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Building Hope, One Village at a Time

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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Micro-Villages Built

80+

Villagers Sheltered

30+

Active Volunteers

40+

Community Partners

Our Core Mission in Action

WeShine empowers Portland’s unhoused adults through community-driven solutions. From building safe micro-villages to inspiring volunteers and sustaining hope through donations — every effort creates lasting change.

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.

Parkrose Community Village

WeShine’s very first micro-village, Parkrose Community Village provides a safe, inclusive space for adults — especially those identifying as LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC — to rebuild their lives with dignity and community support. Through on-site staff, volunteer engagement, and wrap-around care, residents gain stability and take steps toward permanent housing.

St. Andrew’s Village

Our most recent village, located on the property of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, opened its doors in April 2025. St. Andrews Village provides safe, accessible shelter for adults over 45 or those with disabilities. With a full kitchen, ADA access, and strong community partnerships, St. Andrews Village represents WeShine’s most recent step toward expanding hope across Portland.

Location: 7600 N. Hereford Avenue, in North Portland
Site partner: St Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Construction parter: Home Building Foundation-HomeAid Portland
Opening date: April 2025
Capacity: 10 Sleeping pods

Avalon Village

Avalon Village offers secure, transitional housing for women — prioritizing those who are older, BIPOC, or living with disabilities. Designed for comfort, safety, and connection, Avalon combines thoughtful architecture, volunteer support, and a spirit of belonging to help residents regain confidence and independence.

Together, We Build Hope

Volunteers are the heartbeat of WeShine. Whether you’re lending a hand at a village site, helping organize supplies, or supporting residents as they transition into permanent housing — your time and energy make a real difference. Every act of kindness adds up to a brighter, stronger, and more compassionate community for all. Join us in bringing light, safety, and opportunity to Portland’s unhoused neighbors.

How to Get Involved

Joining WeShine as a volunteer is simple — and every step you take helps create lasting change. Here’s how you can start your journey with us:

Sign Up Online

Fill out our short volunteer application form to tell us a bit about yourself, your skills, and how you’d like to contribute.

Attend Orientation

Join our orientation session to learn more about WeShine’s mission, safety guidelines, and volunteer opportunities.

Start Volunteering!

Once approved, you’ll be matched with a village or project that best fits your interests. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and make an impact!

What Our Volunteers Say

“People at WeShine can stay for up to two years. That is shown to be working as far as long-term, actually getting someone into housing and a new job. We need more WeShine villages. We need more villages like this.”

“What I like about it is they help more disadvantaged homeless people.”

“Nobody wanted them there. We went to a meeting. It was terrible. People were yelling, screaming. After two years, it’s amazing. I’d be happy to have 3 or 4 more in my neighborhood. That’s how well it’s gone.”

“The WeShine model of having smaller villages with less pods and more support is really the way that folks can get the help that they really need to transition to permanent housing.”

“It’s a model that’s shown to work all over the country as far as getting people permanently moved into affordable housing.”

Together, We Make Change Happen

Your generosity powers everything we do at WeShine. Each contribution helps us design, build, and operate safe micro villages that provide transitional shelter, community support, and essential wrap-around services for Portland’s unhoused adults. With your help, we can offer more than just a place to sleep — we can offer a pathway to stability, dignity, and hope.

Whether it’s a one-time gift or ongoing monthly support, every dollar goes directly toward building brighter futures for our neighbors in need. Your compassion can help someone move from surviving on the streets to thriving in a supportive, stable environment.

In the News

Hollywood Theatre Benefit Screening

July 25, 2026 No Comments

WeShine’s 5th Birthday Party Flyer

April 2, 2026 No Comments

2026 WeShine Board Member Search Flyer

March 7, 2026 No Comments

In Partnership for Change

weshinepdx

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WeShine builds and operates micro-villagers that serve some of the most vulnerable folks experiencing homelessness in Portland Oregon.

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

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18128189590881773

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

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During Hispanic Heritage Month, WeShine celebrates the Hispanic and Latino members of our community!

#hispanicheritagemonth #oregon #community #celebration #weshinepdx

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During Hispanic Heritage Month, WeShine celebrates the Hispanic and Latino members of our community!

#hispanicheritagemonth #oregon #community #celebration #weshinepdx

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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

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18124229599845813

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

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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

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 17907914826522414

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

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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

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18098424104528347

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

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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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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18114493306972639

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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We here!!! Come watch a movie with us! It starts at 2:00 at @hollywoodtheatr
#weshinepdx #unhousedneighbors #butimacheerleader #gaymovies #natashalyonne

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18014022419948094

We here!!! Come watch a movie with us! It starts at 2:00 at @hollywoodtheatr
#weshinepdx #unhousedneighbors #butimacheerleader #gaymovies #natashalyonne

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15 more days! Come laugh and support a great cause at @hollywoodtheatr August 29th. 2:00pm Come hang with staff after the movie @hollywoodq_pdx

#unhousedneighbors #weshinepdx #butimacheerleader #moviefundraiser #portlandqueer

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18125809847581695

15 more days! Come laugh and support a great cause at @hollywoodtheatr August 29th. 2:00pm Come hang with staff after the movie @hollywoodq_pdx

#unhousedneighbors #weshinepdx #butimacheerleader #moviefundraiser #portlandqueer

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Get in Touch with WeShine

Have questions, ideas, or want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our team, and together we’ll find the best way for you to support or connect with our mission.

Email

info@weshinepdx.org

Location

1817 17th Ave, Portland, OR 97212