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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

Parkrose Village Remodel Announcement Flyer

April 21, 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 stands for Welcoming, Empowering, Safe Habitation Initiative with Neighborhood Engagement.

We adore the Saint Andrew’s Village staff team. Look at how adorable they are at the entrance to our village. Our staff are incredible ♥️ @multco_hsd

#weshinepdx #homelessservices #microvillages #unhousedneighbors #weheartourstaff

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18051375110566958

We adore the Saint Andrew’s Village staff team. Look at how adorable they are at the entrance to our village. Our staff are incredible ♥️ @multco_hsd

#weshinepdx #homelessservices #microvillages #unhousedneighbors #weheartourstaff

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We love you Parkrose Community Village! Can’t wait to see the new roofs from new pods peeking over our fence!

#gathermakeshelter #communityart #murals #unhousedneighbors #soundfoundationsnw

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18102534185486968

We love you Parkrose Community Village! Can’t wait to see the new roofs from new pods peeking over our fence!

#gathermakeshelter #communityart #murals #unhousedneighbors #soundfoundationsnw

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May is #mentalhealthawarenessmonth and it’s important for us at WeShine to shed some light on the connections between homelessness and mental health. Being unhoused causes trauma and trauma IS mental health. Also many mental illnesses make keeping a job, showing up in society and being in relationships very difficult. We need better funding and support for mental illness and mental health!

#mentalhealthmatters #homelessnessandmentalillness #beingunhoused #weshinepdx

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18116323267705712

May is #mentalhealthawarenessmonth and it’s important for us at WeShine to shed some light on the connections between homelessness and mental health. Being unhoused causes trauma and trauma IS mental health. Also many mental illnesses make keeping a job, showing up in society and being in relationships very difficult. We need better funding and support for mental illness and mental health!

#mentalhealthmatters #homelessnessandmentalillness #beingunhoused #weshinepdx

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This was Parkrose Pod 8! Pod 8 was our very first WeShine Pod 😭 our prototype and the first to be placed in the village. It was the first to be demolished today. Pod 8 sheltered individuals experiencing homelessness and was the first safe space a few of our participants had experienced in a long time. Change is hard and we have a lot of work to do to prep the site for the new pods! It’s gonna be beautiful!

#sleepingpods #microvillage #unhousedneighbors #experiencinghomelessness #weshinepdx

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18149149612487326

This was Parkrose Pod 8! Pod 8 was our very first WeShine Pod 😭 our prototype and the first to be placed in the village. It was the first to be demolished today. Pod 8 sheltered individuals experiencing homelessness and was the first safe space a few of our participants had experienced in a long time. Change is hard and we have a lot of work to do to prep the site for the new pods! It’s gonna be beautiful!

#sleepingpods #microvillage #unhousedneighbors #experiencinghomelessness #weshinepdx

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Taking care of business with @lmcconstruction at our beautiful Parkrose Village in NE PDX! While we are emotional saying goodbye to these sweet living pods, we can’t wait for our new ones to arrive! Our unhoused neighbors deserve good shelters and good things. Parkrose Community Village will be better and even more beautiful!

#unhousedneighbors #solvinghomelessness #alternativeshelters #microvillage #weshinepdx

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18118658593589252

Taking care of business with @lmcconstruction at our beautiful Parkrose Village in NE PDX! While we are emotional saying goodbye to these sweet living pods, we can’t wait for our new ones to arrive! Our unhoused neighbors deserve good shelters and good things. Parkrose Community Village will be better and even more beautiful!

#unhousedneighbors #solvinghomelessness #alternativeshelters #microvillage #weshinepdx

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We love a volunteer work party especially on a perfect April day at @parkrosecommunityucc We are very grateful to be a part of this gorgeous church campus in in northeast PDX! Thanks again to @recycled.living for a beautiful day!

#northeastpdx #parkrosecommunityucc #portlandia #unhousedneighbors #communitypartners

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18100872635063322

We love a volunteer work party especially on a perfect April day at @parkrosecommunityucc We are very grateful to be a part of this gorgeous church campus in in northeast PDX! Thanks again to @recycled.living for a beautiful day!

#northeastpdx #parkrosecommunityucc #portlandia #unhousedneighbors #communitypartners

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It’s the end of an era at WeShine AND time for new beginnings! We are remodeling our baby, our first village, Parkrose Community Village! Today, with assistance from the amazing volunteers from @recycled.living we began removing doors, windows, pavement stones and other materials from our original pods. @recycled.living will salvage as much as they can glean before more demolition! New pods from @soundfoundationsnw will arrive in mid May!

#volunteercrew #volunteerworkparty #outwiththeoldinwiththenew #unhousedneighbors #transitionalshelter

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18100030496051782

It’s the end of an era at WeShine AND time for new beginnings! We are remodeling our baby, our first village, Parkrose Community Village! Today, with assistance from the amazing volunteers from @recycled.living we began removing doors, windows, pavement stones and other materials from our original pods. @recycled.living will salvage as much as they can glean before more demolition! New pods from @soundfoundationsnw will arrive in mid May!

#volunteercrew #volunteerworkparty #outwiththeoldinwiththenew #unhousedneighbors #transitionalshelter

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Happy Earth Day from Avalon Village! #paintarock #earthday #unhousedneighbors #weshinepdx

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Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18103088680758183

Happy Earth Day from Avalon Village! #paintarock #earthday #unhousedneighbors #weshinepdx

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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