About Our House
Our House provides a continuum of services in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is a complex and challenging disease that can often be overwhelming. The Our House team works with people with advanced HIV/AIDS who are having difficulty managing independent living. We tailor services for each individual that defines what “living well” means to them.
Our services are provided through the following programs and facilities:
Our House
Since 1988, Our House has been a residential care facility that provides services for people with HIV/AIDS. Residents work with skilled professionals in nursing, social work and occupational therapy.
At Our House, some residents regain their health and become independent enough to be discharged. Others remain at Our House for continued intensive services, maintenance services or palliative care.
- Resident capacity: 14
- 24 Hour Skilled Nursing Services
- Intensive HIV/AIDS Clinical Services
- On site Social Work and Occupational Therapy services
Swan House
Swan House is an adult care home located in Milwaukie, Oregon. Residents at Swan House live in a group setting and receive assistance with personal care, meals, mobility, transportation, and medication management and more.
- Resident capacity: 5
- Weekly visits by health care consultant
- Regular Social Work & Occupational Therapy services
Neighborhood Housing & Care Program (NHCP)
The Neighborhood Housing & Care Program provides housing and in home services including nursing, social work and occupational therapy to people living with HIV/AIDS. Created by the Our House team, this program supports and encourages independent living in a safe, stable and healthy environment.
We assist clients with an array of services including medication and symptom management, self care, counseling and referrals to community resources. This program provides the least intensive services.
- Assistance with securing and maintaining permanent housing
- Regular in home visits by clinical staff
- Access to community services
Esther's Pantry
Esther’s Pantry was founded in 1985 to provide financially challenged individuals living with HIV/AIDS access to food and personal care items. A vital community program, Esther's Pantry has served thousands of people over its 18+ year history. The pantry was named in memory of Chester "Esther" Brinker, one of the first people in Portland to die of complications from AIDS.
Tod's Corner
Tod's Corner provides clothing, household goods, cleaning supplies, personal care items, pet food, and much more to clients with HIV/AIDS. From the basics to a few luxuries, Tod's Corner has many items that make life more manageable. Tod's corner offers many items that make life easier by taking financial strain off of our clients.The space for Tod's Corner is generously donated by the Sisters of Providence in Milwaukie, Oregon. If you wish to donate items, call 503-349-4699.
Three Part Vision
- In June 2004, Our House took the first step in broadening its services and began operating Swan House, a five-bed adult HIV / AIDS care home located in Milwaukie, Oregon. Since 2000, Swan House has provided a home-like setting with on-site supportive services for people who have moderate physical and/or mental health challenges.
- Our House has finished its long-awaited facility expansion/renovation plans. The building Our House occupies was originally built in 1959 and posed significant challenges to meeting the health care needs of people living with advanced AIDS. Key features in our new building allows Our House to deliver expert health care to more people in a quality, home-like environment.
- Our House launched the Neighborhood Housing and Care Program. In this model program, we collaborate with the Partnership Project for some of the nursing care and CAP for housing. It is designed for people who discharge from Our House, as well as for people in the community whose health is declining. The Neighborhood Housing and Care Program combines stable housing with in-home medical, occupational therapy and social work services. Through the Neighborhood Housing and Care Program, Our House assists clients in establishing themselves in a more independent setting and then maintaining their health and quality of life.
Funding
This vision is funded through a combination of public and private dollars. In January 2004, the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Our House a three-year, $1.3 million grant, one of only ten such grants awarded nationally. Since then we have obtained enough funding from multiple public and private sources to pay for the new building and have some funds for sustainability. Many thanks to our friends and supporters who help to make our vision a reality.
Our House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.