Eastern Oregon Mission strengthens the greater Hermiston and Eastern Oregon community by providing individuals and families with access to food, safe housing, and essential life-building resources that promote stability, dignity, and self-sufficiency.

EASTERN OREGON MISSION

Founded in 1986, Eastern Oregon Mission began through Agape House, established by Kathleen Knudson to address food insecurity and basic needs for low-income families in Hermiston and surrounding Eastern Oregon communities, initially serving about 100 families each month. Eastern Oregon Mission became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1992, strengthening its capacity to expand services.

Over time, programs grew to meet emerging community needs. In 2003, services expanded to include a thrift store that provided job-training opportunities for students with learning disabilities. Following a successful capital campaign, Agape House relocated in 2005 to a permanent 13,500-square-foot facility in Hermiston, greatly increasing food storage and distribution capacity through commercial coolers and freezers. To address childhood hunger, Eastern Oregon Mission launched its Weekend Backpack Program in 2009, now serving students across 12 schools in five districts. Responding to the region’s lack of family transitional housing, the organization opened Martha’s House in 2013—a drug-free transitional housing program for families and single women experiencing homelessness—developed through strong partnerships with the City of Hermiston, Umatilla County, and nearly $1 million in combined public and private investment. Program Overview

Eastern Oregon Mission operates a coordinated, community-based safety-net program serving individuals and families across Umatilla County and northern Morrow County, Oregon who are experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, and economic instability. Through its two core initiatives—Agape House Food Bank and Martha’s House Transitional Housing—the organization addresses urgent and interconnected basic needs: reliable access to nutritious food and safe, stable housing.

The program prioritizes the working poor, families with children, seniors, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness or crisis, with a strong emphasis on dignity, accountability, and measurable outcomes in a rural region with limited service alternatives. Beyond immediate relief, Eastern Oregon Mission supports participants in building the skills, financial stability, and resources necessary for long-term self-sufficiency.

Program Description

Food Security & Basic Needs — Agape House

Agape House operates as a community food bank and resource center providing free, nutritious groceries, clothing, hygiene supplies, and essential household items to individuals and families facing hardship. The program serves approximately 200 households weekly and 800 households monthly, including working families, seniors, veterans, single parents, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Services are delivered through structured intake and eligibility screening, culturally responsive distribution practices, and coordination with partner agencies to ensure food safety, equitable access, and responsible stewardship.

Agape House also addresses child hunger through a Weekend Backpack Program, providing 10–12 shelf-stable food items weekly to approximately 280 children across 12 schools in five districts, helping bridge the gap when school meals are unavailable.

Family Transitional Housing & Stabilization — Martha’s House

Martha’s House provides alcohol- and substance-free transitional housing for homeless families with children and a limited number of single women in Umatilla and Morrow Counties. Residents live in safe, home-like units for approximately 3–6 months while working toward permanent housing.

Participants receive comprehensive wraparound support, including individualized case management, life skills and financial literacy education, employment and housing assistance, parenting support, and referrals to mental health and childcare services. Residents are required to actively pursue employment and housing and to save 30% of earned income to build financial stability.

Martha’s House serves approximately 18 families (about 60 individuals) annually, with 81% successfully transitioning to permanent housing.

Organizational Goals

• Reduce food insecurity across Umatilla and Morrow Counties by expanding access to nutritious food and essential supplies.
• Increase access to safe, stable transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness.
• Strengthen wraparound services that promote self-sufficiency and long-term stability.
• Expand community engagement, volunteerism, and cross-sector partnerships.
• Ensure long-term sustainability through diversified funding, strong data tracking, and continuous program improvement.

Program Objectives

Food Security

• Increase the number of individuals and families served through Agape House by 25% within 12 months, with expanded outreach to rural and underserved communities.
• Ensure at least 60% of distributed food meets established nutritional guidelines and reflects diverse dietary needs

Housing Stabilization

• Maintain a 75–81% success rate of families transitioning from Martha’s House to permanent housing within 3–6 months.
• Increase transitional housing capacity by 20% within 18 months.

Economic Stability

• Support at least 50% of participating adults in obtaining employment or stable income during program participation.
• Strengthen financial capability through required savings and financial literacy education.

Accountability & Outcomes

• Improve data collection, outcome tracking, and reporting systems to strengthen accountability and inform service delivery.