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History

The story of the PHCNW began in 1951 when a group of Portland families established an organization that offered educational opportunities for mentally disabled children who had been denied entrance into public schools. Since then, PHCNW has evolved into an organization that has proudly trained and employed thousands of individuals with disabilities. Although PHCNW’s role in the community has changed over the years, our foundation of increasing independence for people with disabilities remains strong.

  • Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stevens purchase a three-story house located in southeast Portland and christen it the Portland Children’s Center. With the help of several other families, they form a non-profit organization for the education of children with disabilities.
  • The Center is mentioned in the Congressional Record for bill S. 1092, which provides federal-grants-in-aid to train teachers in teaching methods for disabled children.
  • The Center quickly flourishes. By 1959, it is the statewide leader in educational programming for children with mental disabilities.

  • The Center increases efforts toward providing vocational training and employment for the school's graduates.
  • The Center moves to a new, bigger building in southeast Portland and expands its enrollment from 35 children to 80.
  • Twenty-five workers with mental disabilities receive their first paychecks from the Center through a contract to assemble hydraulic brake systems - making the Center Oregon's first workshop for workers with disabilities.

 


  • The Center's efforts are directed toward the full integration of children with disabilities into the public school system. The goal is reached in 1974, and the Portland Children's Center is renamed Portland Habilitation Center (PHC) to reflect its new mission – vocational training and employment for adults with severe disabilities. 
  • PHC invites all people with disabilities to participate in a basic food handling procedures training course. Graduates are employed by several Portland-area restaurants.
  • PHC continues to help individuals gain independence by developing a Practical Living Skills training course which focuses on: money management, grooming, cooking, sewing, shopping, and appropriate adult behavior.

 


  • PHC Landscape Services is born in March of 1980 as a seasonal project. Trainees learn to perform lawn care, equipment maintenance, plant identification and cultivation, safety procedures, pest and weed control, and trimming and pruning.
  • In 1985, PHC Janitorial Services expands through a major contract with Portland's U.S. Courthouse. Nine full-time employees are added at union wages.
  • In 1985, state grants allow PHC to develop two new training programs for commercial laundry and housekeeping services.

 


  • PHC experiments with new businesses at the request of existing customers, which leads to the development of Clerical Services in 1993.
  • PHC’s Janitorial Services maintain all of downtown Portland’s federal office buildings, Portland State University and Oregon Health Sciences University educational facilities. The janitorial business continues its rapid growth with additional contracts with the State of Oregon, Washington County, City of Portland and Port of Portland.
  • In 1996, PHC grows beyond the capacity of its leased space and a new 75,000 square-foot facility is built.
  • In 1999, at the request of employees who were having difficulties maintaining a steady place to live, PHC acquires 245 HUD-subsidized apartment units in Portland, The Dalles and Albany, many of which are designed for people with disabilities.

  • Landscape Services significantly expands its customer base to include various political subdivisions of the state. Also, this department starts to perform installation and renovation work in addition to maintenance contracts.
  • In 2001, 129 housing units are added in the Portland metropolitan area, with another 32 in Vancouver, Washington, added in early 2002. An additional 77 units are added in 2003, 16 of which are renovated through a HUD 811 program for low income people with disabilities.
  • In 2008, PHC is rebranded as “PHC Northwest” to more accurately convey its breadth of services across multiple states.
  • Nearly 60 years later, PHCNW’s network has grown to encompass cities throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
  • PHCNW continues to expand and improve services with goals of continuous and effective training procedures, guaranteeing future employment for people with disabilities, and providing affordable housing.
  • Currently, PHCNW Janitorial Services is recognized as a leading industry provider, Landscaping Services cover more than 500 acres of parks and commercial complexes, Clerical Services is operating within eight Northwest cities, and Manufacturing Services has enhanced its light industrial services and added fulfillment and digital document management to its array of services.


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