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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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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Carter Work Project reflections from Habitat Portland Region staff
While the daily rhythms of construction and volunteer work continued in Portland, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region’s Deputy Director of Construction Programs, Jesse Withers, and Director of Volunteer Engagement, Liz Connor, joined 2,500 volunteers in Atlanta, GA, for the 40th annual Carter Work Project. “It was a sea of blue hard hats,” says Jesse. A tide of […]
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Championing affordable homeownership: outcomes from the 2026 short legislative session
Written by Sarah Radcliffe, Habitat Portland Region’s Director of Government Relations The 2026 legislative short session has concluded, and Habitat Portland Region showed up strong. Thank you to all of our community members who continue to advocate for affordable housing investment. Here’s where things landed. Outcomes from the short session First, two bills we hoped would succeed did not cross the finish line. The LIFT program (Local […]
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Global Village reflections from El Salvador
When volunteers from Habitat for Humanity Portland Region arrived at their worksites in Ahuachapán, El Salvador, there were just string lines marking where homes would someday stand. By the end of the week, those same sites held hand-dug foundations, carefully tied rebar, and freshly poured cement — the first tangible steps toward safe, stable housing for […]
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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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Unlocking Homeownership: Highlights from the 2025 legislative session
Written by Sarah Radcliffe, Habitat Portland Region’s Director of Government Relations Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently visited our Century Commons community in Hillsboro. She signed a package of middle housing bills that she described as “creative, practical solutions to increase the supply of homes as fast as we can.” These bills have the potential to […]
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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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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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