Lance Orton, CityTeam Executive Director, and CityTeam have an unwavering commitment to serve our most vulnerable neighbors.

An estimated 5,228 people are experiencing homelessness in Portland, according to Multnomah County’s 2022 Point-in-Time Count of Homelessness.

The same study found that 38.5% of people experiencing homelessness say they are suffering from mental illness, 26% from physical disabilities, and 37.5% from substance-abuse disorders.

People are hurting with nowhere to turn. Those who turn to CityTeam are finding the way out of addiction and homelessness.

Says Mr. Orton, “when someone shows up at our door, they get more than just a hot meal and a place to sleep. We greet them warmly, call them by their name, and offer them a pathway back to society."

"It is truly an honor to serve as the executive director of the very organization that saved my life.”

“CityTeam holds a special place in my heart because in the fall of 2018, I found myself homeless and suffering from addiction right here on the streets of Portland."

"With no one else to turn to for help, CityTeam was there to provide a safe place to sleep, a freshly cooked meal, and a shower. With some dignity restored, the very next day I entered CityTeam Renew. Through that life-giving program, the pathway back to society seemed a little less daunting.”

CityTeam … What they do

CityTeam programs help neighbors in need with hot meals, groceries, shelter, housing, and restorative programs, learning and career help, discovery Bible studies, and so much more.

They help people connect to critical services. Every connection – whether providing hot meals, shelter beds, showers, clothing, or medical care – opens the door to lasting solutions.

The neighborhood outreach program helps families living in low-income neighborhoods put food on the table and make ends meet.

CityTeam provides education, training, and certification programs to help people attain living-wage jobs, secure stable housing, and budget for financial stability.

Chris Finds a Reason to Live

Lost in addiction. Sleeping outside in the freezing cold. Walking the streets aimlessly, with no hope. No one to help him. Always walking. Sometimes even walking through the night just to keep warm. That was Chris’s life.

But now, thanks to CityTeam, Chris has found his purpose . . . a reason to live. Besides finding sobriety, CityTeam has helped Chris in other ways, including catching up on his education.