WELCOMING, EMPOWERING, SAFE HABITATION INITIATIVE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT
Facebook Instagram Youtube

Home

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.
Apply to Join a Village
Be a Site Partner
WeShine in the News

3

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.

Explore Villages

Volunteers

Our dedicated volunteers bring warmth, skills, and compassion — the heart behind every WeShine initiative and success story.

Join as a Volunteer

Donations

Your generosity powers WeShine’s mission — every contribution helps provide shelter, safety, and hope to those in need.

Make a Donation

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.
  • Location: 12501 NE Halsey St., Portland
  • Site partner: Parkrose Community United Church of Christ
  • Opened: August 2022
  • Capacity: 10 sleeping pods
Explore Parkrose Village

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.

Explore St. Andrew’s Village
  • 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.
  • Location: 2539 SE 19th Ave., in Portland’s Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood
  • Site Partner: PBOT
  • Opened: August 2024
  • Capacity: 10 adults
Explore Avalon Village

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.

Become a Volunteer

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.

Sign Up Now

Attend Orientation

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

Join Orientation

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!

Start Today

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.”

Rachael Price

Community Volunteer

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

Gregg

Portland Shed

“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.”

Jennifer Jackson

WeShine Board Member and Parkrose Village Neighbor

“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.”

Monica

Gather:Make:Shelter

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

Chris Tanner

Co-Founder and Former Board Member

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.
Make a Donation

In the News

View All News

In Partnership for Change

image4.png

weshinepdx

314

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

Can you believe it’s Big Give Day 8! Support our lovely community based neighborhood microvillages today! You have til midnight tonight to donate to win the Big Dinner Cruise Package! We are almost at 50% of our goal! Help us get to $25,000 by December 31st! Click our link in bio!

#willametteweekgiveguide #nonprofitgiving #alternativehomelessshelters

7 0
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 17925039858046961
Can you believe it’s Big Give Day 8! Support our lovely community based neighborhood microvillages today! You have til midnight tonight to donate to win the Big Dinner Cruise Package! We are almost at 50% of our goal! Help us get to $25,000 by December 31st! Click our link in bio! #willametteweekgiveguide #nonprofitgiving #alternativehomelessshelters

...

7 0

The vault closes on the @giveguide in 29 days! There are still more great Big Give Days on the way and December 10th is Big Dinner Cruise Day! Support WeShine through our link in bio on December 10th and you could be entered to win a fabulous dinner cruise on our beautiful Willamette River with @portlandspirit AND a night stay at the cool and swanky @thenineshotel

Have a very sweet Portland Experience by donating to a sweet non profit like WeShine!

#microvillageshelters #portlandnonprofit #endofyeargiving

10 1
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 17860523610487033
The vault closes on the @giveguide in 29 days! There are still more great Big Give Days on the way and December 10th is Big Dinner Cruise Day! Support WeShine through our link in bio on December 10th and you could be entered to win a fabulous dinner cruise on our beautiful Willamette River with @portlandspirit AND a night stay at the cool and swanky @thenineshotel Have a very sweet Portland Experience by donating to a sweet non profit like WeShine! #microvillageshelters #portlandnonprofit #endofyeargiving

...

10 1

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

15 0
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18047145437686287
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

...

15 0

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

24 3
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18302458600248329
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

...

24 3

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

8 0
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18083499050042727
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

...

8 0

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

10 1
Open post by weshinepdx with ID 18096602461876127
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

...

10 1

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.

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