Rose Haven serves women and children experiencing the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges. Rose Haven’s mission is to maintain a safe, respectful community while providing our guests with support and services to assist them in regaining stability in their lives.

Rose Haven was designed using the results of a survey done in 1997 by Sr. Cathie Boerboom and Joan Van Almen, which asked the women of Old Town what they most needed and wanted. Sr. Cathie then joined forces with Stephanie Banka and began to build connections with other agencies and churches that met some of the needs of the women expressed. From here they built a program that complemented existing services, filled the voids and provided connectivity between resources and agencies. Soon, Rose Haven began responding to the critical need for safety for women. In 1998 Rose Haven began as a program of Catholic Charities where it quickly brought aid to more than 2,000 women and children in the Portland area each year.

In 2007 Rose Haven became an independent non-profit organization, relocated to NW Portland, and continued to provide direct services to homeless and abused women and children.

From the beginning Rose Haven has welcomed women off the street and with deep respect addressed each one's expressed needs by offering life sustaining services and assistance in obtaining them. The staff and volunteers have a passionate commitment to the empowerment, integration and self-sufficiency of the women they serve.

Rose Haven has received awards from county, city, region, church and service organizations for its excellent service to women and children in Portland.

The Rose Haven Name

This name sums up the environment Rose Haven wishes to continually create. “Rose” was chosen for two reasons; each woman is seen as a rose with actual and potential beauty. “Rose” is also the baptismal name of St. Mary Euphrasia, foundress of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. One of her sayings is, “Each person is of more value than a whole world (of things)”. She is Rose Haven’s patroness. “Haven” was chosen because it indicates safety, home, acceptance, a place to be comfortable.
 
One of the members of the founding team described Rose Haven as “a place of mystery and miracles”.
We remain open to both.