Mother and son volunteer duo make a great team at Foster Commons
Habitat volunteers Sandi and Spencer have taken family bonding to a whole new level. The mother and son duo volunteer at the Foster Commons site every Thursday, helping to construct what will eventually be a thriving 40-home community in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood. They have each dedicated more than 65 hours of volunteer work […]
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What are SDCs and why do they matter for affordable homeownership?
System development charges (SDCs)— those one-time fees tacked onto new construction projects — have become a staple for local governments across Oregon. Faced with declining revenue from state and federal sources, and Oregon’s limit on property taxes, cities, counties, and special districts lean on these charges to fund basic systems and infrastructure. In fact, the […]
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Construction update | New beginnings just ahead — for Habitat and homeowners alike
At Habitat, spring is giving way to summer sun and fabulous floors! Learn how homeowners, volunteers, and staff are springing ahead on our most active construction sites. Alder Commons Big moves are underway at our 8-home community in Hillsboro known as Alder Commons. The paving is complete, painting, stair construction and siding installation are […]
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Habitat expands opportunities with multiple languages
The Portland region is rich with multicultural and multilingual communities, and everyone should have a chance to be engaged and get involved. That’s why overcoming language barriers for volunteers and homebuyers is a priority for Habitat for Humanity Portland Region. Bri Lopez, Habitat’s volunteer program director, noticed that when prospective homebuyers are volunteering with Habitat, […]
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Build a Playhouse with Habitat
Habitat for Humanity’s Playhouse Experience is back, and with the teamwork of long-time supporters from Avangrid, we already have our first new playhouse ready to go. The Playhouse Experience partners with a team of volunteers to build and decorate custom spaces for kids going through a life-altering loss in their family. Children who would especially benefit […]
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Homeowner Story | A Happy home for Jasmine’s boys
Jasmine and her sons outside their Habitat home. Photo by Tonya Wright Jasmine was just 10 years old when she lost her mother, a single parent. Following her sudden death, Jasmine and her older brother were separated, and shuttled between Portland-area foster care and group homes, and occasionally experienced homelessness. That’s when she made a […]
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Playground commemoration brings together Denney Gardens community
Call it a bug, a race car or even a lunar lander, the jungle gym in the center of Denney Garden’s new playground is now open to fire up a host of children’s imaginations. On May 6, it was surrounded by Habitat volunteers, donors, and staff for a commemoration to celebrate the playground’s completion — […]
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From homeless to homeowner: Renatta’s Story
Renatta grew up in the Pacific Northwest, bouncing from apartment to apartment with her grandmother. “I’m the oldest of five, but my mother just couldn’t mother, so we were all separated in the foster care system and sent to various relatives,” Renatta said. “Thankfully, my grandmother took me in.” Living with a disability, Renatta’s grandmother […]
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Volunteer Spotlight | Ray shines as a true ReStore treasure
You could say Ray Williamson “saw a sign” a decade ago that led to him becoming one of the Beaverton ReStore’s most dedicated volunteers. Ray and his wife Brenda were driving near their home in Brennan, Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula, when Brenda “spotted something shiny in the window” of a Jefferson County Habitat for […]
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Homeowner story | Michele and the gift of a lasting home
Michele always knew she wanted to give her children the stable home she never had growing up. Her dad, who immigrated at age 8 from Mexico, worked from 6 am to 6 pm for almost his entire life to make sure that his family had food, clothes, and a roof over their heads. But that […]
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