We serve children, families, and single individuals living in affordable housing in the Portland, Oregon metro area. Many of our clients have been struggling all of their lives; transitioning between homelessness and housing, barely making enough to get by, dealing with health problems while just trying to keep the bills paid and enough food on the table. Poverty creates barriers to personal growth and happiness because there’s never enough time or money to get past the daily struggle and on to the next, better thing. A person can live this way indefinitely, but there’s a big difference between living and thriving.
Some of the sites we serve are SRO – or Single Room Occupancy – buildings. SRO tenants are supplied with a food preparation device (usually just a microwave); a kitchen area with a mini fridge, sink, and mirror; and a bed. A typical SRO room is about 200 square feet, and residents must share a bathroom with others living on their floor. New residents are often moving in directly from the streets, and newcomers often experience feelings of isolation and depression as they are accustomed to the exposed and social life typical to a homeless person. The Giving Tree brings its programs directly to these clients, enticing them out of their rooms and into the community with nutritious meals, group activities, and recreation opportunities that would otherwise be out of their reach. We work with our adult clients to identify positive ways of living that replace old habits, encouraging independence and personal growth every step of the way.
Some of the sites we serve are multi-family housing complexes. Families living at these sites perform a delicate balancing act; it’s a struggle to find and keep a job that pays enough to support a family, so many wage-earners work more than one job just to keep food on the table. In the absence of parents, the task of running the house falls to the children. Older siblings are called upon to care for the younger ones, cook meals, and clean the house, leaving no time for studies or play. Negative peer influences, absent parents, poor sleep and improper nutrition all play a role in undermining a child’s ability to learn, play, and grow properly. The Giving Tree hosts onsite programs for youth that provide the safety, structure, and guidance that are essential to a child’s healthy mental and emotional development. We introduce our young clients to a world of possibilities, removing barriers and allowing them to grow into themselves naturally and positively.