30 Years of ROSE

Thirty years ago I walked the streets of outer southeast Portland with my neighbors. We saw vacant lots, deteriorating homes, and community that got the short end of the stick on infrastructure investments. We thought, “We can make this better.” That was the beginning of ROSE Community Development. For the next 30 years we centered the needs and aspirations of our community and created neighborhood-based solutions.

We developed affordable, safe, and inviting homes. 
Affordable housing means people can spend less time working multiple jobs to pay rent, and spend more time with their families or pursuing long-term goals.

We invested in our neighborhoods.
We helped build school playgrounds, advocated for sidewalks along busy streets, and created a plan to help families with infants and toddlers secure housing.

We built stronger communities. 
We provided after-school programs, developed resident leadership councils, and created a special program for teens to access career development opportunities. We advocated for policies that would create more affordable homes.

For thirty years, ROSE has been responsive to the needs of our community, and out streets look very different now than they did back then. We’ve made great strides, but there is still much to be done.

To celebrate our thirty year milestone, will you join me in making a gift to continue this valuable work? With your help, we will continue to build more affordable homes, invest in our neighborhoods, and build strong communities.

Sincerely,
Nick Sauvie, Executive Director

Learn more about ROSE has accomplished in 3 decades: https://rosecdc.org/about-rose/our-history