Community Profile
Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon and the second largest in the Pacific Northwest. It is in one of the most beautiful settings in the country, with mountains, forests, and the ocean all within a short drive. It has a thriving art community, numerous outdoor activities, the largest independent bookstore west of the Mississippi, and is one of the best coffee towns in the United States. To top it off, the summers in Portland are amazing with lots of sunshine and temperatures hovering between 70 and 80 degrees.
However, that only tells part of the story of Portland. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most unchurched regions of the country. According to the Pew Research Center's 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study, 43% of Oregon adults identify as religiously unaffiliated — among the highest rates in the nation. Oregon also has one of the highest rates of homelessness per capita in the United States, ranking third nationally as of the most recent federal data, and a significant share of those experiencing homelessness are youth and young adults.
As you can see the need for the Gospel of Christ in Portland is great. But the good news is that there are amazing full time ministries faithfully bringing the good news of Christ to the people of Portland and we are privileged to be able to partner with them in their mission.
Please come join us in loving and serving the hurting people in Portland who desperately need to know the hope that is found only in Christ. We invite you to bring your group to come and serve alongside of us on an urban Portland short term missions trip.
Sample Schedule
Breakfast / Devotionals
We provide breakfast for your team and give you the opportunity to either do devotionals as a group or for your students to do devotionals individually.
Downtown Homeless Ministry
Serve alongside one of our ministry partners that reaches the homeless all throughout the city of Portland. This might include serving a meal, sorting and preparing hygiene kits or visiting with the homeless in the day room.
Lunch at Kaleo Housing Location
Bible Club Preparation Time
Bible Club with a Family Homeless Shelter
Your group would have the opportunity to lead all aspects of the club including arts/crafts, Bible time, games, and a literacy/reading time.
Dinner at Kaleo Housing Site
Evening Debrief
This is a sample schedule and does not reflect specific times and ministry activities for your team.
Logistics
Cost
$400 for a five night trip or $480 for a six night trip includes all of your housing, food (with the exception of one evening meal on your night off) and ministry expenses. The only additional cost to your group is the cost of transportation.
Housing
Housing details for Portland are being updated. Please contact us for current information about your team’s stay.
Parking
Parking is free and is available in the school parking lot. You will have occasional needs to pay for parking at our downtown ministries, but the costs will be minimal.
Transportation
You will need to have vehicles to transport each individual team and a space available in your van for one Kaleo staff member for each team.
Food
Our goal is to provide good and healthy food options for your team. Additionally, as part of our food service, we will provide your group with some meals that are unique to the local culture of Portland (Food Trucks!). We provide fruit at all meals and have salad options during lunch and dinner. If members of your team have food allergies, please let our City Director know. We can make basic accommodations such as gluten free bread and lactose free milk and you are free to bring additional food if necessary.
Your host on the ground
Staff information coming soon.
From the field
Portland, in pictures
Ready to bring your group to Portland?
We are excited about the opportunity to partner with your group to serve our ministry partners and the people of Portland. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us, or if you are ready to register your team, click the button below.