For many people moving into affordable housing, the transition can mean being far from the community they found while being unhoused. They find themselves disconnected, struggling, and lonely despite having a place to live.
Write Around Portland’s programming helps strengthen connections in affordable housing through respectful, therapeutic writing groups where people share stories, build trust, and realize they’re not alone. We often find that we’re the only programming offered in affordable housing. That’s because resident services staff are overwhelmed with urgent needs, like helping folks apply for SNAP benefits, locate legal assistance, find safety after domestic abuse, and navigate healthcare and addiction treatment.
Write Around Portland needs your support to reach our goal of raising $21,000 by June 30. As of June 1, we will have just one month left of our spring fundraising campaign. Each spring we raise funds for our fall season of writing circles, which includes training 12 volunteer facilitators. Donations will also go toward publishing our next book; hosting our Winter Reading & Book Release; transit tickets for writers; writing supplies and adaptive equipment so writing is accessible and possible for all.
Feeling inspired to join the effort? The Write Around Portland board is hosting a Silent Reading (or Writing!) Party: Beach Reads Edition on June 4 at Steeplejack Brewing in Portland. Funds raised from ticket sales will go directly to supporting our mission.
If you can’t make it to the party, you can give directly through our website. Visit www.writearound.org/springcampaign to learn more about our push to keep people housed and connected through the healing power of writing.