Blog

Rachael’s dream come true in King City

Rachael has always loved fairy tales. She even named her three daughters — Anastasia, 13, Aurora, 12, and Evangeline, 10 — after Disney characters. When she moved her family into their new Habitat home this August, it felt like her own magic moment.  Growing up, Rachael always noticed the ‘King City’ sign on the drive to […]

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Breaking ground and records: 2025 construction progress

2025 is winding down, but construction is still heating up. We had a record year, with the most developments simultaneously under construction in Habitat Portland Region’s history.    Before we move into another busy year, take a look at the progress our amazing crews, volunteers, and supporters made across our build sites!  West Lake Grove  Habitat’s 23-home Lake Oswego community is shaping […]

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How a Habitat volunteer became Santa Claus

“Never pass up a chocolate chip cookie,” Leon Taylor laughs.   Sporting a white beard and wearing a red fleece with jeans, he looks like a modern Santa Claus (despite pairing his cookie with tea instead of milk).  For the past three Decembers, Leon has embraced the role of Santa. It started when his church needed […]

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Hampton Lumber frames the future at Habitat’s Lake Oswego site 

On a hot August day, volunteers from Hampton Lumber joined Habitat for Humanity in Lake Oswego to help build affordable homes at the West Lake Grove community. As the title sponsor of Habitat’s Frame a Future campaign, Hampton Lumber’s support has helped advance the construction of these Lake Oswego homes where local families and individuals will soon achieve the stability and opportunity that […]

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Building a future on her own terms 

Sawdust fills the air and nail guns echo off the walls of the newest homes under construction at West Lake Grove on a bright afternoon in Lake Oswego.  Eight Habitat homebuyers took part in a community build in October, as a way to meet their neighbors and learn new skills. From photos, it may be […]

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Building together: Developer partnerships expand Habitat’s impact across Portland region 

Across the Portland metro area, Habitat for Humanity’s partnerships with local developers are helping to bring more affordable homes within reach for families and individuals who need them most.  Two of Habitat’s newest collaborators — West Coast Home Solutions and DBS Group — are not only building high-quality homes but also investing deeply in the […]

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Advocacy ABCs: Y for YIMBY 

Across Portland and beyond, communities are grappling with how to make room for more neighbors. As housing costs soar and available homes remain scarce, a growing movement is calling for change: YIMBY, short for “Yes In My Backyard.”  YIMBY began as a grassroots response to restrictive zoning and development barriers that limit housing supply. Supporters […]

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We framed the future — together!

When Asùkùlù stepped up to the microphone at our Frame a Future celebration, he spoke from the heart about what it meant to grow up in a Habitat home.   “This home has seen me and my family through various seasons of life. Though I don’t plan on living with my parents forever, no place […]

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“Toolbelt Generation” builds talent in the trades

Written by volunteer Asher Bernick-Roehr; photos by Cyril Desmond Growing up in a family of doctors and lawyers, Bri always thought she was supposed to take the same path. But after going the college route, she realized that what really made her happy was working with her hands. “I went to college. I’ve done five […]

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Kathleen’s ReStore story: community, creativity, and love 

When Kathleen Stady got married in August, her backyard was filled with friends, family, and ReStore. She and her now-husband, John, had found their wedding arch at the Beaverton ReStore, where they both volunteer. Two friends from the ReStore helped decorate it with flowers and ribbon. Current staff and volunteers filled the guest list and […]

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