Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland area officals recognized seven individuals Wednesday for their outstanding dedication to serving homeless people.

The Coordinating Committee to End Homelessness gave an achievement award to Patrick Nolen with Sisters of the Road.

Other honorees included Father Richard Berg and Mary Sue Richen. They founded the MacDonald Center in Portland. It's  the first assisted living facility in the U.S. designed exclusively for Medicaid recipients.

Sister Kathleen Stoopful works with the MacDonald Center to provide visitation to shelter residents.

Kathleen Stoopful: “Father Berg and Sue both have great compassionate hearts that overflowed with love for everybody, and they’re all-embracing."

Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler presented some of the awards.  He said the work of these individuals has helped make the 10-year plan to end homelessness a “phenomenal success.” 

The 10-year plan has surpassed all its housing benchmarks for the first quarter of 2008.

Ted Wheeler: “This is really about celebrating the personal commitment and the passion that individuals have put into this plan, and reminding us all it’s not just a plan that’s on paper.  It’s about people.  It’s about the people who deliver the services, and it’s about the people who rely on the services.”

Wheeler also cautioned that there is a long road ahead and large numbers of people still need assistance.

The 10-year plan to end homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County is in its 4th year.