Bridge Meadows

May is Affordable Housing Month - A time to recognize that housing is not a luxury, but the foundation everything else is built on.

When someone has a stable, affordable place to call home, children stay in the same schools, elders age with dignity, and families have the breathing room to heal and grow. When they don't, the ripple effect touches every corner of our communities: our schools, healthcare systems, workplaces, and neighbors.

Bridge Meadows' intergenerational communities bring together low-income elders and families impacted by child welfare to support one another. Our model proves that when we invest in people and place together, whole communities thrive:

🏡 Low-income elders gain affordable housing AND renewed purpose, moving from isolation to becoming cherished community members.

🏡 Families impacted by child welfare receive the village of support that raises resilient children in a stable, affordable home.

We recognize Affordable Housing Month with gratitude for every organization, advocate, and community member working to make safe, stable housing a reality for all Oregonians.

Watch the related PBS NewsHour report posted on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/nrgu4jhPCo0

(Image data source courtesy of National Low Income Housing Coalition)

In remembrance of our departed Armed Forces service members, our offices will be closed on Monday, May 25.

We will resume business operations on Tuesday, May 26.

Bridge Meadows Recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month! 💚

Our research confirms what we see every day at Bridge Meadows: intergenerational connection improves mental, physical, and cognitive health across every stage of life. Older adults experience reduced social isolation, Children develop greater empathy, reduce anxiety, and improve their emotional regulation. Parents gain vital resources and support that strengthen their family's well-being.

When children, families, and elders live and grow together, something powerful happens. Our latest survey data shows it clearly:

✨ 94% of youth report a positive resiliency score - demonstrating a strong ability to overcome adversity, seek resources, and ask for help when needed.

✨ 86% of parents feel optimistic about their future.

✨ 80% of elders score favorably on the mental health scale, reflecting low symptoms of depression and anxiety.

A sense of belonging - being seen, needed, and loved across generations - is a key protective factor of mental health.

🔗 Learn more about our intergenerational Theory of Change at bridgemeadows.org, and find additional programs benefiting mental health outcomes at Generations United and Mental Health America.

This May, we're proud to recognize , a Child Welfare Information Gateway initiative that reminds us to celebrate and support all those who help children in foster care find permanent homes and lasting connections. The following images provide some recent national and statewide numbers regarding foster youth.

Bridge Meadows supports foster parents, family members, mentors, child welfare professionals, policymakers, and every member of the community who shows up for a child in need.

Together, we can ensure no child grows up without a family to call their own. ❤️💚💙