Apply to Live in a WeShine Village
WeShine provides transitional micro-village shelter with private Pods and supportive community living. Applications are currently closed, but you can learn more about our program and explore other resources available right now.
What Weshine Provides
Private Pod for Safe Sleeping with locking Doors
Shared Community Facilities
Bathroom & Showers
Supported Self-Governance
Access to Wrap-Around Services
Access to Wrap-Around Services
From Unsheltered to Supported: Life at WeShine
Is WeShine right for you?
You’re likely a good fit if…
- Currently working toward personal goals
- Ready to take next steps toward housing
- Willing to work on communication and interpersonal skills
This might not be a fit if…
- Inability to meet basic self-care needs
- Don't want to participate in or be an active member of a Community
- Unable to follow our Good Guest Agreement
- 18+
- Currently unhoused
- Able to maintain Pod + shared spaces
- Agree to community standards
How We're Different
Understanding the different forms of shelter resources available for you and how our Transitional Village Model is different
| Criteria |
 Congregate ShelterLarge shared space, limited privacyCongregate shelters provide overnight accommodation in large group rooms with cots or mats. Residents typically leave each morning and return in the evening, with minimal ability to store belongings or create personal space. These shelters offer basic safety but limited privacy and routine. |
 WeShine Transitional VillagePrivate Pod with locking door, structured programsWeShine Villages provide transitional shelter with private, locking Pods, onsite hygiene facilities, community support, and daily stability. Villagers can safely store belongings, participate in structured routines, and work toward independent housing with the support of compassionate staff. |
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Private, safe personal space. |
Limited |
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Length of stay |
Short-term |
Up To 2 Years |
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Must leave during the day |
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Lease or rental agreement |
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Supportive services onsite |
Limited |
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Transitional program |
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Meal Service |
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Wifi Access |
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Dogrun |
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Gardening Opportunities |
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Villages Applications Currently Closed
WeShine operates several small transitional micro-villages across Portland, each serving a specific population and offering private Pods, supportive staff, and a community-centered environment. Application availability varies by village and depends on current openings. Please review the status of each village below to see which locations are accepting applications at this time.
If all villages are currently closed, we’ve included a list of other trusted resources below that may be able to provide support right now.
Parkrose Village
Parkrose Village is a small transitional micro-village in Northeast Portland serving adults who identify as LGBTQIA+, with priority for individuals who are also Black, Indigenous, People of Color, have disabilities, or have been camping nearby. Operated in partnership with Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, the village provides a supportive, community-centered environment for up to ten residents working toward stable housing.
Temporary Notice – Construction is currently underway at Parkrose and we are not placing new clients there until it is complete. If you had requested Parkrose, please let us know if you are willing to be placed on the waitlist for Avalon or St. Andrews instead.
Avalon Village
Avalon Village is a transitional micro-village in Portland’s Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood serving up to 10 female-identifying adults at a time, with priority for individuals who are also Black, Indigenous, People of Color, older adults, have disabilities, or have been camping nearby. Operated in partnership with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Avalon Village opened in August 2024 and provides a supportive, community-centered environment for residents working toward stable housing.
St. Andrew’s Village
St. Andrew’s Village is a transitional micro-village in North Portland serving up to 10 adults at a time who are age 45 or older, or adults of any age with a physical disability, with priority for individuals who also identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or have been camping nearby. Operated in partnership with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the village is scheduled to open in Q2 2025.
Need Help Right Now? Here Are Other Resources
If our application is currently closed or you need immediate support, there are several trusted services in Portland that can help with shelter, food, outreach, and warming spaces. These organizations are available right now and can assist with finding safe rest, emergency supplies, crisis services, or next-step housing options. We encourage you to explore the resources below if you need help today.
Shelters + Food
Resources that help with immediate shelter, meals, and basic survival needs.
Clothing + Furniture
Resources that help with clothing, household items, and basic furnishings.
Information Resources
Resources that provide guidance, referrals, legal help, disability support, and navigation of services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WeShine Village?
WeShine Villages are small transitional communities made up of private sleeping Pods, shared hygiene facilities, supportive staff, and structured programs. Villagers have a safe place to rebuild stability while preparing for independent housing.
What kind of support does WeShine provide?
Villagers receive a private Pod with a locking door, access to hygiene facilities, supplemental food, community support, and guidance from staff. WeShine provides structure and stability while helping villagers access outside services—not long-term housing.
What are the expectations for villagers?
Villagers agree to maintain their Pod, participate respectfully in community life, follow shared expectations, and work toward stability and future housing. A “Good Guest Agreement” outlines these standards in clear and supportive language.
What if applications are currently closed?
When WeShine cannot accept new villagers, we provide a list of local resources—including shelters, warming centers, Safe Rest Villages, and housing hotlines—so you can find immediate support. You are encouraged to check back for future openings.
Come support our dear ones at Avalon Village this weekend! They are raising money to support move out supplies! Show your love for your unhoused neighbors who are striving to get into permanent housing!
Want to support this fundraiser but can’t make it SE PDX this weekend?!?! Check our link in bio to donate specifically to Avalon this weekend!
🚙🏎️🚘🚖 💦💦🫧🫧🫧
#carwash #fundraiser #pdx #unhousedneighbors #community
Happy FALL equinox from all of us at WeShine! September happens to be both #nationalrecoverymonth AND #suicidepreventionawarenessmonth These are both very important awareness campaigns for our unhoused neighbors. We encourage folks to reach out and support community services in our area and to write down the number for the #suicidehotline at 988 and the number for substance abuse recovery help: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
#unhousedneighbors #homelessservices
Guys! We are having a car wash! Next Saturday and Sunday September 26th and 27th from noon - 3:30pm! Come support our beautiful Avalon Village! @handpdx @weshinepdx !!
#carwash #unhousedneighbors #fundraiser #community #weshinepdx
During Hispanic Heritage Month, WeShine celebrates the Hispanic and Latino members of our community!
#hispanicheritagemonth #oregon #community #celebration #weshinepdx
September is #nationalrecoverymonth WeShine is a low barrier shelter. That means we don’t require our participants to be clean and sober or #inrecovery to become a villager in one of our three micro-village shelters. That does not mean that we have not witnessed the power of recovery in helping folks reclaim their lives and move out of chronic homelessness. Our staff primarily have some amount of #livedexperience being unhoused, struggling with mental health and or addiction AND recovery. This September let’s give grace to our loved ones struggling with addiction and leave shame out of it. Research shows that housing and stable shelter off the streets gives folks the peace and stability to hopefully start their recovery journey!
#recovery #addictionandhomelessness
Today is #suicidepreventionday and this month is #suicidepreventionmonth At WeShine we know that severe depression and suicidal ideation are high among unhoused folks. Mental health resources, affordable housing, addiction support, community support, financial stability and other social help are all #suicideprevention
Let’s give grace to our neighbors who are struggling and let’s help one another.
#unhousedneighbors #weshinepdx
We had an awesome community fundraiser at @hollywoodtheatr on Saturday August 29th! It was all very wonderful, campy and funny and the theater was packed! Lots of folks got to learn about WeShine for the first time.
Did you know WeShine was on @katutv on The Arc program? There is a link to the broadcast in our bio! Check it out! Yay Publicity!
#communityfundraiser #portlandia #butimacheerleader #unhousedneighbors #katunews
Here in Multnomah County, people experiencing homelessness are 40 times more likely to die from an overdose than the general population. In 2024, 214 of the 372 people who died while homeless in our county lost their lives to overdose. These aren’t statistics. They’re villagers, friends, and neighbors.
At WeShine, we believe compassion saves lives. Substance use is a health issue, not a moral failing, and stigma only pushes people further from help. Harm reduction, naloxone access, and stable transitional shelter give people a real chance to survive and heal.
One hopeful sign: overdose deaths in our county dropped for the first time in over a decade last year. Harm reduction works.
If you or someone you love is struggling, you deserve support, not shame.
#internationaloverdoseawarenessday #harmreductionsaveslives #endthestigma #weshinepdx #unhousedneighbors
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