The Coalition to End Family Homelessness exists to prevent and end family homelessness by building a coordinated, family-centered system of support
Our Vision
We envision an Oregon where no family experiences homelessness because every family
has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing and the wraparound supports necessary to thrive.
Our approach
To achieve this goal, the Coalition believes we need to work together.
By uniting partners across Oregon, we can develop and scale community-wide strategies that:
- See the full scope of need across our communities
- Prevent homelessness before it happens whenever possible
- Create connected and holistic pathways back to housing stability for families
experiencing homelessness.
How many Oregon families are at risk of homelessness?
#1
Oregon's ranking
for the highest rate of children experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the nation
44%
of full-time workers
in Oregon don't earn enough to support a single adult and single child
21,000
K-12 students
experienced homelessness in the 2024-25 school year
52%
of Oregon children
are living in households that can't afford the basics
Where do our current systems leave families without support?
SNAP
eligibility is 200% of the
Federal Poverty Level but still
$25K below the survival budget
for a family of four
211
70% of families that call
211 in Multnomah County
never receive a call back
Medicaid
eligibility for adults is 138% of the
Federal Poverty Level and 125% for children,
excluding thousands of families who still need support
What can the Coalition do to ensure every family in Oregon is stably housed?
Build public understanding
Mobilize a statewide movement
Create coordinated, responsive, & equitable systems
Transform economic & systemic inadequacies
Champion evidence-based solutions
How do I get involved in the Coalition to End Family Homelessness?
Ending family homelessness will take all of us. The Coalition aims to bring together community members, service providers, public agencies, philanthropists, advocates, and people with lived experience to build a more coordinated approach.
Interested in becoming a member?
Review the Coalition Charter to understand our vision, mission, values, shared goal, and approach. If our priorities are aligned with yours, we invite you to join us! Download and sign the Memorandum of Understanding and email the completed document to endfamilyhomelessness@unitedway-pdx.org.
Not ready to join, but want to make a difference?
Support the Resilient Families Fund to help families access emergency assistance with rent, utilities, groceries, and other essential needs. Your gift can help prevent housing instability and keep families safely housed.
Frequently asked questions
Organizations and individuals may join the Coalition by formally agreeing to the Coalition Charter through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU can be signed and submitted to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette via endfamilyhomelessness@unitedway-pdx.org.
By joining the Coalition, members express their support for the Coalition’s vision, mission, and values and agree to a 12-month commitment with the opportunity to renew annually.
Membership benefits:
- Participate in quarterly Coalition convenings and activities that promote collaboration and strategic alignment across sectors
- Receive training modules led by subject matter experts on relevant topics
- Contribute expertise, perspectives, and resources to support Coalition initiatives and priorities
- Join a working group focused on advancing a specific Coalition priority
- Co-create a shared policy agenda to prevent and end family homelessness in Oregon
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (UWCW) serves as the backbone organization for the Coalition, providing the leadership, infrastructure, and fiscal, administrative, and operational support needed to advance the Coalition's work. Through this role, UWCW helps advance the Coalition's shared vision, supports implementation of its strategic priorities, and sustains its collective impact.
A Steering Committee serves as the Coalition’s strategic leadership and advisory body, providing guidance on the Coalition’s priorities and actions while helping ensure alignment with the Coalition’s vision, mission, and values. The Steering Committee makes recommendations, fosters cross-sector collaboration, and helps advance the Coalition’s shared priorities in partnership with UWCW.
Working groups may be established for ongoing or time-limited initiatives to advance specific priorities. Potential areas of focus may include interventions for housing stability, family wellbeing, systems change, policy and advocacy, community engagement, data collection, and resource development.
To review the Coalition's operating model in detail, please refer to the Coalition Charter.
Contact us via email at endfamilyhomelessness@unitedway-pdx.org