Bridges to Change

During #NationalVolunteerWeek, we want to share a special shout out to Tia Smith and Katelyn Weedin from KeyBank , and all the incredible volunteers and community partners who bring invaluable support to our mission! Their dedication brings financial fitness, second chance banking, and a world of opportunities to our participants, alumni, and staff. Thank you for making a difference! #NationalVolunteerWeek

We know that recovery is hard, we are here to help. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies substance use disorders as "a treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications." Interested in exploring treatment and behavioral health options with us? Visit https://lnkd.in/gEvRPUkX Data: SAMHSA 2022 NSDUH Report, https://shorturl.at/wyBSY NIMH, https://shorturl.at/eyJ49

We're #hiring a new Volunteer: Community Home Yard Clean-Up in The Dalles, Oregon. Apply today or share this post with your network.

I recently had the privilege of touring some of the facilities at Bridges to Change. Getting to see the vision from Bridges to Change being put into action spoke volumes to me in how they help to make health and housing services a reality for those in need. I witnessed staff members that were compassionate, inclusive, and supported recovery through a lens of lived experience. As many healthcare and social service professionals already know, too often individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, Substance-Use Disorder, or Mental Health challenges, have difficulty accessing health and housing services. Those individuals can slip through the cracks, and it can be a detrimental cycle. I’m a big believer in being able to provide health and housing services first for those in need. It is a positive step towards creating stability and building a foundation for addressing other needs. It can also help to reduce emergency health services. I’m grateful to be able to be a supporter/ Board Member of Bridges to Change and the work that they do. I would highly encourage you to learn more about Bridges to Change and support them in any way that you can.

Join us as we strive to support our community throughout their recovery and housing journey by joining our monthly giving program, Housing Heroes, for as little as $5 a month! Simply choose "monthly" when you enter your giving amount on our donation page, here: https://lnkd.in/gPZJmwfh

Interested in participating in decision making that impacts your community? Join the Bridges to Change Board of Directors! Our BTC board directors are volunteers representing a variety of fields and communities. Each board member brings independent perspectives and experiences to provide strategic leadership, approve major business decisions, develop policies, evaluate executive performance, and fulfill fiduciary responsibilities. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gYCPZ2pj

Our vision is health and housing for all. Why? Well, we believe that all people should be able to access health and housing services regardless of circumstance, so we work every day to make that vision a reality. It's that simple. Support our vision and helps us change lives at https://lnkd.in/gkuSHMPr

This month, we are honored to introduce you to Dr. Judith Belk, Bridges to Change Board Member and a monthly giving Housing Hero. As a member of the Housing Heroes monthly giving program, Judy ensures we have the resources to respond to the immediate needs of the communities we serve. Judy is proud to support BTC and shares that “for every one person who successfully completes Bridges’ programs, not only has the person achieved success, the community then has a productive, contributing member.” Thank you for your continued support, Judy! Ready to become a monthly giving Housing Hero? Support our mission for as little as 5$ on our donation page by simply choosing "monthly" on the Give Lively widget! https://lnkd.in/gPZJmwfh

Ready to make a difference in your community? Join our volunteer program to help our participants enjoy welcoming yard and garden space during their recovery journey in our housing! Sign up today to learn more and receive more details on our upcoming projects! https://lnkd.in/gexG-sCW Special shout out to Lease Crutcher Lewis team members and Portland candidate, David Linn, for taking time out of their day to volunteer with us!

With support from the passing of Measure 110 and community partners like CareOregon, Bridges to Change was able to expand housing services by a total of 19 new homes and 209 new beds between 2022 and 2023. One of these new homes is La Casa Vida, a Bridges to Change collaboration with the Mid-Columbia Center for Living. With 3 family units, fathers are able to live with their children as they continue on their recovery journey. This collaboration in rural Oregon is an essential addition to the community in The Dalles. We look forward to continuing to create hope through community in 2024 and beyond! Read our full annual report: https://lnkd.in/gMnHvnFe