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Blue Tiles

(971)344-9286

8900 Northeast Vancouver Way, Portland, OR 97211

Blue Background

Welcome to Straightway Services!

Safe, high-quality services for unsheltered adults and those in our community in need.

At Straightway Services, our mission is to provide shelter and support to homeless individuals in our community. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home, and we work tirelessly to make that a reality. 

Straightway Services is a faith-inspired, community-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring dignity, stability, and hope for individuals and families facing hardship. We believe in meeting people where they are — whether that means providing food for the week, clothing for a job interview, or support in overcoming addiction and homelessness. Our mission is to build pathways toward lasting change by offering essential resources, education, and encouragement that empower people to rebuild their lives.

Through a variety of impactful programs — including our Weekly Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, Rent Well housing classes, Work Boot and Youth Employment programs, and Addiction Recovery Support — we work to address both immediate needs and long-term goals. Straightway Services also manages the Light Community Safe Park Village, offering safe, stable spaces for those living in vehicles to find rest and begin the journey toward permanent housing.

At Straightway Services, every meal served, every pair of boots given, and every conversation shared is part of a larger mission: to uplift our community with compassion, opportunity, and faith in what’s possible when people come together to care for one another.

Our Services

  • Rentwell Classes

  • Oak Street Village - 29 units

  • Weekly Food Pantry & Food Bank

  • Community Health Workers

  • Peer Support Specialists

  • Houseless Support

  • Addiction Recovery Support

  • Weekly Men's Groups

  • Mentorship

  • Re-Entry Help/Veterans Resources

  • Every Friday Houseless Feed

  • Hot Dinner Every Thursday

  • Counseling Services

  • Addiction Recovery Services

  • Sex Trafficking Resources

Our Programs

  • After School Programs

  • Basketball Camp

  • Summer Workforce Program

  • Summer Youth Programs

  • Christmas Toy Giveaway

  • Thanksgiving Program

  • Work Boot Program

  • Clothing Closet

  • Youth Employment Division

  • Community Service Programs

Straightway Services is committed to transforming lives and strengthening the community through a wide range of supportive programs that meet people where they are and help them move forward with dignity and hope. By offering Toys for Families in Need, we ensure that children experience the joy of childhood and feel loved during special seasons, regardless of financial hardship.

Our Weekly Food Pantry provides essential nutrition to families who might otherwise go hungry, while Rent Well Classes empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to secure and maintain stable housing. For those seeking employment, our Work Boot Program equips job seekers with the proper gear to step into new opportunities, and our Youth Employment Division gives young people critical work experience that sets them on a path toward future success. With our Clothes Closet, families gain access to professional and everyday clothing that boosts confidence and relieves financial pressure. 

Our Houseless Support programs offer compassion and practical help to those experiencing homelessness, creating pathways to stability and self-sufficiency. In addition, we provide Addiction Recovery Support to those battling substance abuse, walking with them as they heal and rebuild their lives. Our Weekly Men’s Groups foster accountability, mentorship, and community for men striving to grow personally and support their families. Finally, our Community Dinner brings neighbors together around the table, reducing isolation and strengthening the bonds that make our community thrive. Together, these programs create a network of hope, resources, and transformation, ensuring that Straightway Services is not just a charity, but a cornerstone of care and opportunity for those who need it most.

Safe Park at Montavilla

Pink Poppy Flowers

Straightway Services has been chosen to manage a new “safe park” alternative shelter in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, called the Light Community. This innovative site will provide 24/7 access for people living in passenger vehicles to park safely while accessing essential resources such as showers, restrooms, laundry, a kitchenette, and housing support. With 29 sleeping pods and 33 parking spaces, the Light Community is designed as a supportive environment where residents can work toward stability and long-term housing.

Straightway Services will provide round-the-clock staffing, security, and wraparound services including peer mentorship, educational and employment connections, and support for recovery. This project reflects a strong commitment to creating dignified, practical solutions to help individuals transition out of homelessness and into a healthier, more stable future.

Portland Commissioners visiting Safe Park

Watch our videos!

Who are we?

About Us

Straightway Services began in 2007 under the direction of Pastor Dwight Minnieweather who saw a great need to provide a wraparound service to families to help the community; he felt that every person in the family unit played an important part in the stability of the family. Straightway Services offers services to the whole amily and our success is measured by the reduction of crime by youths, the reduction of recidivism, and the reduction of broken families due to divorce or separation. 

Our Results

  • 90% success rate of participants that complete youth summer camps
     

  • Youth Academy has grown 75% since the inception of the program
     

  • 98% of youths completed summer academy
     

  • 80 men have completed the re-entry program
     

  • 95% of participants have 90 days drug-free!
     

  • Participants have become certified mentors
     

  • Strengthening Families Curriculum used
     

  • 80 men were enrolled in transitional housing
     

  • 700 families received Christmas help
     

  • Certified Community Chaplains on board

Our Future Goals

  • Continue sourcing funding for our permanent site
     

  • Increase the number of participants by 50%
     

  • Start a program with jail facilities to give offenders a better chance at a new start in the community
     

  • Develop more partnerships with other agencies 
     

  • Youth Academy to obtain charter school status
     

  • Transitional housing upgrade for participants 

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How It All Started

The Executive Director, Pastor Dwight Minnieweather  was inspired to start Straightway Services after a visit to New Orleans in 2007.  It was two years after the devastating hurricane and the effects of the natural disaster were still felt throughout the city. The community was still displaced. Schools were still closed, and neighborhoods were empty. The trauma experienced by New Orleans residents has lingered on for many years.

Straightway Services was birthed after the founders returned to Oregon. The trauma in the NE Portland community needed to be addressed. Gang violence and drug addiction was at an all time high. Kids were at-risk for joining gangs. Families were struggling to thrive. Wrap around services became the mission of Straightway. The idea is to provide programming and services for the benefit of the entire family. Today the mission is still the same. Families are receiving the resources needed to thrive.  

Our Partners

President of Straightway Services she is also the head of our HR team Latoya is also a CHW, PSW here at Straightway Services 

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