Portland Impact

Portland Impact is a nonprofit social service agency based in Portland, Oregon. Their mission is to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the detrimental effects of poverty.

They were founded in 1966 as Portland Action Communities Together, Inc. (PACT). The four neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Sunnyside, Richmond and Buckman came together and created the agency to address the growing poverty in Southeast Portland. In the 1986 PACT changed their name to Portland Impact, to prevent any confusion with the political lobbying groups known as “PACS.”

Groups served by Portland Impact include families, children, seniors and adults with disabilities. Their main programs include “Safety Net Services” encompassing transitional housing for formerly homeless families, utility assistance, rental assistance and referral to other resources; “Education Support Services” which include mentoring at-risk youth, early childhood education; extended day programming and social service provision at area elementary, middle and high schools; “Senior and Adult with Disability Service” include advocacy/case management, meal provision, activity centers and transportation.

Portland Impact operates in Multnomah County through three regional centers:


 * Brentwood Darlington Community Center, 7211 SE 62nd Avenue
 * Multicultural Service Center, 4610 SE Belmont
 * Dancing Tree Family Center, 10055 E Burnside

Portland Impact also provides services and case management for families, seniors and adults with disabilities at certain housing facilities in partnership with the Housing Authority of Portland including:
 * Richmond Place, 4141 SE Division
 * Dahlke Manor, 915 NE Schuyler
 * Holgate House, 4601 SE 39th
 * Northwest Towers, 335 NW 19th
 * Unthank Plaza, 2500 N Williams

Additionally, the Agency’s Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) schools provide access points for many anti-poverty services. They include, Buckman Elementary, Woodmere Elementary, Kelly Elementary, Sabin Elementary, Rigler Elementary, Clark Elementary, Whitman Elementary, Fernwood Middle School, Sellwood Middle School, Marshall High School, and Madison High School.

In 2006-07, the agency’s annual operating budget exceeded $6.0 million. Operating with a staff of over 100, and 2,100 volunteers they report serving over 70,000 residents of Multnomah County yearly.