Our Progress

Photo by Leah Nash

Inspired by the desperate needs of kids living on the streets in Portland, Transitional Youth was founded in 1991 by Bert E. Waugh, Jr., Chairman of Prudential Northwest Properties. This non-profit organization was created to bring meaningful assistance to local homeless youth.

Transitional Youth has experienced tremendous growth since its inception. We’ve evolved from assisting other local homeless youth service providers to providing residential housing and a full spectrum of resources that not long ago had only been dreams. Thousands of young lives have been touched, and tens of thousands of dollars and material goods have been donated.

Transitional Youth Through the Years:

  • 1991 – Founded by Bert Waugh Jr. (supported other nonprofit organizations working with homeless youth, financially & through volunteers.)
  • 1991 -2004 – TY provided financial & volunteer support to over a dozen non-profits.
  • 1994 – 2000 – TY volunteers supported and ran the Salvation Army Greenhouse Chapel ministry, allowing for added days each week plus youth retreats and special events.
  • 2000 – 2006 -  The Salvation Army closed Greenhouse but permitted TY to continue, on its own, using space in their 9th & SW Oak building.
  • 2006 – Opened Junction House in Vancouver, WA.
  • November 2006 – May 2008 – Rented space for the Outreach Center in the Volunteers of America building on 6th and SE Alder.
  • 2007 – Hired our first Outreach Director.
  • June 2008 – Relocated to First Baptist Church’s Theater property on SW Taylor when Volunteers of America needed their space for a new program.
  • May 2009 – Moved to First Baptist’s main building  on SW 11th.
  • 2009 – Opened Home on the Range, in Battle Ground, in partnership with Royal Ridges Retreat Center.
  • 2011 – Received a human resource grant from The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and hired our second Executive Director.
  • October 2011 – Began a partnership with Medical Teams International’s Mobile Dental Van to provide monthly dental care to at-risk and homeless youth.
  • April 2012 – Opened the Westside House, adjacent to the Beaverton Foursquare campus. The house and all utilities are provided by Beaverton Foursquare Church.