OHCS Director Bell Joins First Annual Bridge Builder Breakfast in Honor Of National Foster Care Awareness Month

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Andrea Bell joined Bridge Meadows and the Department of Human Services (ODHS) along with others at the World Forestry Center for the first annual Bridge Builder Breakfast.

The panel of experts from multiple sectors helped to educate guests on issues related to foster care and housing while elevating innovative solutions at work across Oregon.

The event was emceed by Bank of America with the panel moderated by Derenda Schubert, Executive Director of Bridge Meadows and included two panelists with lived experience with the foster care system representing the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center.

During her remarks, Director Bell elevated that May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and remarked on how OHCS remains committed to addressing the root causes of our affordable housing shortage, including tearing down institutional silos, forming new partnerships and launching innovative initiatives with housing providers across Oregon.

“The progress we make as a state tomorrow hinges on the well-being of Oregon’s youth today. Statewide housing investments are one of the most critical ways we directly support youth in fulfilling their limitless potential facilitating family unification”, said Director Bell. “What we’ve heard here today is that these developments represent what multigenerational housing models for positive change can look like. When we invest in community solutions, we change lives for the better.”

Read more about Bridge Meadows at their website: https://bridgemeadows.org/.