Statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling to reverse affirmative action in higher education. Habitat for Humanity Portland Region reaffirms our commitment to our DEI strategy and more specifically, anti-racism and the importance of advancing racial equity in working to achieve our mission. As a global housing organization, we know the crucial role both stable […]
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Habitat, Proud Ground testify on expanding property tax exemptions in Portland
This week, the Portland City Council voted to significantly increase the number of privately developed homes eligible to receive the Homeownership Opportunity Limited Tax Exemption, or HOLTE, on homes sold to low- or moderate-income families. This expansion encourages private development of affordable housing, and creates opportunities to leverage even greater affordability in partnership with nonprofit […]
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Conversation: Housing advocate Claire Hall talks about LGBTQ+ challenges to housing
Claire Hall (she/her) came out as transgender in 2018, at a time when transgender people faced — and continue to face — misunderstandings and a lack of acceptance in the wider community. But she counts herself lucky in many ways, and one in particular. “I was already a homeowner,” she said. A long-time housing advocate […]
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Rebekah’s fixer-upper now a point of pride in her neighborhood
Rebekah, a homeowner in Northeast Portland, sipped cool water under the shade of a tree in her yard, waving to neighbors walking their dogs and inhaling the sweet aroma of freshly bloomed white and pink roses growing in her garden. Life only recently became this blissful for Rebekah and her daughter. The two of them […]
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New home, new friends await Daisy and family
Ever since Daisy found out that she had the opportunity to purchase an affordable home, she said she’s been in a dream. But even if somebody pinches her, she won’t have to worry about waking up. Daisy and her three teenagers, ages 11, 16 and 18, are eager to move into their four-bedroom Habitat […]
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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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