Co-founder Mary Sue (right) after choir practice
Father Berg was asked to pastor the Downtown Chapel on 3rd and Burnside in addition to his job at the University of Portland. Who doesn't want two full-time jobs? So, of course, he said, "Yes."
As Father Berg strolled through Old Town, he witnessed evidence of flawed systems and observed how isolation was intensified by stigmas surrounding mental illness and financial poverty. He asked himself, “What can I do amid so much need?” Father Berg answered that question by mobilizing resources he could access: nursing students and parishioners.
1989While these visits were helping to meet the social needs of his neighborhood, it quickly became apparent that there was a massive gap in affordable care when neighbors started needing help with daily tasks. Alas, in 1999, Macdonald Residence became the first assisted living facility in the nation to exclusively serve Medicaid-eligible adults, right here in Old Town.
Because the project started with a social health lens, it remains a priority in our assisted living today. It's not just about finding a place to live or getting help with daily tasks; it's about finding a place where you feel like you matter. Our 54-unit 24-hour care facility offers high-quality care that cultivates a sense of belonging while meeting complex behavioral health and assisted living requirements.
1999To preserve scarce affordable housing downtown, we purchased the adjacent ailing West Hotel (also home of the famous bar, Satyricon). Four years later, we cut the ribbon on 42 affordable studio apartments called Macdonald West.
Our on-site staff provides support services promoting housing stability and working to prevent eviction while actively connecting residents to resources and encouraging participation in Maybelle Center programs to enhance residents’ social health.
In addition, the building's first floor also houses our office space and an expanded Community Room where neighbors from affordable housing buildings throughout downtown can grab coffee and connect five days a week.
2012With the integration of assisted living, almost overnight, we went from an organization of 15 people to nearly 100, most of whom work directly in healthcare. Macdonald Residence and the neighborhood outreach programs (previously known as “Maybelle Center for Community") consolidated under the umbrella of “Maybelle Center.”
Today, we recognize our role as the Community Health Organization in downtown Portland, which has been dedicated to advancing social health for over 30 years.
2024-5We write to our friends every few weeks to share Member stories and project updates on our quest to build a city of belonging.
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