Quiet Waters Outreach: Expanding Respite, Restoring Lives

Quiet Waters Outreach - Sherwood, Oregon

Quiet Waters Outreach (QWO) is a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Their mission is to provide services that restore spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health. QWO works to strengthen families by offering compassionate care, and engaging opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and much-needed respite for caregiving families.

Founded in 1997, QWO emerged from a deep understanding of the isolation and exhaustion often experienced by families supporting loved ones with disabilities. Within the first ten years, two homes were established — Martha’s Place in Tigard and Selah West in Hillsboro. These homes host Oregon’s only Bed & Breakfast style respite program for adults with disabilities, providing affordable, Medicaid-certified, 48-hour weekend care for up to five individuals per house. Guests enjoy fun, themed weekends—such as Trail Blazers games, trips to the beach, or bowling—that foster connection, skill-building, and joy.

QWO’s unique Bed & Breakfast program operates every weekend except major holidays. Due to increased demand for this essential respite care, the nonprofit was seeking to expand its program and staffing. Since January, QWO has reached several milestones including hiring new Direct Support Professionals, expanding their Bed & Breakfast Manager to full time, and increasing their footprint at resource fairs while welcoming new guests too.  

Through this effort, JTMF helped Quiet Waters Outreach’s aim to deepen its impact, expand its reach, and continue offering moments of rest, joy, and renewal to those who need it most.