engagement – things that WeShine villages strive to provide. While WeShine works hard to serve our unsheltered neighbors, we often forget just how much the villagers give back to WeShine.
Fae came to us with a need for the safety, stability and privacy our villages provide, she brought with her an amazing drive for community organizing and outreach. After experiencing deep trauma and homelessness in Los Angeles, in the Spring of 2023, she chose to make the move to Portland, hoping to become, as she describes, “finally, truly out for the first time” as a trans woman.
-Fae’s story
How To Join A Village
WeShine Village Application and Information
The waitlists at all villages are currently closed
If you have questions about our villages or would like to receive an email once our waitlists open back up again, please contact shelter@weshinepdx.org.
Our Vision: A regional network of micro villages that meet the varied and unique needs of unhoused people throughout many Portland neighborhoods.
Learn about WeShine
WeShine Villages
- Parkrose Community Village: adults who identify as LGBTQIA2S+.
- Avalon Community Village: female-identifying adults.
- St. Andrews Community Village: Adults who are age 45 or older, or adults of any age with a physical disability.
- All villages prioritize serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with disabilities, and those who have been camping in the nearby area.
Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the heartbeat of WeShine. Whether you’re lending a hand at one of our micro-village sites, helping organize supplies, assisting residents as they transition into permanent housing, or contributing your professional skills — your time and compassion make a lasting impact.
Every act of service adds up to something powerful: a brighter, safer, and more connected Portland. At WeShine, volunteers don’t just help — they embody our mission of Welcoming, Empowering, Safe Habitation with Neighborhood Engagement. By working alongside staff, residents, and partners, you help transform compassion into tangible action that changes lives.
Together, we build bridges of dignity and opportunity, one neighbor at a time. Join us in bringing light, safety, and community to Portland’s unhoused residents and experience firsthand how small acts of kindness ripple into citywide change.
Please email info@weshinepdx.org if you are interested in volunteering.
(WeShine is updating its volunteer opportunities and application process.)
What Our Volunteer and Community Partners Say
How To Volunteer
At WeShine, every act of service makes a difference. Whether you’re lending your time, your skills, or simply your presence, volunteering helps create safe, welcoming spaces for Portlanders rebuilding their lives. Explore the ways you can get involved — and be part of a community that shines brighter together.
Join a Community Event
Be part of the movement that brings neighbors together. Attend WeShine events, organize supply drives, or help raise awareness across Portland. Every gathering you join builds connection, compassion, and hope within our community.
Lend a Hand at a Village
We need help in these areas: Any sort of specialty including finances, mental health classes, art classes, cooking classes, budgeting.
Hands on help in the village
Small construction projects, gardening, cooking
Donations
You can make a difference
At WeShine, we believe that everyone in our community deserves access to a place to call home and the opportunity to write their own unique and powerful story.
Today, we invite you to make a donation and become a part of this transformative story. Together, we can overcome the systemic barriers to housing that limit our community’s potential.
There are many ways to support WeShine:
- Make a one-time donation
- Mail a check
- Become a Monthly Sustainer
- Through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
- Contribute from an IRA (Required Minimum Distribution)
Please make your check payable to WeShine Initiative Inc. and mail it to:
3539 NE Sandy Blvd #525,
Portland, OR 97232
Partner & Sponsor Logos
Latest News
Portland Church Will Open Housing Village
New North Portland village to offer transitional shelter for up to 10 individuals
We Shine opens 3rd micro-village in Portland
Avalon Village Burglarized. Donations needed to replace stolen items.
Avalon Village: New Portland shelter empowers its residents through self-governance
Jan McManus of We Shine on tiny villages for underserved communities
In October we were lucky to get to tour The Nick Fish apartment complex on NE Halsey not too far from our Parkrose Village! Our good friends at @ourjustfuture have their central offices there! The stunning building is a great example of what community can mean when we create affordable and beautiful living spaces for ALL Portlanders no matter their income! In a perfect world we would not need homeless shelters; but working for more shelters AND low income housing are both part of the solution to homelessness. We love shouting out our @giveguide partners in the #home category and we value our relationship with Our Just Future!
#communitypartners #affordablehousing
Hey this was the cute day in October when our buddies from @ourjustfuture delivered our community meals (for our villagers) from our other buddies at @pdxstonesoup
It’s a 3 way of love for our non profit buddies in this year’s @giveguide! We will be shouting out Our Just Future more in the coming week♥️
We are having so much fun in this year’s Give!Guide especially because of the partnership aspect of the fundraising. We call it friendraising! We believe all of the nonprofits in the #giveguide are interconnected through our love of Portland, Community, Social Justice, Oregon and more!
#communitypartnership #portlandnonprofit
We are here til 7! Come see us at the Holiday Market at @adxportland with amazing food and crafts and our non profit buddies in this year’s @giveguide
Hurray for @forestparkconservancypdx @craglawcenter @1000oregon @orlandtrusts
At WeShine we believe our world is better with all people with all different bodies and abilities! Our St. Andrew’s Village hosts participants who are 45 years of age or older and folks of any age with physical disabilities! Happy #internationaldayforpersonswithdisabilities
#disabiltyawareness #unhousedneighbors
Check out our board members, volunteers and staff working hard in our sweet Central Office in the lovely @westprespdx Our Volunteers come in weekly to help send our thank you letters to our @giveguide donors!
We are also mailing out coffee, gift cards, cute keychains and stickers as a way to say “thanks” for everyone’s generosity this #givingseason
Click our link in bio to donate so we can send you a cute card and goodies OR check our website (in bio) for ways to volunteer
#officevibes #volunteering
We love #givingtuesday Donate today, December 2nd, for a chance to win:
🏀 4 100 level seats to the Blazers vs Lakers game next month at @moda_center with parking passes, a gift card to Pastini and more!
🏀 There is a second prize that includes amazing seats during March Madness playoffs in pdx in March!
🏀 Prize #3 offers two seats to a team Rip City Remix game @ripcityremix
🌞 WeShine is offering a $75 gift card to the phenomenal Indonesian restaurant @gadogadopdx
It’s a fun day to give a little and get back something amazing! #weshinepdx
It’s Dame Day! Happy #givingtuesday @giveguide has an amazing package for 3 chances to win some rad tickets, a gift card for Pastini, a signed basketball and more!
Find our link in bio to donate! Support our mission today!
#giveguide #unhousedneighbors
Counting down to midnight for the best #givingtuesday ever! December 2nd is also @giveguide Big Blazers Day! Donate at our link in bio allllll day/night of December 2nd to win 2 great seats for the Blazers vs Lakers in January (there are goodies involved!) OR March Madness tickets! More details tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
#trailblazers #pdx
Newsletter
Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, The Village View. Read the latest edition below, and sign up here to get the next one in your inbox. The Village View highlights recent happenings in our current villages, exciting announcements, articles by staff on homelessness issues in our region, engaging stories about the folks we serve and more. Sign up today!
Let’s Connect
Mailing address
WeShine
3539 NE Sandy Blvd #525,
Portland, OR 97232