WeShine’s third micro-village — where faith, neighborhood, and community come together.

St. Andrew’s Community Village opened in 2025 on the campus of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Portland. Like all WeShine villages, SAV provides transitional shelter with on-site staff, private sleeping pods, and wraparound support — all within a welcoming, community-rooted environment.

What makes St. Andrew’s unique is the depth of its host partnership. The congregation at St. Andrew’s didn’t just offer space — they voted to transform both a church parking lot and the church undercroft (basement) into a full village campus, reflecting a genuine commitment to serving their unsheltered neighbors.

What St. Andrew’s Community Village Offers

• On-site staff presence 7 days a week
• Lockable, private sleeping pods with heating, air conditioning, and outlets
• ADA-accessible pods and community buildings
• Full kitchen, bathrooms, and large community meeting room in the church undercroft
• Outdoor garden and gathering areas
• Fully fenced site with security cameras
• ADA lift serving both villagers and church congregants
• Harm reduction support
• Connection to housing resources and services

How St. Andrew’s Got Its Start

In September 2022, WeShine was invited by the congregation and Vicar at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church to present a proposal for a micro-village on one of the church’s parking lots. In February 2023, the congregation voted to go further — transforming both the parking lot and the church undercroft to create a full transitional village campus for unsheltered neighbors.

In 2024, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral joined the partnership, deepening the faith community’s commitment to supporting SAV and the people it serves.

After years of planning, community engagement, and construction, St. Andrew’s Community Village opened in 2025.

Partners Who Made St. Andrew’s Possible

St. Andrew’s Community Village was built through the generosity of organizations and community members who believe everyone deserves a safe place to land:

• St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church — Host site and founding partner, providing land, the undercroft, and deep congregational commitment
• Trinity Episcopal Cathedral — Partnership support
• HomeAid Portland / Home Building Foundation — Construction and development support through HomeAid’s national network of home building industry partners, delivering safe and dignified housing at a fraction of typical cost

We are grateful to every partner, donor, and volunteer who helped bring this village to life.

Neighborhood Involvement

From the beginning, St. Andrew’s Community Village was built with — not just for — the surrounding neighborhood. WeShine staff, St. Andrew’s congregants, and the Vicar worked closely with nearby property and business owners to develop a Good Neighbor Agreement that outlines how stakeholders will collaborate to maintain safety and livability in and around the village, and support villagers in achieving their goals.

Volunteers Welcome

St. Andrew’s Community Village is strengthened by the people who show up for it. Church members, neighbors, and community volunteers are warmly welcomed to help enhance the quality of life within the village. All volunteers are supervised and supported by WeShine staff.

Visit our Volunteer page to learn more about getting involved.

Apply to Live at St. Andrew’s Community Village

St. Andrew’s Community Village accepts guests by referral — including self-referral. All applicants complete an application and interview before moving in. (See WeShine’s guest application process.)

→ Apply to live at St. Andrew’s Community Village