Homeownership with heart: Valencia’s journey
“I feel like housing is my heart,” Valencia says. Growing up, she watched her father, who emigrated from Mexico, work tirelessly for their family. She remembers the instability of moving often and struggling to afford rent. Her father bought a home when she was 15, giving her stability and hope to do the same. As […]
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Finding peace: Duffy’s homeownership journey
When Duffy and her three children moved into their Habitat home this year, the biggest change wasn’t the extra space, but the peace she has worked so hard to achieve. “It feels like we can be a tighter family unit and rebuild our identity together,” she says. For two years, Duffy’s family made the most […]
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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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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 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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From Habitat Home to Law School Dreams: Aisha’s Journey
Written by Karen WersteinWhen Aisha Osman was in elementary school, her large family moved into their Habitat for Humanity home in Vance Place, Beaverton. What seemed like a simple move would become the foundation for extraordinary achievements—and dreams that stretch from Portland to Somalia. For Aisha’s family, their Habitat home wasn’t just a house, it […]
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Building a Future: Ro-Suhana’s Journey from Habitat Home to Honors College
She may still be in college, but Ro-Suhana has the life experience of someone older. And looking back, she’s clear about the role that her Habitat for Humanity home at Glisan Gardens played. “Having that stability gave me the hope of not having to stress over housing and made me able to focus on things […]
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Advancing Black Homeownership
As part of our 2023-2027 strategic plan, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region launched an Advancing Black Homeownership Initiative focused on removing barriers to homeownership for Black households. This initiative is part of a national strategy led by Habitat for Humanity International, alongside many affiliates across the United States who are developing comprehensive strategies for advancing […]
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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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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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