In 1981 Rita's Place was founded by Sister Mary Bertoli. Sister Mary and another Sister were living in a big home with extra rooms. They realized there were a lot of women that needed support, training, basic household items and clothes as well as housing. A few of these rooms were offered to women and children in need. When it became clear the need was so great Mary began to search for a home for women in transition. Sister Mary was supported by St. Vincent de Paul Rehabilitation and the Sisters of the Holy Name which set up the status of a Nonporfit Organization. Mary found the home and gave women with children guidance and support and an opportunity to live in an environment where they could learn some basic skills for living, learn some basic job interviewing skills, and the experience of what it was llike to live in a home with other women and children, drug free. Sister Mary's goal was to keep the program small with a warm atmosphere and not to institutionalize it. In the screening process the women had to be sober for at least 30 days. It was made clear that Rita's Place was not an overnight emergency shelter.
Current Mission
Rita's Place is now a Cultural Arts and Literature school, a Healing and Empowerment Center and secondary transitional housing program. Many women that come into the program are in the aftermath of domestic violence and connot make it on their own. Rita's Place has extended it's service to the mentally retarded, individuals with disabilities and families at a disadvantage (to include many migrant families). These individuals and families are learning skills receiving support and goods. Programs are set up for the individuals needs and contacts are made to attain employment. We work with women to help them make contact for job interviews, get them in touch with resources, and job skills development. We help them learn basics like cooking, washing clothes and how to dress for an interview. Just very basic activities of daily life. In a nutshell we provide basic life skills, transitional housing, clothes and food in order to prepare the women to go out into the world and survive. The length of services depend on each individuals needs. There are numerous families that two and three generations are served. Weekly individual and community meetings occur.. Rita's Place has formed partnerships with the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Conferences, Sisters of the Holy Name, St. Vincent de Paul Social Services, St. Vincent de Paul Treatment Center, St. Vincent de Paul Rehab Center, Indian Urban Council, Portland Women's Crisis line, The Raphael House and the Metro and Clackamas Crisis lines.
Our Goals
Rita's Place has moved from the Portland Metro area to the rural area of Clackamas County where it is greatly needed. Rita's Place continues to maintain the support of the previous agencies involved and continues to build a resource and support base. New and additional partnerships and support services comes from Adult and Family Services, State level and Regional branches of Employment, Training and Business Services, Oregon Trail School District, Sandy Police Department, Clackamas County Bank, Lewis and Clark College, Fletcher, Farr, Ayotte, Architecture Planning Interior, Clackamas County Women's Shelter, and Clackamas County Social Services and especially many volunteers and businesses throughout Clackamas County and Oregon. We are presently searching for property and are excited in the expansion of the prgram creating a cottage industry to provide revenue in continuing to maintain the transitional housing component.
Fundraising Events
Rita's Place has two annual events, the Mt. Festival 5/10k Run and our Coat and Blanket Drive with Windermere. We provide clothing, food, household items, housing, training, job training and career development. The Healing process is through art and music therapy and academic enlightenment. We would appreciate any amount of funds to help sponsor our annual fundraising events. Thank you for your continued support. It is deeply appreciated. With LBL's support last year the run increased in size and the runners enjoyed the event!
In Love & Light
Rebbecca
Activities Coordinator