rescue Portland January 2014
OuT OF THe DarkNess kathy and Her Daughters Were Portland’s unseen Homeless
kathy said goodnight to her daughters and walked slowly to her small bed in the corner of the basement. The cellar they lived in was dank and musty, devoid of daylight, fresh air – and hope. But it was better than the streets. For a homeless woman and her kids, almost anything is better than the streets...
continues inside
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P.O. Box 3713Portland, OR 97208-3713 503-MISSION (647-7466)
www.PortlandRescueMission.org
Mission NeedsURGENT NEEDS
•Newundergarments
•Socks
•Blankets
•Backpacks
•Deodorant(sprayorsolid)
•Disposablerazors
•Toothbrushes
•Toothpaste
•Travel-sizetoiletries
•Jeans
•LifeRecoveryBibles(NLT)
PleasebringdonationstotheBurnsideShelterat111 W. Burnside,Portland,24hoursaday,7daysaweek.Short-termstreetparkingisusuallyavailableatourfrontdoor.
AsIreflectonthepastyear,I’mamazedattheministryGodhasallowedustodointhelivesofhurtingmen,womenandchildrenhereinPortland.
In2013,welaunchedTheHarbor,ourmen’srecoverycenterinnortheastPortland.Theexistingpropertywascompletelyrenovatedtoprovidethenecessaryspacefora42-bedresidentialrecoverycommunity.Itisnowthenewhomeofourmen’sNewLifeMinistry,whichhasbeenmovedoutofourBurnsideShelterdowntown.
Assoonasthemen’sNewLifeMinistryrelocatedfromtheBurnsideShelterinJuneof2013,webeganmajorrenovationsatourBurnsideSheltertoprovidededicatedspacetoexpandourLinkMinistry,a3-4monthprogramthatquicklytransitionsmenfromhomelessnesstoemploymentandhousing.Wenowserve36meninLink.ConstructionworkcontinuesattheBurnsideShelteronaspaceforasimilarprogramtohelphomelesswomen,calledConnect,whichwillopenin2014.
Thesupportoffriendslikeyoumakesgreatstrideslikethesepossible.Whilewecelebratethissuccess,however,thenumberofpeopleexperiencinghomelessnessinPortlandcontinuestogrow.Lastyear,weservedmoremealsthanever–over280,000–tohungrypeopleinneed.Weexpectthatneedtoincreaseagainthisyear.
Yes,theneedformeals,shelterandaddictionrecoverycontinuetogrow–anditburdensmyheart.ButI’malsoverygrateful,becauseIknowGodwillprovidehopetohurtingpeoplethroughcompassionatesupportfromfriendslikeyou.
Thankyouforjoiningusinthislife-givingministry.Ican’twaittoseehowGodwilltransformevenmorelivesinthecomingyear.
Gratefulforyourpartnership,
Eric Bauer ExecutiveDirector
P.S.KathyandJohnarejusttwoofthehundredsofpeopletouchedbyourNewLifeMinistryinthelastyear.Withyourhelp,evenmorehurtingpeoplewillberestoredtohealthyrelationshipsandhomesin2014.Thankyou.
Thanks For A Year Of Hope
Morethanameal.Morethanabed.GIVEHOPE.
LovePortlandRescueMission?Leaveusyourpositivereviewonlinetohelpusboostouronlinepresence.
YoucanhelpspreadthewordtopeopleinneedthattheMissionisasafeplacewithcaringvolunteersandstaff—aplaceofhopewherehurtingpeoplearecaredforandrestoredtonewlife.
Ourquicksurveyhasjusttwoquestions.PleasetakeaminuterightnowtoleaveyourreviewaboutourBurnsideShelter,Shepherd’sDoor,TheHarbororDriveAwayHunger(ourcarsales/donationprogram).
LEAVEAREVIEw: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Review
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WatchKathy’svideostorytohearherstoryofhope. Seemoreatwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/KathyVideo
Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.
ThenumberofhomelesswomenandchildreninPortlandcontinuestogrow.Yourgifttodaybringsthemhopeandsafety.Thankyou.
“Ihaven’tbeenthereformykidslikeamomshould.
That’spartofthereasonI’mdoingwhatI’mdoingnow.I
wantmykidstowanttocalltheirmom.”
ThemomentshearrivedatShepherd’sDoor,our
recoveryministryforwomenandchildren,Kathywasfilled
withapeaceandhopeshe’dneverfeltbefore.Yes,itwas
certainlybetterthancouchsurfingandstayingatcheap
motels,butsomethingaboutthisplacewasprofoundly
different.Kathyfoundherselfnotalone,butsurroundedbya
communityofwomeninourNewLifeMinistrydedicatedto
transformingtheirlives.
Forthefirsttime,Kathyfeelsacceptedandlovedfor
whosheis.
Assheadvancesinourrecoveryprogram,Kathyis
lookingforwardtoahope-filledfuture,notjustcentered
aroundherownhealing,butthatofothersaswell.Infact,
Kathywantstouseherpastexperiencestohelpother
womenwhosufferfromaddictionandhomelessnessjustlike
shehad.
“Istillhavealongwaystogo,butIknowI’mnot
worthless.Iknowmysinshavebeenfogiven-mypast
doesn’tdefinewhoIam.”
OuTOfTHE DARKNESS KathyAndHerDaughterswerePortland’sunseenHomeless
Asachild,Kathystruggledwithfeelingacceptedand
loved.Shelefthomeat18,hopingtofindaplacetobelong.
Shequicklyfellinwiththewrongcrowd.Seekingaffection
wherevershecouldfindit,Kathygotintoarelationshipwith
aheroinaddict.Soonshewasaddictedherself.
Decadesofaddictionpiledintoaheapofregret:years
inprison,severalbrokenrelationships,andtwohurting
childrenthatneededasafehomeandastablemother.Kathy
desperatelywantedtocareforthem,butshefeltpowerless
againstthedrugs.Asshetossedawayallherhard-earned
money,shestruggledtogetherrentinontime.Soonshe
couldn’tpayitatall.Theonlythingthatkeptherandhergirls
offthestreetswasagraciousfriendwithspaceinhercellar.
Kathylookedacrossthedustybasementtohersleeping
daughters.“Thishastostop,”shethought,“whateverit
takes.”Yearsago,afriendhadtoldheraboutPortland
RescueMission.Kathydecidedtogiveitatry.
“IhadfalsebeliefsthatI’mworthlessandwillneveramounttoanything.I’mtakingthoseandturningthemintotruth.ReplacingthemwithBiblepassagesaboutwhoIamandthewayGod
intendedmetobe.”
(continuedfromfront)
Kathyisworkingtorestoreherrelationshipwithherdaughters.
HerdaughterSamantha encouragesherrecovery.
19581949 198153,856 Meals
86,627 Meals
12,785 Nights of shelter
The Mission is founded by John Van Diest, sr.
18,127 Nights of shelter
left Even in the 1950s, many waited eagerly outside the Mission for a hot meal and a warm bed.
Below Hungry men and women get a hot, nutritious meal at our Burnside Shelter in c. 1980.
left Hurting and homeless men find rest and refuge from the cold in safe, warm shelter at our Burnside Shelter in c. 1975.
above Relationships have been restored for more than 60 years at Portland Rescue Mission. This mother and her children lived at Shepherd’s Door in the late 1980s.
right Founder John
Van Diest, Sr., and his wife
Tess Van Diest
Hope Through The Years
2003 201386,627 Meals
172,992 Meals
280,067 Meals
New shepherd’s Door Ministry location opens.
The Harbor Ministry location opens.
44,425 Nights of shelter
59,023 Nights of shelter
right Terri and her daughters benefit from the addiction counseling, parenting guidance, and job
skills she received at the Mission’s New Life Ministry.
Below The new Shepherd’s Door opened in 2003 as an inviting space for women and their
children to heal from brokenness and addiction.
above Renovations at The Harbor, our Men’s New Life Ministry location, were completed in June 2013 thanks to generous donors.
above Last year Hunter, Jonathan, Randy, Scott and Nate graduated from our Men’s New Life Ministry with hope for the future.
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BROKENBYfEAR
JohnChoosesLifeOverSuicide
Afteradecadeofdrinking,Johnrealizedhecouldn’tkeeplivinglifethisway.Hetriedtoquitbutcouldn’t.Everytimehestoppeddrinking,hisanxietybecameuncontrollableandhewentbacktothebottle,ashamed.
Thishopelesscyclewentonforyears–anditdroveJohntodepression.HebecamesuicidalandmadeuphismindthatifGodwasn’tgoingtohelphim,hewouldjustkillhimself.
“Mymomobviouslytookaneasywayout,andIthought,‘Whycan’tI?’Iseewhyshedidit,andIwaswillingtofollowher.”
Ayearandahalfago,Johnoverdosedonseveralmedications,closedhiseyesandwaitedtodie.ButGodwasn’tdonewithJohnyet.“Therewasdivineintervention.ThenextthingIknewIwasinthehospital.”
AfterJohngotout,acaringfriendrecommendedandevendrovehimtoPortlandRescueMission,wherehejoinedourNewLifeMinistry.Afterseveralmonthsinrecovery,heisnowcompletelysoberandhisanxietyhasbeengreatlyreduced.Throughaddictioncounseling,spiritualgrowthandhealthyrelationships,Johnisexperiencinghealingfromthewoundsofhispastandfreedomfromaddiction.NowheislearningtotrustGod.Afterdecadesofbrokenness,itisn’teasy.It’sanongoingprocessthatheliveseveryday.
WatchJohn’svideostorytolearnabouthisnewlife. Seemoreatwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/JohnVideo
Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.
TherearedozensofmenjustlikeJohninourNewLifeMinistry.Yourcontinuedsupportin2014willhelpthemreachtheirgoalsandbeginafreshstart–fulloflove,faith,andHOPE.
“Thethoughtoffunctioningwithoutalcoholisstillscary,butIhearrecoveredaddictssaytheyare
gratefulfortheirexperience.TheirrelationshipwithGodissostrongandintimatenowbecauseofwhatthey’vegonethrough.I’mnotthere
completely,butIhopetobe.”tVA
Johnsatinhisbedroomtryingtofocusonhomework,buthisnotebooklayblankonthedeskinfrontofhimasithadallafternoon.Hisstomachtensedashethoughtabouthisdadreturninghome.Suddenly,Johnheardthefainthumofthegaragedoorandhisheartbegantorace.
“Iwouldsittherelisteningforhimtocomeupthestairs.IfIknewIhadn’tdoneanythingwrong,I’dprobablybeok.ButtherewereplentyoftimeswhereIhadtositbackandwaitfortheconfrontation.Thatwouldbescary.OnetimeIactuallypulledabagoutandputitovermyheadbecauseIwassoafraid.IjustsatthereandwishedIcouldsuffocatemyselfratherthanfacemydad.”
John’smothercommittedsuicidewhilehewasasleeponenight.HisfatherremarriedandJohn’slifebecamealivinghell.John’sstepmotherwouldtormenthimpsychologicallyandemotionally.Hisdadwouldjustbeathim.
“ItseemedlikeanythingIdid,I’dbeintroubleforit.Ifeltrejectedandangryandveryafraid.”
Fearofhisparents–thetwopeopleheshouldhavebeenabletotrustmorethananyone–evolvedintoaseriousanxietydisorder.Inhighschool,Johnfoundsomethingthatcouldmakeitallgoaway:alcohol.“Iimmediatelybecamehookedonit.Itbecameaproblemrightaway.”
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ContinuedbittercoldtakesitstollonpeoplestrugglingwithhomelessnessinPortland.OurBurnsideShelterisatfullcapacityeverynightwithroomforupto170men.
“Therearetimeswehavetoturnpeopleawayatnight,”saysTimDesper,GuestServicesManager.“Wedoallwecanbyprovidingthemwithahotmealandablanketiftheyhavetosleepoutside.”Blanketscanbereturnedeachdaytobewashed,whichhelpswithhygieneandextendsthelifeoftheblanket.Evenso,blanketsareaconstantneed.
Donationsofblankets,socks,hats,glovesandscarvescanbedroppedoffatourBurnsideShelter(111W.Burnside,Portland)orShepherd’sDoor(13207NEHalseySt.Portland).Formoreinformation,visitwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/DonateItems.
Weareexcitedtoannouncethatin2014wewilllaunchConnect,anewprogramforhomelesswomen.LikeourLinkMinistryformen,Connectwilltransitionwomenfromhomelessnesstoemployment,housingorrecoverycareinjust3-4months.
ThesecondfloorofourBurnsideShelterisbeingremodeledtocreateasafe,healingspacetohelpupto16homelesswomentransitiontowardanewlife.Theareaincludesrenovatedshowers,bedsandadayroomwherecaringstaffandvolunteerscanprovideencouragementandsupporttowomeninneed.
“Thestreetsareadangerousplaceforwomen,”saysExecutiveDirectorEricBauer.“Mostofthewomenwhocometousforhelphaveexperienceddeeptrauma.They’reoftenfearfulandneedhelpmakinggooddecisionsthatcanleadthemtosafetyandhealing.Weareheretoprovidethatlife-givingassistancewhentheyneeditmost.”
ArecentgenerousgrantfromtheM.J.MurdockCharitableTrustprovidesstaffingforConnect,makingitpossibletolaunchthisimportantprograminthecomingmonthsashiringandrenovationsarecompleted.
ProgramOpeningforHomelesswomen
SocksandBlanketsGreatlyNeeded
“Being here at the Mission has connected me to God a lot more than I have before. Once I leave
the program, I want to get back to my business and find success
there as well.”
—Oscar
What Do You Hope For in 2014?
P.O. Box 3713 Portland, Or 97208-3713 503-MIssION (647-7466)
To donate online, visit www.PortlandrescueMission.org/JanNL
“I have joy and hope and I have a future now – and it includes
my children having fun and happiness, not the chaos that we were living
in before.”
—racHeLLe
MY GIFT OF HOPe
“I want to graduate from the Link program and get housing.
I want to continue to support the Mission as a volunteer – helping the new guys get to the other side and
graduate the program just like I will.”
—auBreY
“I look forward to every day. Just being alive and learning how to
live. The year 2014 is really exciting for me because I’m finally taking healthy steps in my life.”
—aMaNDa
❑ $8 a month to feed 60 people a year❑ $16 a month to feed 120 people a year❑ $24 a month to feed 180 people a year❑ $ _____________ a month to help give hope❑ $ _____________ one time gift
Yes, I want to help end homelessness, addiction, hunger and abuse. To help hurting men, women and children, here is my gift of:
Enclose your check or complete your credit card information on back.
Ways You can HelpGive
• Help provide meals, shelter and recovery care to men, women and children in need. See the donation form below.
volunteer
• Opportunities listed at www.PortlandrescueMission.org/Volunteer
Donate a Car
• Your car donation could provide over 500 meals. Learn more at www.PortlandrescueMission.org/car
PlanneD GivinG
• Leave a legacy of hope through your will, annuity or trust. www.PortlandrescueMission.org/Legacy
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