Habitat’s roots run deep on Koinonia Farm
In 1968, Clarence Jordan, the founder of Koinonia Farm, penned a do-or-die letter to the revolutionary, interracial farming community he helped create 25 years earlier. “For several years it has been clear that Koinonia stands at the end of an era or perhaps its existence,” he began. “Its goals and methods, which were logical and […]
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Homeownership for one changes the lives of many
Growing up with seven siblings, Lorrie and her family moved a lot. More than anyone should have to. “We moved, I’d say, anywhere from two to six times a year,” Lorrie said, remembering a time when she and three of her siblings were told to lay low in the car when her mom approached a […]
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New home starts a fresh chapter for family of four
Walking through Duffy’s future home, it’s easy to see the empty space, a blank slate still in the final stages of construction. But this home is already packed, filled with hope, for herself and her children. “I think in our family situation it gives a lot of hope and some stability that’s really needed right […]
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Healing and home: Victoria and Roger find a stability all their own
Victoria, right, with her son Roger “It ends with us.” This is Habitat homeowner Victoria’s motto when it comes to breaking family cycles of housing instability. She and her 15-year-old son, Roger, are setting a new family precedent: one of homeownership, staying in one place, and prioritizing their mental health and self-care. The pair has […]
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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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In Search of Security: Natalia’s Story
Growing up in Guatemala with her mother, father, and great grandmother, Natalia knew what secure housing felt like. The family shared a farm with aunts and cousins, and she had a stable home. However, violence and poverty surrounded them, and after the earthquake of 1972, the family connected with a nonprofit organization and ultimately relocated […]
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Holding On To Her Dream | Abby’s Story
Abby walked inside her home currently under construction in Pleasant Valley in SE Portland, pointing towards empty rooms supported by wooden frames. As she led a tour, other volunteers and homebuyers followed behind, enthusiastically listening to Abby’s ideas for decorating her house and chiming in with some of their own. “I can’t believe my oldest […]
Read MoreWelcoming Fall with More Affordable Homes | Construction Update
Credit: Video shot by Dillon Vibes, and edited by Amanda Bernhardt. As the weather slowly begins to drop in temperature and we transition from summer to fall this month, our construction crews diligently move quickly and take advantage of all the sunlight left as we progress toward completing our communities. We currently have homes in […]
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Building a Community: Ro-Suhana’s Story
Written by volunteer storyteller, Jeremy Brautman After six years in her Habitat for Humanity home, Ro-Suhana, a sophomore at Reynold’s High School, does not take for granted the safety and stability that her home and her neighborhood provide. Her best friends Abby, Sami, An, and Sumaia live next door. Together, they spent their formative years growing […]
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Almost 80 homes under development this Summer! | Construction update
Habitat blue hard hats dot our construction sites, and workers with orange vests raise frames, giving our communities a glance into a hopeful future. Through your support, we are establishing more communities across the Portland Region than ever! These homes mean much more than shelter; for Oregonians, it means optimism and a new chapter in […]
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