At CCC, we believe every family deserves a safe place to call home. That’s why we own and/or manage 89 housing units across the Portland metro area, creating clean, sober, and supportive communities where parents can raise their children. Before the Family Alcohol and Drug-Free Community Housing Network (FAN Housing) was established in 2000, many parents leaving treatment faced an uphill battle. Without affordable, drug- and alcohol-free housing, parents often struggled to stay sober and risked losing their children to foster care.
FAN Housing changes that story. Here, families find more than just a roof over their heads—they find a community where recovery can take root and children can thrive. Parents working hard to maintain recovery gain the stability they need, while children grow up in homes that are safe, stable, and nurturing. For many kids, it’s the very first time they are living with a sober parent and alongside their siblings.
This unique program is possible because of strong collaboration between public and private partners who share a vision: families thriving together in recovery. With positive role models, safe parenting, and reliable support systems, FAN Housing gives parents and children the opportunity to heal, grow, and build brighter futures—together.
Backpacks That Build Confidence
Each year, the community rallies behind FAN Housing families through our Back to School Drive, an annual fundraiser that helps children start the year with confidence. Too many students begin the year without the basic supplies they need, leaving them feeling unprepared and overlooked. By donating essential items like backpacks, pencils, and notebooks, supporters do more than provide school supplies—they send a powerful message: your community believes in you.
Together, we can turn this tradition of generosity into lasting impact, helping every child in FAN Housing walk into the classroom ready to learn, grow, and succeed.
FAN Housing Through My Eyes
Chelsea H lives in our FAN housing. In her own words, here’s how FAN Housing and the Back to School Drive have helped her and her kids:
Can you share a little about your journey to CCC and FAN Housing? What brought you here?
I came to Portland from Pendleton, Oregon, and I am a recovering addict. I went to Letty Owings. I started there, and I stayed there for about six months. I did really, really hard on working on my recovery. Letty Owings helped me get into get my children back in my custody, and I have full custody of them now. Then I moved to after that, I went to Sunrise Place, and I was there for about four months. Then from the grace of God, I got into FAN housing, which has been phenomenal for me and my children. CCC has really brought a lot of hope into my life and courage and maybe able to believe in myself and be an amazing mom for my children, like when I get donations, when we get help from people outside of our community is very helpful, especially when us or I mean, I should say, have struggled in my life and needing or wanting to ask for help, and just being able to know that there’s people out there that believe in me and help me and CCC and fan housing has been phenomenal. I’ve never felt so appreciated in a very long time. So, wow, yeah, fan housing has really saved my life and my children’s life as to be their mother. So, I’m very, very, I’m very, very appreciative for fan housing and Patty and everybody.
Before the Back to School Drive, what challenges did you face getting school supplies—or other essentials—for your kids?
It was difficult because they need more than one thing of school supplies, but I was able to get some, but not all. Yeah, and so that’s that was very helpful, just knowing that my children have enough now. I don’t have to worry about them not having something or running out of anything.
What is your daughter most looking forward to this school year?
“Making friends!” — Chelsea’s daughter, Serenity, kindergarten, age 5
And what are you looking forward to as a parent this school year?
What I look forward to about school is having the opportunity for my daughter to have a future, a bright future, more than I did growing up, and just being able to be there for others and be there for herself, her feeling confident and what she’s doing in school, like, I want her to accomplish the things for her and for me.
Looking ahead, how do you see your future with CCC?
I wanted to at least go back to (Letty Owings) and start as a TA or something I really do want to work with CCC, so that’s my next school of doing. I also see myself living here (CCC housing) forever. I got very blessed, because that was one of my biggest barriers, and my fear was me not being able to afford my housing, and from the grace of God, like in my higher power, I got into where I needed to be and for my children. So, I’m very blessed. Don’t want to ruin it. I’m very thankful. And yes, I do see myself here at CCC.
Want to participate in one of our seasonal campaigns, like the Back to School Drive?
Keep an eye on our Volunteer page for upcoming drives, or sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop.
