History

Founded in 1973, Sponsors began when Sister Janice Jackson, along with other Catholic nuns and community volunteers, “Sponsored” young men exiting the Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). These “Sponsors” met them at the gate upon their release and assisted them in finding shelter, employment, and helping in social readjustment.

In its early years, the agency experienced financial difficulties. In 1987, Sponsors received a Meyer Memorial Trust grant and in 1988, hired a new director, Ron Chase. At that time, Sponsors began its housing program with 5 transitional beds. Between 1988 and 2010, Sponsors grew exponentially, meeting increasingly diverse needs for people with criminal histories. The agency partnered with parole officers, treatment providers, and a myriad of collateral agencies. Sponsors has also developed positive relationships with numerous local employers and property managers to further the goals of the agency.

The program has been recognized as a model for re-entry services; employing best practices and effective programs to serve its clients. In 1992, the Oregon Housing and Community Services Agency recognized Sponsors with its non-profit “Excellence in Community Services” award. In 1995, Sponsors was selected by the Oregon Department of Corrections as its Outstanding Private Contractor of the Year.

In 2005, Sponsors was presented with the “2005 Award of Merit” by the Oregon Coalition of Housing & Homelessness” at its statewide conference. Sponsors was cited for making a “significant contribution in increasing and providing services to the homeless.”

In 2011 Sponsors Men’s transition program migrated to a new 6 million dollar facility at Roosevelt Crossing, which houses 72 clients. In 2011, Sponsors appointed a new executive director, Paul Solomon, who has worked in different capacities for Sponsors since 2001. Today, Sponsors has nine buildings on four sites, including a total of 128 client beds.

Every year Sponsors helps over 300 people re-enter our community to become productive, law-abiding, hardworking and tax-paying citizens.