Do Good Multnomah

This week started with something great, even if a little bittersweet. A beloved participant at our Roseway Shelter, Eddie, moved out successfully on Monday. He will be reuniting with family in Arkansas and Texas after several years of challenging life on the street and in shelter while addressing serious medical needs.

“I’m not doing this for anyone except for my kids. My kids are my life. This is one of the best shelters I’ve ever been here in Portland. Other places, staff were rude to people. But they’ve been a godsend to me.” – Eddie

Eddie’s journey has been hard: intensive medical needs forced him out of housing and work years ago before he was referred to Do Good's VIMo shelter on 82nd, then later the Roseway shelter on NE Sandy. The spaces and care from case managers allowed him time to properly receive critical care and surgeries to get back to his life. We're excited to see him in a solid rhythm with his care and off on his way to be with family.

“It’s been such an honor and a privilege to be able to help him and be his case manager. You only have to help one person to change the world. I have so many priceless memories from here, but words cheapen what that moment will mean to me when I get to put him on that plane on Monday. Roseway isn’t going to be the same without him.” – Shelly, Eddie's case manager

Thank you to Shelly and Roseway staff for pushing so hard to help folks like Eddie!

Due to massive budget cuts at Multnomah County, Do Good's Voluntary Isolation Motel Shelter, better known as VIMo, was closed last week.

This special spot on 82nd Avenue has served as a place of solace and recovery for our most medically vulnerable, sick and injured participants since Do Good began operations in early 2023. In its 3.5 years of operation, VIMo served over 2,000 individuals - the vast majority of whom were folks struggling with chronic health and/or mental health disorders.

Without VIMo, our region's entire shelter system will feel the burden of caring for folks with dangerous and communicable diseases, injuries, discharges from hospitals, and more.

“The collaboration between medical care team referrals and VIMo providing a safe space has not only been revolutionary to the services provided in this city, but, has doubtlessly been responsible for saving countless valuable lives…This team has found a myriad of creative ways to make profound connections and inspire hope with nearly every participant who has passed through the program.” - Wolfgang, Do Good Senior Program Manager

We are extremely proud of and grateful for the tight-knit team that's supported VIMo these last few years and helped save and transform the lives of hundreds of our most vulnerable houseless neighbors. We are deeply sad to have lost this program as unsheltered houselessness worsens in our communities. Thank you, Team VIMo.