Metal with meaning: one volunteer’s impact
Written by volunteer Wendi Frith Samuel Rugi is a scrappy guy with some serious mettle. And metal. When most people think of Habitat for Humanity, construction comes to mind. But Samuel, a regular volunteer at Habitat Portland Region ReStores, focuses on something a bit different: deconstruction. “Around Thanksgiving, I dismantled a Maytag Electric Wall Oven Microwave Combo,” […]
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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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Homes start to rise at Twenty Fifth Terrace
Driving down SW Taylors Ferry Road, you can’t help but notice the progress at Twenty Fifth Terrace. Houses have started to rise out of the hillside at this future 17-home Habitat community. This is truly a moment to celebrate, in what has been one of the most technically complex projects we have ever undertaken! The […]
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Building community, one step at a time
Walk into the volunteer area of our Lake Oswego build site on a Tuesday and among the hard hats and tools you’re likely to spot fresh bagels. Core volunteer Ron Laster brings them for the group every week. This is just one of the many ways you’ll feel his impact on site, though he would never admit it. For the last year, Ron has been volunteering at Habitat build sites. He has been at West Lake […]
Read MoreMedia Advisory: Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Announces the Pope Leo Campaign
PORTLAND, Ore. – January 14, 2026 – Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is proud to announce the launch of the Pope Leo Village campaign. This new, multi-city initiative is sponsored and inspired by an anonymous donor committed to Pope Leo XIV’s vision and service to others. Habitat Portland Region is among 16 Habitat affiliates across the country launching a Pope Leo Village campaign. The local effort is […]
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Finding light in community: Ambassador Council member Sophia Dehen on hope
“It feels really good to be able to look at your day and do something hands-on and know that you’re helping, especially in these tumultuous times.” For volunteer Sophia Dehen, that feeling keeps her coming back to her work with Habitat. Over the past three years, Sophia has been giving back to the community as a member of […]
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Breaking ground and records: 2025 construction progress
2025 is winding down, but construction is still heating up. We had a record year, with the most developments simultaneously under construction in Habitat Portland Region’s history. Before we move into another busy year, take a look at the progress our amazing crews, volunteers, and supporters made across our build sites! West Lake Grove Habitat’s 23-home Lake Oswego community is shaping […]
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How a Habitat volunteer became Santa Claus
“Never pass up a chocolate chip cookie,” Leon Taylor laughs. Sporting a white beard and wearing a red fleece with jeans, he looks like a modern Santa Claus (despite pairing his cookie with tea instead of milk). For the past three Decembers, Leon has embraced the role of Santa. It started when his church needed […]
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Hampton Lumber frames the future at Habitat’s Lake Oswego site
On a hot August day, volunteers from Hampton Lumber joined Habitat for Humanity in Lake Oswego to help build affordable homes at the West Lake Grove community. As the title sponsor of Habitat’s Frame a Future campaign, Hampton Lumber’s support has helped advance the construction of these Lake Oswego homes where local families and individuals will soon achieve the stability and opportunity that […]
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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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