Transition Projects

What Transition Projects does

Transition Projects is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on November 1, 1969 (originally incorporated as Burnside Projects in 1970 by Reverend Gilbert N. Lulay) that operates an integrated continuum of services for people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Its program portfolio comprises eight shelters operating 24/7/365 with a combined 710 beds (including the recovery-oriented SE Grand Shelter, the medically vulnerable Banfield Shelter Motel, Doreen's Place men's shelter, and the River District Navigation Center), three affordable housing complexes, a Resource Center serving 300+ people daily with showers, laundry, mail, clothing, and medical referrals, street-based outreach and Navigation Teams, rapid rehousing and permanent housing placement, Veterans Services under the federal SSVF grant, the Compass program for transgender and non-binary individuals, and Rent Well tenant education. Each year the organization assists more than 10,000 people and in 2024 placed nearly 900 individuals into affordable housing.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Primary inflows are government grants and contracts (federal Supportive Services for Veteran Families/SSVF awards, Multnomah County Homeless Services Department contracts, City of Portland partnerships), individual and corporate philanthropy (monthly giving via the Lulay Giving Society, one-time gifts, stock and legacy gifts, a vehicle-donation partnership with Volunteers of America under which TP receives 50% of net proceeds), and earned fundraising events (the IMPACT Gala at the Portland Art Museum and the Winterfolk concert at Alberta Rose Theatre). All services are delivered free of charge to clients, with the organization holding Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency status. The underlying technology stack is a federally-required Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) used for client tracking and reporting, with privacy and security protocols; no proprietary AI/ML, mobile application, or API offerings are disclosed.

Transition Projects is governed by an independent Board of Directors currently chaired by Alan Shoebridge (Providence) and led by CEO Tony Bernal (appointed permanently in November 2023 after 25 years with the organization). It employs 350+ staff, was recognized as one of Oregon's best non-profit employers, and maintains core referral partnerships with the VA, Portland-area hospitals, Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services, the 211 helpline, and a broad community partner network. The organization is exposed to public-funder concentration risk: county officials have publicly discussed eliminating funding for up to nine regional shelters, a risk that is mitigated by diversification across federal, county, city, philanthropic, and earned-event revenue streams.

Name

Transition Projects

Legal name

Transition Projects

Website

https://tprojects.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Transition Projects is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that operates eight shelters with 710 beds, three affordable housing complexes, a Resource Center, and outreach and veteran-specific programs, serving more than 10,000 people experiencing homelessness annually across Multnomah County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Housing Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Housing placement
• Veteran housing
• Supportive services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual & Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations, including monthly giving (Lulay Giving Society), one-time gifts, stock gifts, vehicle donations (via Volunteers of America partnership), BottleDrop program, and legacy gifts
2. Government Funding: Federal, state, and county funding including Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grants, Multnomah County homeless services contracts, and city of Portland partnerships
3. Fundraising Events: Annual events including the IMPACT Gala and Winterfolk folk music concert, with all proceeds supporting operations

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Transition Projects provides emergency shelter, housing placement, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area. The organization operates eight shelters (710 beds, 24/7), three affordable housing complexes, and a Resource Center serving more than 300 people daily with showers, laundry, mail, and medical referrals. Specialized programs include the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Housing Programs (rapid rehousing and permanent placement), Outreach/Navigation, Rent Well tenant education, and the Compass program serving trans and non-binary individuals. All services are provided free of charge to individuals and are funded through government grants and donations.

Product overview

Transition Projects is a nonprofit human services organization (not a technology product company) providing an integrated continuum of services to help people transition from homelessness to housing. The organization operates a network of interconnected programs including: the Resource Center (providing basic needs services), multiple Shelter Programs (Doreen's Place, Banfield Shelter Motel, River District Navigation Center, SE Grand Recovery Shelter), Housing Programs (rapid rehousing and permanent placement), Veterans Services (SSVF program), Outreach/Navigation Team, and Rent Well tenant education. These services work together as a coordinated system - outreach engages people living unsheltered, shelters provide temporary housing with support services, housing programs place people into permanent affordable housing, and retention services help them maintain that housing. The organization assists over 10,000 people annually across the Portland metro area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Resource Center A community hub providing essential services including showers, laundry, mail service, medical referrals, clothing, and connections to housing programs. Serves more than 300 people daily to meet their basic needs. Open to adults experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area.
• Shelter Services Safe, temporary shelter and support services for individuals experiencing homelessness during their transition to housing. Operates multiple shelter locations across the Portland metro area providing 700+ beds nightly, 24/7/365.
• Housing Programs Short- and long-term housing support including rapid rehousing and permanent housing placement. Places nearly 900 people into affordable housing annually and provides ongoing retention support to help participants stay housed.
• Veterans Services Specialized program supporting veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk, including the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant program. Helps veterans and their households find and retain safe, affordable housing in the Portland metro area.
• Outreach Services Navigation Team connects with people living unsheltered outdoors to work on next steps toward housing. Provides critical support and resources to unhoused neighbors on the street.
• Rent Well A 15-hour tenant education program designed to empower residents to be successful renters. Provides life skills benefiting participants after shelter stays and helps disrupt the cycle of homelessness.
• SE Grand Recovery Shelter A recovery-oriented overnight shelter providing 140 beds (expandable to 200 during severe weather) for adults who wish to be in an alcohol- and drug-free environment. Operates 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Doreen's Place A men's shelter operated by Transition Projects providing residential advocacy and support services.
• Banfield Shelter Motel A 60-bed shelter for medically vulnerable adults who would otherwise be in congregate shelters. Residents are older adults with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems.
• River District Navigation Center A shelter program serving 90 individuals and couples in NW Portland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assists 10,000+ people experiencing homelessness annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Volunteers of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVehicle donation partnership where donors can give vehicles and Transition Projects receives 50% of the funds from the vehicle sale
• City of PortlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnered with Transition Projects to open the SE Grand Recovery Shelter, a 140-bed recovery-oriented overnight shelter (expandable to 200 during severe weather) for people who wish to be in an alcohol- and drug-free environment
• Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA connects veterans experiencing homelessness to Transition Projects' Veterans Services program, including SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) rapid rehousing assistance
• Joint Office of Homeless ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Housing Access Team partnership for assessing chronically homeless individuals with disabling conditions; releases rapid rehousing reports
• Alberta Rose TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Winterfolk annual folk music concert benefit for Transition Projects
• Portland Art MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for annual IMPACT Gala showcasing community support for people experiencing homelessness

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/transitionpro

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transition Projects