Trans Oregon
← Back to resources

Clackamas County · Healthcare

FolkTime

Last updated Apr 2026

About

FolkTime is a peer-led, peer-run nonprofit mental health community organization founded in 1985 in Portland, Oregon. It operates on the belief that people with lived experience of mental health challenges are the most qualified to support each other, with no clinical gatekeeping required.

Free To Be Me Connection Center (NE Portland) Located at 4837 NE Couch St (inside Community of Christ Church), this drop-in community space is free and open to anyone facing mental health challenges. No appointment, no diagnosis, no referral needed., Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 2pm, Phone: (503) 709-2450

Oregon City Peer Connection Center A second drop-in location in Oregon City. Hours vary, call the main line for current schedule.

Peer Respite House 232 SE 80th Ave, Portland, OR 97215. A 24-hour, home-like alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, up to two weeks of peer support, no clinical admission required. For people in crisis who need a supported environment but not an ER., Phone: (503) 756-0066

Training & Technical Assistance Center Offers Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training, Community Health Worker (CHW) certification, and Personal Health Navigator (PHN) certification, relevant for clients interested in peer support careers.

FolkTime is not a trans-specific organization, but they have a strong commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed care and are listed in Oregon's HMIS system as a recovery support provider. Approximately 60% of participants report improved housing stability as a result of involvement.

Case manager notes: Best fit for clients who need mental health peer community after relocation, especially those who are isolated or adjusting to Portland. The drop-in model is low-barrier and doesn't require paperwork or insurance. For clients in acute crisis needing a non-hospital environment, the Peer Respite is one of the few options in the city. Not a substitute for clinical mental health services.

Services offered

Mental healthPeer supportCrisis support

Who it's for

Adults 18+

Eligibility

Open to anyone experiencing mental health challenges. No diagnosis, referral, or insurance required. Peer Respite is for adults in crisis needing a supported alternative to hospitalization — stays up to two weeks.

Location

FolkTime

232 SE 80th Ave

Open in Maps
Claim this listingSuggest an edit

Community recommendations

Know how to reach them, or what helped you get through? Share a tip to help the next person.

Recommendations are reviewed by WERQ staff before they appear. Nothing posts automatically.

Related journeys

  • Get established with gender-affirming care in PortlandReady to start gender-affirming care in Portland? This covers your insurance options (OHP vs. private vs. uninsured), how to choose between Prism Health, OHSU, Outside In, Multnomah County Health Centers, and Planned Parenthood, how informed consent works, labs and monitoring, the surgery pathway, and what to do if you hit a delay or denial. It also helps you build the rest of your care team after you arrive: primary care, a dentist, an eye doctor, and a therapist, so your whole health is covered, not just your transition.
  • Get OHP and SNAP when you move to OregonYou just moved (or are about to move) to Oregon and need health coverage and food benefits. Oregon is one of the most trans-affirming states in the country, OHP covers gender-affirming care as a legal right, and SNAP can be in your pocket in as little as 7 days if your situation qualifies. This path walks you through every step: closing your old Medicaid, applying through Oregon's ONE portal, surviving the wait, and keeping your benefits long-term.

More resources like this

  • Health Share of OregonLargest CCO in Portland Metro for OHP members, with broadest gender-affirming care network.
  • Outside InFQHC for youth 16 to 24 with HRT, primary care, ID Project, employment, and housing services.
Start intake