PORTLAND, Ore. – A new coalition of Portland nonprofits is focusing on a human-centered approach to homelessness, starting with one simple act: asking for names.
The initiative, called “We All Have a Name,” was launched by CityTeam Portland and is aimed at building connections with the unhoused population in downtown Portland. Organizers believe that by fostering basic human recognition, they can begin to break down barriers and provide more effective support.
A Name as the First Step
For Lance Orton of CityTeam Portland, the philosophy is straightforward but powerful.
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“If people come down and start to learn some of these names, just learning that can change the narrative,” Orton told KGW, noting that recognition can help shift public perceptions of those experiencing homelessness. “Some of these people just need help.”
The coalition sees names not just as identifiers but as a first step toward dignity, trust, and eventual pathways out of homelessness.
Leadership With Lived Experience
One of the key organizers of the program, Karey Phillips, knows the challenges firsthand. Phillips is a former homeless individual who now dedicates his time to walking the same streets he once lived on.
“I understand their struggles,” Phillips said. “I was there in life at one point. I feel like it’s my job to get them back off the streets.”
Phillips spends much of his time talking directly with those currently unhoused, offering not just empathy but also resources and connections to services. His background lends authenticity and credibility to the coalition’s outreach efforts.
Weekly Street Outreach
The coalition conducts outreach twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, in downtown Portland. Volunteers walk the streets, meeting individuals where they are, asking their names, and offering materials, food, and resource information.
The immediate goal is to build relationships. The long-term goal, according to organizers, is to reduce homelessness by creating a more personal and approachable pathway to services.
Changing the Narrative
Advocates say that too often, the homeless population is seen in statistics rather than stories. “We All Have a Name” seeks to flip that narrative, reminding the broader community that each person living on the streets has an identity, history, and potential future.
Organizers hope the model will inspire others in Portland to engage directly and compassionately, seeing unhoused neighbors as individuals rather than as problems to be solved.
Conclusion
While homelessness remains one of Portland’s most complex challenges, the coalition behind “We All Have a Name” believes that solutions must begin with human connection. By starting with something as simple as learning names, the nonprofits involved hope to shift perspectives, foster dignity, and ultimately guide more people off the streets and into stable lives.
