This ministry sprang from meetings called by Our Savior's Lutheran Church beginning in 1986 when representatives of several churches in Lake Oswego began discussing the need to "do something" about the homeless. At the time, no transitional housing was available for families following emergency shelter placement in Clackamas County. One church north of the lake offered its facility as a site for the shelter. With donated labor and furnishings, volunteers from 7 congregations converted a small office into a bedroom with a shower for guest families. A living room was created from an adjacent Church School classroom. Families shared the use of the church kitchen and rest rooms with the congregation. In partnership with the Annie Ross House and Clackamas County Social Services, the Ministry opened the shelter's door to the first guest family in September l988.

In May of 2000, the loose coalition of churches was reorganized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a Board of Directors made up of representatives from each of the supporting churches. The newly formed non-profit coalition applied for and was awarded grants by Clackamas County (a Community Development Block Grant) and The Lake Oswego Junior Women's Club to construct a second shelter. Cash and in-kind donations from member churches and community partners amounted to $32,788, well in excess of the 20% matching funds required by the Block Grant. The fully-furnished 1 bedroom apartment met the ADA requirements and allowed accommodation of a family member living with a disability.

Churches currently involved in the ministry include: Christ Church Episcopal Parish, Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, Lake Oswego United Church of Christ, Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, and River West Church. Each of the member churches has a representative who coordinates the volunteers from their respective churches. 

In the first 15 years of the ministry, 37 families were served, including 55 adults and 60 children. Of these families, 18 had women as single head of household, 3 had men as single head of household, and 16 families had 2 adult caregivers. Ethnically those families were 92% European American, 5% African American, and 3% Hispanic American. Seventy percent of the families served maintained permanent housing for at least a 6 month follow-up period, a high percentage compared to most transitional shelters. Unlike many transitional shelters where a caseworker has time to stop by once a week, our families receive daily contact from volunteers. Many of our guest families have stated that it is the love, kindness, and generosity of ordinary people volunteering to lend a helping hand, believing that they can get back on their own feet that has made the difference in their lives.