Visiting Transition Projects: A Morning of Insight and Inspiration

This morning, I arrived at Transition Projects with a mix of excitement and nervousness, ready for my 9 AM meeting. As I approached the building, the scene outside was a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Portland’s homeless community. Tents lined the sidewalks, and people were just waking up, trying to start their day in incredibly difficult circumstances. One woman, in particular, caught my eye—she was using the building’s glass as a mirror, checking her hair, trying to hold on to a small piece of normalcy in a life that’s anything but easy.

Stepping into Transition Projects, I felt a surge of gratitude for the structured and clean environment inside, providing a place of stability. I had the chance to tour a bit of the Resource Center, which serves as a shelter and a place where people in need can find resources.

For over 55 years, Transition Projects has delivered life-saving and life-changing assistance to some of Portland’s most vulnerable residents. They offer a wide range of essential services to help people transition from homelessness to housing, including restrooms, showers, laundry, haircuts, clothing, lockers, and mail services. These are basic needs—things I’ve always taken for granted at home—but seeing them provided here really struck me. It was a powerful reminder of the critical work being done to support those who need it most.

The night before my visit, I shared a demo of the Shelter Bridge app with Danny Stribling, the Director of Community Health & Wellness. When we met this morning, we could jump right into discussing how the app could be used and what improvements might be needed. We also confirmed that the app will remain completely free for users, ensuring that everyone can access it without barriers, including smaller social services that cannot pay a subscription fee. Danny also recommended developing a website version of the app for those who don’t have access to a cellphone, making the resources even more accessible to those in need.

I learned from Danny that the biggest challenges facing the homeless community are physical and mental health issues, especially for struggling elderly people. Transition Projects understands these challenges well, addressing both immediate needs like food and shelter, and more complex issues like mental health and healthcare. I’m still learning about how interconnected and difficult these issues are, but I’m incredibly grateful for the people at Transition Projects who fully grasp the depth of these challenges and work on the front lines every day.

After the visit, I begin immediately on implementing the feedback I received. This visit was fueled by the hope and excitement from my meeting with Danny and an appreciation for social services such as Transition Projects that makes every effort helps to provide for a community.