An Applied Anthropological Study of Conflict Reduction: Fostering a Culture of Safety at a Homeless Service Organization in Portland, OR

Hygiene 4 All's (H4A) hub of operation provides hygiene services and resources to houseless individuals in Portland, OR. H4A seeks to foster a culture of safety, sanctuary, and welcome. During an internship that took place between February and December, 2025, I studied the organization's policies and practices, with a focus on how their formal and informal processes worked to lessen moments of social friction, escalations, and violent incidents. I apply theory regarding organizational management, practice theory, design, symbolic interactionism, and trauma-informed care to contextualize the research. I employed ethnographic methods, including participant observation, interviews, and document analysis, to identify themes and study policies and practices that H4A staff employ. The document concludes with recommendations and examples of positive service policies and practices. This applied anthropological study contributes to the literature on service provision to the homeless population by providing an evaluation of best practices that other houseless service organizations may implement to reduce interpersonal conflict and violent incidents.