Sisters has a new permanent home

We have good news. Great news, actually. 

By the time you read this, Sisters of the Road will officially be the new owner of the House of Louie in Old Town Chinatown. 

As you may remember, it was just eight months ago when I greeted you, introducing myself as acting director and acknowledging the difficulties we faced to keep our cafe open. All we wanted to do was be there for our partners and houseless neighbors but we made the difficult decision to keep the cafe closed and look for a new permanent home.

At the time, many people understandably had fears and doubts. Sisters of the Road’s cafe had become a staple on NW 6th and NW Davis since it opened over 40 years ago — a steady and reliable presence for people looking for a welcoming space to take refuge and nourish their bodies. Our community sorely felt our absence and it was tempting to band-aid over our deteriorating space and re-open as soon as possible.

The former cafe at 133 NW 6th ave

The journey of finding our forever home has been assisted by doggedness, luck, and the support of our community. The doggedness came from my conviction that all people inherently have dignity and Sisters of the Road needed to honor this more intentionally — even if it wasn’t widely expected of us.

Dining with dignity isn’t a privilege just for people with money. Working in a safe, dignified environment isn’t just for employees of for-profit, corporate entities. A permanent home that we could transform to fit our needs and the needs of those we serve was essential to meeting this standard.

House of Louie is a dream building for us — and luckily it was for sale. As a landmark of Chinatown, it represents immigrant resilience in the face of otherness and displacement, and a sense of belonging carved out in a corner of an unwelcoming world. Being able to purchase and revitalize this piece of history, after five years of emptiness, is extremely rewarding. 

Finally, property ownership and the stability and power that brings to us as an organization cannot be dismissed. Both as a reliable safe haven for houseless people and an advocacy organization seeking systemic change, our impact can only become stronger from here.

Acquiring the House of Louie represents immigrant resilience in the face of otherness and displacement, and a sense of belonging carved out in a corner of an unwelcoming world. This resonates deeply with the story of our organization and those we serve. As a South Korean adoptee and immigrant who grew up working class, this is personal. It’s not just a building. We now have the opportunity to determine our own path in the face of oppression and hate. That’s dignity.

The House of Louie located at 331 NW Davis

Here’s what’s next.

For the next two years, we will renovate and design our new home to meet our unique needs and wants. We are committed to seeking input from our community so we can co-create our space together. We are also committed to preserving the history of House of Louie so we can always be reminded of historic Chinatown and honor those who have survived displacement before us.

While our cafe won’t return for another two years, we are more present in the community than ever.

We’ve been vocal in opposing city policies aimed at further marginalizing, criminalizing, and over-policing houseless people. We are showing up in debates related to police accountability, gun detection technology, mass encampments and Urban Alchemy, the service provider hired to run Portland’s camps with a problematic history. We’ve partnered with the Portland Farmers Market to revamp the Fresh Change program, which will give houseless people a safe, guided way to access fresh food.

I am grateful for the support, help, and expertise of colleagues, business partners, and friends who have been paramount so far: David Wynde, Bruce Knivila, Patricia Dost, Saerom Yoo, Lorraine Crooks, Greg Capen at B&G Builders, Michael Holzgang and Rob MacNichol at Collier’s International, Skylab Architecture, and the Board and staff at Sisters who have been steadfast and unwavering.

Our team is extremely energized by how far we’ve come since the fall — and we hope you’re excited, too. If you are, then consider making a donation to Sisters in celebration of this historic moment.

Thank you for joining us on the journey. We’ll keep you updated.

Current Sisters of the Road staff and our new permanent home