Stories of Impact

Ieiasha & River

LET’S STAY TOGETHER

Ieiasha grew up watching her mother and aunt open their hearts and homes to foster children who needed love, stability, and a safe place to belong. She saw firsthand how transformative it could be when a child found the right family at the right time.

Those childhood memories planted a seed that would shape her future in ways she never imagined.

When Ieiasha’s sister became unable to care for her then-one-year-old son, River, Ieiasha stepped forward to provide kinship care and eventually adopted him. She immediately became the keeper of a precious promise: that River would stay connected to his six siblings, all of whom were scattered across multiple relatives and custodians.

Her mission to keep that promise proved harder than she expected.

WHEN HOME WASN’T ENOUGH

For more than 15 years, Ieiasha had lived in the same apartment.

It was familiar, but as River grew ever more energetic and joyful, and the family navigated River’s autism diagnosis, the space felt increasingly inadequate. When his older siblings came to visit, the apartment came alive with the beautiful chaos of children reconnecting. But what felt like family to Ieiasha seemed to be “too much” for her landlord, who grew reluctant to address safety issues and maintenance needs in a timely manner.

Ieiasha, who works full-time at a clinic serving HIV patients in Multnomah County, found herself in an impossible position. She needed an advocate. She needed a safe, accessible, affordable home where River could thrive and his siblings could visit freely. She needed a community that would welcome her family, not just tolerate them.

FINDING COMMUNITY IN NORTH PORTLAND

The transition to Bridge Meadows’ North Portland community changed everything. The spacious rental townhome gave River room to be exactly who he is — a three-year-old who needs space to move, play, and explore. The safe courtyard and play areas meant his siblings could visit without worry, running and laughing together in ways that had been impossible before.

But it wasn’t just the physical space that made the difference. It was the people.

“I really appreciate how Andrea always keeps us informed about things we can access for help when we need it,” Ieiasha said, referring to her Community Support Manager. “I also like how the community makes us feel safe. The kids in the neighborhood are kind to River, and we don’t feel isolated, because there are other families here with backgrounds similar to ours.”

For the first time, Ieiasha experienced what it felt like to have supportive communication and outreach from both staff and neighbors, something she never had while living in her previous apartment.

A NETWORK OF LOVE ACROSS COMMUNITIES

The Bridge Meadows connection runs even deeper for Ieiasha’s family. Another sister cares for a few of River’s older siblings at Bridge Meadows Beaverton. Both families now experience the same welcoming, safe environment, making it easier to coordinate frequent visits and participate in group activities when their busy schedules allow.

“It was extremely important to our family that the seven siblings (whose ages are between one and ten years old) stayed as close as possible to one another,” Ieiasha explained.

“It feels really good to know that we did the best we could to keep them involved in each other’s daily lives, and Bridge Meadows helped that happen.”

THRIVING AT HOME

Today, River is flourishing. He’s enrolled in school programs where he receives the services he needs. He loves reading (The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen is a must-read among the two books he enjoys each day) and playing basketball. The neighborhood park within walking distance from their townhome has become a favorite destination.

After nearly three years at Bridge Meadows, River is a bright and joyful preschooler in his forever home, and Ieiasha is confidently living the legacy her mother and aunt modeled for her: opening her heart, creating stability, and proving that with the right support, families can stay together and thrive.

This is what Bridge Meadows makes possible – not just housing, but homes where families can keep their promises to each other.