About Us
New Avenues for Youth is a Portland-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and intervention of youth homelessness. Our services for young people (ages 9-24) focus on the individual—their experiences, identities, needs, and goals—and helping them make positive change in their lives.
Our Story
New Avenues’ founding in 1997 was a response to the growing numbers of youth experiencing homelessness in downtown Portland. While intervention on street homelessness remains central to our efforts, prevention—or reaching young people earlier to stop homelessness before it starts—is increasingly a strategic focus for us. In fact, more than half of our budget is devoted to it. And for good reason: gentrification, historical and institutional racism, rising housing costs, and the COVID-19 pandemic have displaced, marginalized, and isolated low-income and BIPOC communities in the region, with housing instability and homelessness on the rise.
From meals and counseling to job training and housing, our equity-based services address the many barriers to stability and well-being that young people face. Each and every day, we show up in compassionate, creative ways, ensuring that they always have a place to turn.
Our Milestones
1997
New Avenues opens its doors.
1998
New Avenues’ alternative school for youth experiencing homelessness opens.
1999
Legendary entertainer Steve Allen headlines New Avenues’ first annual Comedy Show fundraiser.
2000
New Avenues’ Transitional Housing program, the first in Portland for youth experiencing homelessness, opens in the Joyce N. Furman Building.
2001
New Avenues’ job training and employment program Promoting Avenues to Employment (PAVE) launches.
2004
New Avenues opens the first social purpose enterprise Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop in the Pacific Northwest.
2005
New Avenues opens a second downtown location in the Ronald Killough Building.
2012
New Avenues hosts the first Brews for New Avenues, the world’s largest craft beer auction to help end youth homelessness.
2013
New Avenues launches the social purpose enterprise screen-printing business New Avenues INK.
2014
New Avenues launches PDX-Connect, a program for youth transitioning from foster care into adulthood.
2015
The Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) joins New Avenues, which also opens Unity House, the first housing program in Oregon for LGBTQIA2S+ youth.
2017
New Avenues opens Robinswood, a crisis shelter for youth in foster care awaiting placement.
2018
New Avenues opens its Youth Opportunity Center in East Multnomah County, New Meadows housing program for youth formerly in or transitioning from foster care, and New Day program for youth survivors of sex trafficking.
2020
New Avenues launches the Alba Collaborative.
Other Resources
Financial & Annual Reports
Read our annual reports to learn more about our finances and impact
Media/Resources
News and updates from New Avenues for Youth
Equity & Inclusion
Read our Equity Statement and Statement of Solidarity
Careers
Do you want to make an impact on the issue of youth homelessness and help young people get the support they need?
