Important Update for East Side of Portland Residents

A map of Portland, Oregon, outlining various east-side neighborhoods where we are pausing service.

Thank you for your interest in our program. We deeply value your commitment to creating a thriving and sustainable habitat. Due to current funding constraints, we must place new enrollments of Portland residents living east of the Willamette River on a waiting list.

We understand this news may be disappointing and want you to know our team is actively working to overcome these challenges and resume normal operations as soon as possible. Your enthusiasm and support are invaluable to us, and we look forward to welcoming you to the program as soon as possible. Please note that as funding becomes available, we’ll reach out to those on the waitlist to ask them to complete the last step of enrollment. At this time, we can’t determine when that would be, but please keep an eye open for that email.

Note: Our partnership projects on Portland’s east side, specifically with Verde and People of Color Outdoors (POCO), are funded by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and will continue uninterrupted. Additionally, we are still providing certification and renewal visits to existing program participants in this affected area!

Thank you for your understanding and patience!

Why is there a pause in East Portland?
Backyard Habitat receives financial support from many cities, public agencies, and organizations. However, most of these funding contracts are geographically restricted. Currently, the resources available for Portland’s east side do not cover our costs in that area. Our team is working hard to advocate for East Side Portlanders and identify funding sources to meet the demand of this large and densely populated area. 

We understand how this impacts one of the region’s most under-resourced communities. That’s why we’ve worked hard to delay this decision over the years and why our primary focus right now is advocating for funding to fully restore operations on the east side. 

When will normal operations resume in East Portland?
While we don’t yet know when we’ll be able to resume full operations, we hope to start offering initial site visits to some participants on our waitlist in 2025, as funding allows. We’ll email participants on our waiting list to help them complete the last steps of the enrollment process and schedule an initial site visit. 

Should I sign up now or wait?
We encourage you to join our waitlist so we can schedule your site visit once funding becomes available. While we can’t guarantee a specific timeline, joining the waitlist now ensures you’ll be among the first to be contacted. As funding allows, we’ll email you further instructions on how to complete your enrollment and schedule your visit.

What can I do in the meantime?

  • Join the Waitlist: Sign up through our enrollment page to secure your spot. Being on the waitlist ensures you’ll receive an initial site visit faster once funding is available and helps demonstrate public interest as we fundraise. Plus, you’ll stay informed about advocacy opportunities. Meanwhile, explore our resource library for habitat-friendly practices, which you can start anytime.
  • Advocacy Efforts: We’re developing a strategy to increase east-side funding. Stay tuned via our e-news, social media, and email updates.
  • Support the Program: If you can afford it, consider donating to our program. Your financial support allows us to continue our vital work while expanding our reach to underserved communities. As part of 501(c)(3) organizations, your tax-deductible donations to our program impactfully change both nature and your community. You can set up a recurring donation through our donation page and make a lasting difference.

Why isn’t this pause also affecting the west side of Portland?
For our work on Portland’s west side, we receive grants from the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, allowing us to fully cover this smaller, less populated part of the city. 

Will other parts of your service area be affected?
We currently have secure, stable funding across the rest of our service area, including Washington, Clackamas, and Clark counties, as well as Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale in Multnomah County. With over 20 contracts and grants from cities, public agencies, and organizations throughout the region, we do not anticipate any future program pauses in these areas.