From homeless to homeowner: Alex’s story
Alex holds her cat in a warm, sunlight living room, surrounded by bright green plants in a clean home. These two have been through a lot together: from homeless to homeowner, and everything in between. Alex moved into her Habitat home at the start of April, but she’s already settled in. There’s not a moving […]
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Volunteering is good for hearts and homes
In March, The National Institutes of Health awarded Texas State University a 4-year, million-dollar grant to study the cardiovascular benefits of volunteering. It’s the latest attempt to quantify the impact volunteering has on the heart and wellbeing. Unscientifically, however, anyone who has volunteered to make their community a better place knows exactly the effect it […]
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Building a brighter future with Women+ Community Days
Women are building the future out at Century Commons, Habitat’s future 18-home community in Hillsboro’s Reedville neighborhood. On March 16, 34 women-identifying folks from the community and various organizations sported their hard hats and vests for Habitat’s annual Women+ Community Day build. Our women staff and regular volunteers taught the new volunteers how to safely […]
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ReStore’s recycling program turns scrap metal into veritable gold
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so the saying goes. That’s certainly the case at the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region ReStores, where the metal recycling program is turning donated metal into a valuable resource for affordable homeownership. Here’s how it works: The ReStores accept donations of quality, new and used items — including […]
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Cinnamon finds the spice of life in her new Habitat home
Habitat homeowner Cinnamon has a knack for decoration. Whether she’s putting the final touches on a cake or styling an outfit, she does it all with an artist’s mind. Now she gets to put her art into decorating her very own home. “I want bright, I want different,” Cinnamon said. “Anything that comes with art, […]
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“There’s no place like home:” Ambassador Council member Christopher Brown writes on the hope built into every Habitat home
Christopher Brown, third from right, joins his Ambassador Council working at the Alder Commons build site in Hillsboro. As a second-generation Portlander, my affinity for this city runs deep. And while some of those reasons are related to things like my family, the summer months, and the food scene, my deepest sense of gratitude comes […]
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Hope is building: Habitat’s homebuilding updates from four future communities
March has arrived, and Habitat staff and volunteers have been working hard this winter on all five active construction sites. We’re excited to share the progress at each community, and what we have planned going forward this spring. Foster Commons Spring evokes images of flowers blooming, grass growing, and berries budding. Foster Commons, Habitat’s 40-home […]
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Homeownership “a dream come true” for Nancy and family
Most people start off the new year writing down their goals and aspirations until the next January rolls around. But Habitat homeowner Nancy began 2024 having already accomplished her lifelong dream – buying her own home. “It’s a dream come true; I never thought in my life I would have a home,” Nancy said. “My […]
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Aging in place: what does it mean and why does it matter?
What makes a house a home? To answer that question, you might ask Anna Bowlby, who has lived in her Portland home for 65 years. Her family moved in when she was 6 years old, and it was there that she and her four siblings created the childhood memories she remembers to this day. As […]
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ReStore, design students, make a perfect match
Habitat ReStores, with their eclectic mix of furniture, home goods and off-the-beaten path items, are taking on a new role: The perfect hands-on classroom for interior design students. This past summer, the Habitat ReStore in Beaverton welcomed a partnership with Heritage School of Interior Design in Portland that not only gives students practical experience in […]
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