Brauner Circle of Volunteer Excellence
Celebrating volunteers who have dedicated over 2,000 hours with Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Ed and Ellen Brauner first learned about Habitat in 1989 when Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity Co-Founder, spoke in Portland. Millard’s last words rang in their ears, “Let’s pick up a hammer and get to work”. Shortly after, the Brauners became […]
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Celebrate Juneteenth with Habitat!
Saturday, June 21st • 12 pm – 10 pm • Lillis-Albina Park Join us for a day of community, culture, and celebration at the Juneteenth Oregon Festival, hosted by Juneteenth Oregon. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and is a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for freedom and equality. It marks […]
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Oregon’s housing history and our mission at Habitat
On a chilly, gray morning, around 30 Habitat staff boarded a charter bus. It would carry them on a journey to understanding the history that underlies the housing challenges we address today. The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO) offers the tour as part of their educational outreach. It shines a light on policies of […]
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Century Commons looks more like home every day
Century Commons has come alive with buildings in various shades of blue, green, and gray. “With the exteriors being painted, it just feels more like a real community,” said site superintendent Gerard Hoogeboom. “These are homes now, not just houses.” Gerard added that he’s heard “nothing but rave reviews” from homebuyers about the vibrant and […]
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Top 5 Reasons to Schedule Your Next Team Building Experience with Habitat for Humanity
From the moment they climbed the 12-foot ladder, it clearly wasn’t going to be a typical Wednesday for Guild Mortgage employees. Instead of looking at loan documents and other office tasks, they worked together to raise a second-story wall of a Habitat home. Guided by Habitat staff and working alongside Core volunteers, they learned how […]
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From road trips to homebuilding: Two families share their stories
Written by Sarah Wexler Earlier this year, when Len Norwitz watched a tow truck haul away his late mother’s Buick Century as a donation to Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, he wasn’t sad. He was proud. His mom, Molly Tulin, bought the car new in 1999 in Connecticut, where she lived and spent her career […]
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Construction update: Progress builds across Portland region
From framing to finishing touches, our construction team is making major progress! Let’s take a look at the latest from five of our active build sites. Myrtlewood Way – Gresham As if by magic, the first building has been fully framed by our trade partners. We’re using Parr Lumber’s Opti-Frame system. Construction superintendent Travis Schultz […]
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A Day of Hope and Action: 2025 HopeBuilder Lunch
More than 800 passionate community members gathered for Habitat for Humanity’s annual HopeBuilder Lunch—an afternoon filled with inspiration, purpose, and powerful stories. Together, we affirmed a shared belief: that everyone deserves an affordable place to call home. And thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised more than […]
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Service is a family value for new Ambassador Council Chair
Written by Sarah Wexler Growing up in a large Filipino-Irish Catholic family in Chicago, Will Mohring spent countless afternoons at sprawling barbecues at his grandmother’s house. His Lola (Tagalog for “grandmother”) would cook a feast of whole fish, rice, lumpia, pancit noodles, and coconut confections. But for Will, it wasn’t just about the menu. “Those meals […]
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Framing begins at West Lake Grove!
Spring is in full swing at West Lake Grove, and exciting progress is unfolding on-site! This Lake Oswego community will have 23 homes, and March was a big month for laying the groundwork—literally. March Milestones: Framing Begins! We’re using Opti-Frame at this build site. Parr pre-cuts the lumber, labels and delivers each framing package to […]
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