Housing’s impact on children’s education 

Stable, adequate, and affordable housing leads to better educational outcomes for children of all ages, according to recent studies. This is particularly true for Black and Hispanic/Latine populations, who are twice as likely to live in substandard housing as White populations.   Habitat for Humanity International has released an analysis that examines how housing affects children’s […]

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Westminster volunteers build furniture and community at the ReStore

Jack Robinson and his three friends stood over a half-built furniture set, aligning stubborn nuts and bolts that would soon shape up to be a brand new glider and coffee table. The directions were complicated and the materials were heavy, but that didn’t stop them from cranking out three of those sets within a couple […]

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Habitat for Humanity Portland Region receives $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo to expand access to affordable homes in Hillsboro and SE Portland

Portland, OR (August 17, 2023) –The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded Habitat for Humanity Portland Region $100,000 to build affordable homes in the Portland region. Habitat Portland Region is one of more than 230 Habitat for Humanity affiliates awarded grant funding nationwide through the 2023 Wells Fargo Builds program and Welcome Home initiative to help […]

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Sun’s out, hard hats out for Habitat volunteers

It’s summer volunteer season at Habitat build sites!  This summer promises to be big for Habitat volunteers who are helping finish several communities, while our construction team is getting new sites ready for building. Here’s a brief rundown of construction work underway at three of our communities in the metro area.   Alder Commons   Work at […]

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For Amelia, volunteering with Habitat sets the stage for a new career

Little girls often dream of becoming princesses, ballerinas, fashionistas and movie stars. Amelia Byko wanted to build houses.   As a child, Amelia built houses out of anything she could find. She fashioned her first one out of a jewelry box with the drawers rearranged to represent bedrooms. She makes these miniature dollhouse-like projects in all […]

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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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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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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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