Second Home

Second Home provides stable housing and ongoing support for unaccompanied students experiencing homelessness, allowing them to focus on completing their secondary education and realizing their gifts and potential.

Second Home is a partnership between local school districts, mediation programs, and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. We support youth who are committed to finishing high school by connecting them with volunteer hosts who provide stable housing. Our students have a graduation rate of over 90%. We serve students in East Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, and Lincoln counties.

Second Home connects volunteer host homes with unaccompanied high school students experiencing homelessness. By providing stable housing and ongoing support, we enable students to focus on completing their education and reaching their full potential. Through this program, we demonstrate how communities can come together to effectively address youth homelessness.

All home-share arrangements follow rental agreements and house rules that are collaboratively negotiated by home providers and students, with support from Second Home staff and volunteer mediators from the Dispute Resolution Center. Participants receive ongoing assistance from Second Home staff and the wider community. Additionally, Second Home provides resources and guidance to individuals already housing unaccompanied homeless youth.