My Father’s House Shelter

My Father’s House is a nonprofit agency that began in January 2001 because of the overwhelming need for family-shelters in Oregon. The housing authority in Multnomah County tells us that on any given night, there are more than 3,000 families that are homeless in our area and without hope. These families have been fragmented and broken by physical abuse, addiction, and a culture of poverty, helplessness and dependency that attacks every attempt to rise to a healthier level of existence. This culture is often generational in nature, producing individuals who are incapable or unknowledgeable of how to create a permanent solution to the instability in their lives.

My Father’s House reclaims at-risk homeless families from street life by providing them with the life skills necessary to become permanently independent and productive members of our community. It is our mission that they not only become self-sufficient, but that they discover their ability to contribute to a better community. We provide a safe environment where families begin their transition in a small private studio apartment within the shelter building. Residents develop skills and confidence in parenting, vocational, financial and recovery classes. Residents receive physical and emotional support to heal relational issues and help with spiritual and family growth. Our program and services are specifically designed to address the issues significant to families with children.

We work with 41 homeless families. We provide housing (both shelter and transitional) educational classes, family counseling meetings, one-on-one case management, childcare, food and clothing shopping opportunity, office spaces and a computer lab. Our main goal is to stop the cycle of homelessness and promote independence and an opportunity for families to provide for themselves.