Oregon Health Authority
$50,000
COVID-19 Community Response
Portland, Oregon
Stability. Dignity. Belonging.
Serving immigrant and refugee families across the Portland metro area with housing, food, mental health care, and community since 2020.
2000+
Families Served
6
Active Programs
501(c)(3)
Certified
Est. 2020
Portland, Or
Who We Are
Where lived experience meets Western systems.
Umoya Relief Foundation exists to restore stability, dignity, and self determination to communities facing homelessness. We equip communities with tools they can use, trust, and pass on from housing navigation to wellness, education, and food sovereignty.
Rooted in East African heritage and guided by a trauma informed, person centered approach, we envision a world where stability, dignity, and opportunity are not privileges but rights and where thriving communities multiply strength, build networks of care, and shape change for generations to come.
- OHA Partner
- Multnomah County
- 501(c)(3) Certified
Since 2020
Rooted in Portland
Who We Are
Six programs. One promise.
Housing Navigation & Stabilization
We walk alongside families navigating Oregon’s housing system eviction prevention, emergency shelter, landlord mediation, and culturally rooted case management in Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, and English.
300+ households stabilized
Culturally Specific Food Sovereignty
Halal pantries, hot communal meals, and the Zenker Farm partnership growing East African vegetables because the right to dignified food is the right to be seen.
1,000+ families fed annually
Trauma-Informed Mental Wellness
Peer support circles, refugee-trained counselors, and group healing rooted in faith and tradition. We meet displacement trauma with cultural humility, not pathology.
Weekly group sessions in 3 languages
Youth Mentorship & Entrepreneurship
Mentor circles, college bridges, and small-business incubators for East African youth carrying two worlds in one heart. Funded by Multnomah County.
200+ youth mentored
Digital Inclusion for Elders & Families
Devices, internet access, and patient one-on-one classes closing the digital divide for seniors, mothers, and newcomers. Funded by the Multnomah County ARPA Digital Inclusion grant.
150 seniors trained
Community Outreach & Systems Navigation
Door-to-door, community-to-community, WhatsApp-to-WhatsApp trusted messengers helping families connect to benefits, schools, healthcare, and one another.
Active in 6 ZIP codes
In the Community
Programs you can walk into.
Real flyers from real events. We meet families where they are in community halls, houses of worship, and on Zoom in the languages they speak at home.
Halal Goat & WinCo Gift Cards
4115 SW 160th Ave, Beaverton OR · Sunday, Nov 13 · 2:30–4:30 PM
In partnership with Community Action Washington County. Fresh halal goat meat (16 lb) and grocery gift cards. One per household.
- English
- Soomaali
Learn Your New Devices
April 14, 2024 · 3–5 PM · Online via Zoom
Free workshop for elders and families. Baro sida loo isticmaalo qalabka tignoolajiyada cusub · Darasa la teknolojia.
- English
- Soomaali
- Kiswahili
Recent gatherings · Portland · Beaverton · Washington County
Our Track Record
Trusted by Oregon's leading institutions.
Funding history
-
2020 -
2022 Metro Parks & Nature
$7,000
Zenker Farm Food Program
-
2022–23 Community Action Washington Co.
$113,029
Food Access & Culturally Specific Resources
-
2023 Multnomah County
$7,500
Youth Mentorship & Entrepreneurship
-
2023–24 Multnomah County ARPA
$139,000
Digital Inclusion Tech Grant
-
2025–26 Multnomah County HSD
$120,000
Capacity Building & Systems
$436,529
Total investment in community programs since 2020
Impact
What we've built together.
2,000+
Families & Individuals Served
$640,000+
Total Community Investment
1,000
Families Fed with Culturally
Specific Food
Specific Food
150
Seniors Bridging the Digital Divide
We envision thriving communities where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring — where cultural identity is honored, mental wellness is prioritized, and every person has the support they need to heal and succeed. By combining inclusive services with culturally specific approaches, we are building a future where systemic barriers are dismantled and communities lead their own solutions.
Umoya Relief Foundation · Portland, Oregon
Voices
Voices from our community.
Join 2,000+ families who have found stability through Umoya.
Reach Out
Tell us where you stand.
Every connection starts with a conversation. Email us — or call (503) 765-9941 (available on WhatsApp).
I Am In Need
Looking for help with housing, food, mental wellness, or navigating systems? Reach out — we respond in Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, and English.
I Want to Help
Volunteer at a pantry, tutor a student, translate at an event, or share a skill. Tell us what you can bring and we'll match you with a need.
I Want to Give
We accept direct gifts — checks, transfers, in-kind donations, and grants. Contact us and we'll guide you through the easiest way to give.
Prefer to donate? We do not yet have an online donation page — please email us or call (503) 765-9941 and we’ll help you give in the way that works for you.
Restoring stability, dignity, and belonging to immigrant and refugee families in the Portland metro area.
Quick Links
Our Programs
Contact
- (503) 765-9941
- umoyarelief@outlook.com
- 3113 SE 92nd Ave Portland, OR
- Mon–Fri · 9am–5pm