PDX Saints Love

History and Activities

PDX Saints Love was founded in 2017 to provide food, supplies, relationships, employment training, and other support to the homeless and in-need people in Portland, Oregon. The organization is focused on “addressing inequities” in the city and promotes de-escalation and crisis prevention to address matters of public concern.  ⁵

Programs offered by PDX Saints Love include operating the Day Center in southeast Portland, which provides meals, hygiene kits, clothing, case management support, shelter referrals, addiction detox and treatment referrals, and help accessing housing and other resources; paid internships of 12 to 15 weeks to help homeless individuals build skills; community gatherings; facilitating access to resources for food, health care, and education; and hosting community wellness fairs to offer services to the homeless. ⁴

Additionally, PDX Saints Love offers the Peer Support Internship, a 10-week internship program that involved 20 hours of work per week with a $500 completion bonus. The internship is designed for people who were previously homeless, have suffered trauma, have behavioral health issues, or are recovering from addiction. The internship trains people to engage with others in need by coordinating clothing and hygiene resources, setting up and preparing for events, participating in neighborhood outreach and litter cleanup, serving food, and learning about equity and harm-reduction approaches. Participants must be at least 90 days clean from illicit substances. ⁶

In 2023, PDX Saints Love hosted the Restoration of Love Gala, an event showcasing those who were previously homeless or suffered from addiction. ¹

In August 2025, PDX Saints Love claimed that its Day Center may have to close after failing to receive funding from the city of Portland. Founder and executive director Kristle Delihanty said the organization would need to raise $50,000 to keep the center open through the end of the year. Delihanty accused the mayor of Portland of failing to invite PDX Saints Love to apply for funding, a contention the mayor disputed. ⁷

People

The executive director and founder of PDX Saints Love is Kristle Delihanty. Delihanty is also the board president of the Montavilla Collective. Previously, she was a member of the board of directors of the Lents Grown Business Association; the co-owner of a construction and roofing company in Vancouver, Washington; and an accounts receivable manager for the Red Lion Hotels Corporation. Delihanty was previously a homeless opiate and heroin addict for 20 years. ^{2  3  1}

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023, PDX Saints Love reported $245,032 in revenue, $212,881 in expenses, and $55,113 in assets.  Of its expenses, PDX Saints Love reported spending $104,239 on providing meals, haircuts, supplies, housing referrals, and financial assistance to people in East Portland. The organization received over 68 percent of its revenue ($167,292) from government grants and nearly 23 percent of its revenue ($55,176) from gifts, grants, and other contributions. ²