OUR JOURNEY
Houselessness not only affects low-income and marginalized members of society; it also impacts all individuals within a community and requires a community-wide response. To address these challenges, Just Compassion seeks to identify avenues to effectively share information, and develop opportunities for discussion and action for all.
OUR MISSION
To provide a community-centered response to address the needs of unhoused and marginalized individuals.
Since our inception in 2010, the mission of Just Compassion has been to provide a community-centered response to address the needs of unhoused and marginalized individuals. We achieve this by building relationships and striving towards a sense of wholeness. Our slogan “Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Known” is not only a guiding principle in our efforts to tackle the houselessness crisis but is deeply embedded in our company culture. Our objective is to understand issues by evaluating needs, actively listening to community voices, and turning those insights into action.
Our Journey So Far
2010
JUST COMPASSION IS FOUNDED
Just Compassion started as a once-a-month meeting to support, collaborate, and share resources with local community members who were helping those experiencing houslessness in Tigard and the greater Washington County. The goal was to establish a robust network dedicated to delivering comprehensive services for unhoused individuals in the community - leading with compassion first!
2015
REGISTERED NON-PROFIT
Just Compassion of East Washington County became an IRS-registered 501(c)3 non-profit.
2016
DAY CENTER
We opened a weekly day center for adults experiencing houselessness at Tigard Foursquare Church. The day center was the first to operate in East Washington County.
2017
SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER
Starting in January 2017, we partnered with the City of Beaverton to operate a severe weather shelter, which ensures people have access to a warm, safe space during inclement weather events.
2017/2018
PROPERTY ACQUISITION
With support from the community, we bought a 0.6-acre parcel of land on Hall Blvd. in Tigard, which housed our main Resource Center and Shelter.
2019
SAFE PARKING PROGRAM
Starting in Beaverton, the Safe Parking Program gives individuals and families a safe and legal place to park their vehicles, along with access to sanitation services and case management.
2020
THE PANDEMIC
From day one, we saw the urgent need to expand our services and fast. We again partnered with the city and county to hire full-time staff and extend our operations. In 2020, we opened our resource center 24/7 year-round and provided overnight shelter for medically fragile and recently discharged hospital patients.
2021
CAPITAL FUNDING
Thanks to the outstanding efforts of State Representative Dacia Grayber and her team, we secured $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to build our new Shelter & Access Center in Tigard!
2021/2022
CASE MANAGEMENT
Thanks to the Supportive Housing Services (SHS), we hired rapid rehousing and other case managers to help individuals experiencing houselessness to access stable housing.
2023
GROUNDBREAKING
We broke ground on our Campus Project in Tigard! The long-term goal is to create a centralized site where adults experiencing houselessness can easily access a variety of helpful resources, from basic needs to mental healthcare.
2025
NEW SHELTER & ACCESS CENTER
In March 2025, we celebrated the grand opening of the brand new Shelter & Access Center. The building has capacity for up to 60 individuals overnight. Thanks to the significant increase in space, our services now include counseling, housing assistance, ID and birth certificate recovery, and employment support resources.
