Transitional Youth Accomplishments:

• Served over 10,000 meals at our outreach facility in downtown Portland.
• Operate one fully-staffed Portland-area home for street youth and a second home in Vancouver, Washington.
• Established a Transitional Youth scholarship program.
• Several of the youth we've touched have gone on to earn their GEDs, obtain full time employment, and move on to independent living situations.

True Stories:

"After searching for happiness at the bottom of a whiskey bottle, I realized I was destined to become a hopeless alcoholic like my uncle I never knew. I moved to Portland hoping for a new way of life and found it through Transitional Youth. Not only have I graduated from Clark College, I have begun a career in welding. Transitional Youth really helped me change my life. Thank you for the opportunity to start over."

"I left home as a teenager because I couldn't take the physical abuse any longer. I did a ton of meth, and to pay for it I was doing a lot of stealing -- even from people I knew. I finally ended up in Portland and someone told me about Transitional Youth. I learned I could come to the Outreach Center for a clean pair of socks, a hot meal, and for Bible study. Eventually, I became a volunteer and soon after was offered a chance to move into Junction House. That opportunity changed my life. Not only does it provide me a "normal" address I can put on a resume, but a  quiet place where I can study for my GED and get a little help with math. It means a safe place to leave my stuff instead of carrying it around with me all day and sleeping with it under my head at night. It's a real home, with guidance and support, and most important -- stability. I feel safe here. Thank you for believing in me."