PORTLAND, Ore. – A new homeless outreach program in Portland is starting with one of the simplest but most powerful gestures: learning people’s names.
On Tuesday, about 70 volunteers from CityTeam Portland launched the initiative, called “We Have a Name,” by walking downtown streets, engaging with people living without shelter, and beginning conversations by asking for their names. From there, volunteers connect individuals to available resources — whether it’s housing assistance, transportation, or bus passes.
A Personal Approach
For Lance Orton, executive director of CityTeam Portland and founder of the program, the philosophy is straightforward. Building meaningful change starts with recognizing people’s humanity.
Also Read
“It’s hard to create meaningful change for someone if you don’t even know their name,” Orton explained. “If people come down and start to learn some of these names, learn who the Josh’s are and hear their story — Josh got hit by a car, that’s why he was in a wheelchair — just learning that can change the narrative. Some of these people just need help, and we want to be there to help them.”
The group plans to send outreach volunteers into the community every Tuesday and Friday. Eventually, organizers hope to expand the program into a daily presence on Portland’s streets.
Support from City Leadership
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson attended the kickoff event and emphasized the importance of pairing compassion with practical tools. One of those tools is the Loved One Reunification program, a resource designed to help unhoused individuals reconnect with family members.
The initiative provides flights or transportation back home, wherever that may be. Wilson explained that offering someone a way to return to their support network can often be the most stable form of housing available.
“What I want you to do,” Wilson told volunteers, “is if somebody’s unhoused or somebody is suffering here, just say, ‘Can I help you get back home? Is there a loved one, a mother, a brother, a sister that can help you?’ We will have somebody home within hours. And we don’t care where they’re from. When we connect somebody with their social network, that’s housing. It’s the lowest cost of housing our city is experiencing. And not only that, it’s sticky, because moms and brothers and cousins help their loved ones.”
Wilson said his goal is to reunite at least 14 people with their families each week through the program.
Changing the Narrative
Homelessness remains one of Portland’s most visible and pressing challenges. While large-scale solutions like affordable housing construction, addiction services, and shelter expansion are often debated, We Have a Name is attempting to shift the focus back to personal connections.
By starting with names, organizers hope to break down the stigma and isolation faced by those on the streets. Volunteers say the effort isn’t just about services — it’s about restoring dignity and letting people know they are seen and valued.
Looking Ahead
CityTeam Portland has made it clear that the work will not be finished until no one is suffering alone in Portland. The group envisions a future where outreach is not occasional but constant, and where every person living on the streets has someone advocating for their needs.
For now, the simple act of asking someone’s name marks the first step in building trust — and potentially the first step toward lasting change.
