Finally rooted: Ken’s homeownership story
Sounds of birdsong and rustling corn greet you as you step out of Ken’s back door. As the plants in his garden send their roots into the earth, they help Ken feel rooted in turn. “When I put the garden in and started growing things… it started to feel like home,” he says. Ken’s undeniable […]
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Good neighbors: How a SW Portland church is building homes and hope
Last month, members of Greater Portland Bible Church (GPBC) spent a day at Gooseberry Trails — helping to frame some of the 52 affordable homes rising just steps from the church’s own front door. As they worked alongside Habitat staff to form walls and install joists for building 14, GPBC members traded stories of the land. Some could remember parking their cars decades ago in the very place they now stood. Others recalled helping at Habitat’s earlier Trillium Court community. […]
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Habitat Portland Region appoints three new board members
Habitat for Humanity Portland Region proudly announces the appointment of three new members to the board of directors. This brings the total number of board members to 23. Joining the board of directors are Amy Malagamba (The Standard), Gabriela Mann (The GM Group), and Youtheary Sim (Sweet T Bakery). Nancy Lee continues to serve as […]
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Homeownership with heart: Valencia’s journey
“I feel like housing is my heart,” Valencia says. Growing up, she watched her father, who emigrated from Mexico, work tirelessly for their family. She remembers the instability of moving often and struggling to afford rent. Her father bought a home when she was 15, giving her stability and hope to do the same. As […]
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Framing is in full swing at Gooseberry Trails!
The first homes are rising at Gooseberry Trails, Habitat Portland Region’s largest community yet! After months of site development, this neighborhood is buzzing with activity as trades and volunteers begin framing the first of the future 52 homes. Framing is in full swing “It’s really exciting to see future homes finally go up. It really […]
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Sarah’s ReStore story: finding joy and strength
On a recent sunny Saturday in Gresham, Sarah Cox helped represent Habitat at a community event. She’s been volunteering for nearly a year, mostly at the Gresham ReStore and occasionally on the construction side. Sarah describes the volunteer experience by drawing an infinity symbol in the air with her finger. “I’m able to give into something that’s bringing some spirit back into my […]
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One Habitat Family
It only took a few days for new connections to start feeling like old friends. Last month, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region staff welcomed three members of Habitat El Salvador’s Resource Development team, Vanessa Albanez, Hazel Bolanos, and Roberto Vasquez, to Portland. As staff gathered to meet them, we shared pupusas, El Salvador’s national dish, […]
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Finding peace: Duffy’s homeownership journey
When Duffy and her three children moved into their Habitat home this year, the biggest change wasn’t the extra space, but the peace she has worked so hard to achieve. “It feels like we can be a tighter family unit and rebuild our identity together,” she says. For two years, Duffy’s family made the most […]
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Construction update: summer build season is heating up!
From breaking ground to finishing punch-lists, our sites across the Portland region are buzzing with activity. Have a look at where things stand this summer and what’s on the horizon. Myrtlewood Way — Gresham After more than two years of development, Myrtlewood Way is in its home stretch. Twelve of the twenty homes in the […]
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Celebrating our volunteers and the Brauner Circle of Volunteer Excellence
Every summer, we get to do one of our favorite things: gather with the volunteers who make this work possible and say thank you. On a sunny afternoon at Willamette Park, volunteers from our construction sites and ReStores filled the picnic shelter. People played cornhole, shared sandwiches and sweets, and enjoyed a perfect summer day […]
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