CULTIVATE INITIATIVES

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:THE ORGANIZATION'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO CREATE MEANINGFUL, PAID OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS MOVE TOWARD STABILITY AND LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT. WE KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WANT TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET THROUGH PURPOSEFUL WORK, AND THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A STRUCTURED PATHWAY TO DO JUST THAT. (SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O).AT THE HEART OF THIS INITIATIVE IS THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS PARTICIPANTS FIVE DAYS OF PAID, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE SHADOWING OUR BEAUTIFICATION TEAMS. AFTER COMPLETING THE INTERNSHIP, PARTICIPANTS MEET WITH AN EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST AND MAY CONTINUE ON THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT SUCH AS RESUME BUILDING, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, JOB APPLICATIONS, AND ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL TRAINING.EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS HAS TWO TRACKS: EXTERNAL PATHWAY - FOCUSED ON PREPARING PARTICIPANTS FOR CAREERS IN VARIOUS TRADES AND TRAINING OUTSIDE OF CULTIVATE INITIATIVES. INTERNAL PATHWAY - OFFERS TIME-LIMITED TRAINEE AND APPRENTICESHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. GRADUATES OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SIX-MONTH OR ONE-YEAR POSITIONS ON THE SHOWERS & HYGIENE TEAM OR PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP TEAM. THESE ROLES EMPHASIZE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH THROUGH SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, TIME MANAGEMENT, RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION.A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS THAT INTERNS, TRAINEES, AND APPRENTICES WORK DIRECTLY ALONGSIDE OUR PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP TEAM, WHICH COMPLETES PAID CONTRACTS AND ONE-OFF JOBS TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION SERVICES SUCH AS LANDSCAPING, DEBRIS REMOVAL, AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, PRIVATE RESIDENTS, AND MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING PORTLAND, TROUTDALE, FAIRVIEW, AND WOOD VILLAGE. IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAM IS LED AND CARRIED OUT PRIMARILY BY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FORMERLY OR CURRENTLY HOUSELESS; DEMONSTRATING THE STRENGTH, SKILL, AND RESILIENCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SUPPORTIVE SHELTERING:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SHELTERING SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE MENLO PARK VILLAGE THROUGH THE CITY OF PORTLAND'S SAFE REST VILLAGE PROGRAM. THIS IS A LOW-BARRIER TRANSITIONAL EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, PEER SUPPORT SERVICES, CONNECTION TO MH/SUD RESOURCES, ALL WHILE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY ENOUGH SUPPORT TO ENSURE A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE ORIGANIZATION BROKE GROUND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKFORCE VILLAGE, A 20 UNIT LOW-BARRIER, TRANSITIONAL EMERGENCY SHELTER. (SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.)ONCE COMPLETED, THE WORKFORCE VILLAGE WILL PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR NEIGHBORS TO RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, PEER SUPPORT SERVICES, CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, HEALTH SERVICES, BARRIER REMOVAL SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES COOLING AND WARMING SHELTERS WHEN THE WEATHER MEETS EXTREME WEATHER THRESHOLDS AS DETERMINED BY MULTNOMAH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES.