Building for a Better Future

February 26, 2010 (Portland, Ore.)-An AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team is joining forces with Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East and its volunteers from now through April 1 to help frame 12 houses for low-income families.

The NCCC members will be working on the framing stages of the building process. Tasks will include site roll-out and clean up of equipment used each day, clean up of site debris, checking site for security at the end of the day and notifying the site supervisor of any possible unsafe work conditions. The team will work with 100-150 volunteers a week, including four full-time AmeriCorps members.

Andrew Holve, an NCCC Corps member, says, “I love being outside doing construction work. I really enjoy going to work and seeing all that I accomplish.

AmeriCorps NCCC is part of AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs created to improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, and assist with disaster relief and other unmet human needs. The Pacific Region campus, located in Sacramento, Calif. serves Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the territories of Guam and American Samoa. The Pacific Region campus is one of five campuses in the United States; the others are located in Perry Point, Md.; Vinton, Iowa, Vicksburg, Miss. and Denver, Colo.

AmeriCorps members must complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $5,350 to help pay for college or to pay school loans. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For information about applying to an AmeriCorps program, call 1-800-942-2677 (1-800-94-ACORP) or visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.

Habitat for Humanity International has set a goal of serving 50,000 families affected by the tragic Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. Habitat’s commitment to Haiti comes with the pledge that it will not distract from commitments elsewhere in the world. The Haiti response will have a specifically dedicated staff for the next three to five years, much as did Habitat’s response for the 2005 hurricane damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast.  Funds used in Haiti will be donations specifically designated for that purpose. Habitat will not divert funds from other needs. Habitat for Humanity International has asked U.S. affiliates to support the Haiti response.  In the spirit of “One Habitat,” Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is joining forces with other U.S. affiliates to help raise the funds necessary to help with the Haiti commitment.

Habitat for Humanity’s CEO, Jonathan Reckford shares these messages:

• Habitat will serve as many families in Haiti as resources allow. We will do this through a variety of programs-from providing the emergency shelter kits to helping with transitional shelters to building core houses in partnership with the local government and other organizations.
• Our response will be implemented through strategically located Habitat Resource Centers. Contextualized to local needs, HRCs may focus on such services as producing construction materials (e.g., concrete blocks), offering skills training and loaning out tools or heavy equipment-all in ways that develop and support local livelihoods.
• Habitat for Humanity rebuilds communities and restores hope. Our disaster recovery efforts include family participation and holistic community development to bring back a sense of stability and cohesion in the families and the communities. Habitat is committed to staying with communities throughout the reconstruction process.
• Housing reconstruction is one of the most challenging components of any disaster recovery plan. It requires titled land, skilled labor, materials, and infrastructure – most of which are in short supply following a disaster.

Support Habitat for Humanity’s commitment to Haiti by clicking below and choosing “Haiti” as the program designation.

Habitat for Humanity Snaps Up Land

From the Portland Business Journal 1/15/10

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/01/18/story4.html

By Wendy Culverwell

As prices continue to plummet, Habitat for Humanity and other housing agencies are rushing to buy land for future home sites.

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East has launched a campaign to build a four-year inventory of buildable lots, or about 135 construction sites.

The average price paid for residential land in the Portland area has dropped 44 percent in the past three years, to about $166,000, according to the Regional Multiple Listing Service. The organization also notes a sharp drop in the number of transactions – 432 in 2009 compared to 1,240 in 2005.

That makes it a prime time to buy suitable land for Habitat homes.The organization builds simple homes for low-income families.

The Housing Authority of Clackamas County and other housing organizations, including Portland-based Proud Ground, hope to do the same.

Land-banking, as it’s called, is not a new strategy for the Portland chapter of Habitat for Humanity, one of 33 in the state. Five years ago, it committed to doubling its capacity to build plain, low-cost homes to about 40 per year.

It received applications from 400 families in 2009, a 60 percent increase from the 250 it normally receives.

Soaring real estate prices in the middle of the decade kept Habitat from banking much land, but now that costs are falling, it is actively looking for suitable sites, soliciting financial support from donors and applying for government grants.

“Right now, the dollars raised can go a lot further,” said Steve Messinetti, executive director of the chapter, which serves Multnomah and Clackamas counties.

Habitat pays below-average prices by targeting affordable neighborhoods and working with sellers willing to sell at below-market prices to support its mission.

Habitat has about 50 buildable sites, enough to meet need for the next two years.

In recent months, Habitat has identified a handful of prospects, many of them stalled subdivisions.

Messinetti said land-banking saves money by giving the organization time to recruit volunteer designers and engineers, services it generally has to pay for. By lining up land four years in advance, Habitat could cut its development costs by half.

It costs about $30,000 to prepare a site for construction – money that goes into the price of the home.

Statewide, Habitat for Humanity expects to construct its 1,000th home soon.

Like Habitat, the Housing Authority of Clackamas County is in the market for sites, but Trell Anderson, executive director, said progress has been stymied by sellers who don’t believe real estate prices have fallen.

The Clackamas Housing Authority administers federal Section 8 housing vouchers and manages a portfolio of public and affordable housing. Its 920 units of housing are among the oldest in the state. The agency’s long-term goal is to sell many of its single-family residences.

The housing authority strives to locate its units close to shopping, services and transit. It has a six-year wait for Section 8 vouchers and a three-year wait for housing.

Proud Ground, formerly Community Land Trust, is also interested in land banking, though it also places an emphasis on rehabilitating existing housing.

Jesse Beason, executive director, said lack of credit is the main barrier to banking future sites.

“Everybody wants to take advantage of it, but if banks aren’t lending, nobody can take advantage of it,” he said.

Proud Ground has developed or rehabilitated 116 homes in the Portland area. It sells them to buyers under terms designed to keep the homes affordable when they’re resold.

In an ironic twist, the recession and downward pressure on prices have made home ownership more accessible to buyers who in the past might have needed help from agencies such as Proud Ground.

“Our families are able to seize on the downturn and take advantage of more affordable home prices (on their own),” Beason said.
wculverwell@bizjournals.com | 503-219-3415

The IRS has announced a new law stating that eligible donations to Haitian earthquake relief efforts through February 28, 2010 can be deducted on your 2009 taxes. Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is proud to be on the list of qualified charities recognized by the IRS to accept donations.

The following is information provided by the IRS to help you determine if your donation is eligible.

Claiming Haitian Relief Donations on 2009 Taxes – IRS YouTube Video

WASHINGTON (Jan.25, 2010) – People who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti can claim these donations on the tax return they are completing this season, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their 2009 return qualify for this special tax relief provision, enacted Jan. 22. Only cash contributions made to these charities after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, are eligible. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card.

“Americans have opened their hearts to help those affected by the Haiti earthquake,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.” This new law provides an immediate tax benefit for the many taxpayers who have made generous donations.”

Taxpayers can benefit from their donations, almost immediately, by filing their 2009 returns early, filing electronically and choosing direct deposit. Refunds take as few as ten days and can be directly deposited into a savings, checking or brokerage account, or used to purchase Series I U.S. savings bonds.

The new law only applies to cash (as opposed to property) contributions. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. Taxpayers have the option of deducting these contributions on either their 2009 or 2010 returns, but not both.

To get a tax benefit, taxpayers must itemize their deductions on Schedule A. Those who claim the standard deduction, including all short-form filers, are not eligible.

Taxpayers should be sure their contributions go to qualified charities. Most organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible donations are listed in a searchable online database available on IRS.gov under Search for Charities. Some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov. Donors can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as USAID.

The IRS reminds donors that contributions to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, provides information on making contributions to charities.

Federal law requires that taxpayers keep a record of any deductible donations they make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the recordkeeping requirement if it shows the name of the donee organization, the date of the contribution and the amount of the contribution. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check, or a receipt from the charity showing the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. Publication 526 has further details on the recordkeeping rules for cash contributions.

This year’s special Haiti relief provision is modeled on a 2005 law that, in the wake of the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, allowed taxpayers to deduct donations they made during January 2005 as if they made the donations in 2004.

For more information about this law or claiming your donations on your taxes, please visit www.irs.gov.

The 7.0 earthquake and strong aftershocks that struck near Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12 have added yet another dimension to the humanitarian crisis and poverty conditions faced by over 80% of Haitians. According to Reuters, the quake hit at a shallow depth of 6.2 miles, just ten miles from the capital city. A hospital and several schools on the island are reported to have collapsed, according to regional news sources. The local authorities have declared the country in a state of emergency. The number of affected persons is unknown. However, Haiti’s ambassador to the U.S. has called the quake a “catastrophe of major proportions.”

This is a major setback for the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 55% of the population living on less than one U.S. dollar per day. In the last two years, political instability, food shortages, and tropical storms and hurricanes have made it impossible for Haitians to break the cycle of poverty. More than 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in last year’s storms, and no estimate is available yet as to the damages to Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, the heaviest populated area of Haiti. Most Haitian homes are poorly constructed with walls built from poorly made concrete bricks, mud and stones, the roof from scrap wood and metal sheets, and dirt floors, making them unable to withstand a natural disaster of this magnitude.

What You Can Do to Help

You can help by sending in a special tithe donation to Habitat Haiti and bring hope to a country in such great need. Please know all 100% of tithe donations are sent to your global partners. Click here to make an online donation to Habitat for Humanity that is designated for earthquake relief in Haiti.

You can also help raise awareness and funds by inserting banner ads into your blogs or personal websites.

Habitat for Humanity’s Immediate and Long-Term Response

Basic needs such as health care, food, water and shelter are the most urgent following an event like an earthquake to try to mitigate harmful after-effects such as spread of disease and insecurity. Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to help low-income families in need of decent housing because of this disaster with an emergency humanitarian response of shelter kits, clean-up and rehabilitation.

Clean-up and cash-for-work
Habitat for Humanity plans to help in clean-up and rehabilitation efforts by mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation. The size of response will depend upon the amount of support we are able to mobilize. A clean up “cash for work” program would organize people in communities and provide them with tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, bars, etc, etc). People would clean up debris and salvage those materials that could be recycled in a shelter solution. This involvement in productive activity provides an influx of cash to those affected by the disaster to help them meet basic needs such as food, and also contributes to their mental health by providing them with a positive, proactive opportunity to help with recovery.

Shelter kits
Shelter kits are a basic package of materials (wall panels of either wood, composite such as reinforced plastic or fibrocement, or other materials; as well as sheets for roofs; nails; rope and a hammer). Although price will be determined by cost of materials, which often rise post-disaster, we estimate that the cost for distributing a kit per family will be US$950 per family.

The kits will be distributed to families by Habitat employees and partners who have been trained by Habitat in disaster response and construction techniques. Habitat for Humanity has been implementing vocational education programs in Haiti for the past three years and has a cadre of certified masons and carpenters ready to assist with shelter construction in Port-au-Prince.

Transitional shelters
In a next phase of response Habitat for Humanity plans to repair damaged homes and also rebuild using a transitional shelter model, whereby the shelter provides an immediate solution to a family but also provides a permanent base structure. The model adheres to international Sphere standards and the basic transitional shelter unit consists of a 17.5m2 home, a 2.5 meter porch, and a separate 4m2 latrine/shower unit. The design includes a concrete floor and structure (beams and partial wall), wall panels which can be converted later to a more permanent material, and a hurricane-resistant roof (metal sheets or micro-concrete) at an estimated price of between $2,000 to $3,000.

As the situation stabilizes, Habitat Haiti will build permanent homes for families who lost so much. Just as before the earthquake, Habitat Haiti will provide a variety of services to families ranging from new homes, progressive building initiatives like “core homes”, renovations and financial literacy.

Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and will use its local expertise and mobilize resources as part of the long-term recovery building efforts.

Click here to make an online donation to Habitat for Humanity that is designated for earthquake relief in Haiti.

Portland Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Portland Oregon

The Portland ReStore is one of two stores operated collaboratively by the Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) affiliates of the Portland/Vancouver metro areas. These stores are part of a fast growing nationwide collective of Habitat ReStores. ReStores raise funds for Habitat for Humanity by collecting donated building materials, appliances, furniture and other home improvement products and selling these items to the public at prices well below retail.

The Portland ReStore is seeking a highly organized and motivated ReStore Manager to run the day-to-day operations. The Portland store is a 30,000 square foot retail warehouse run by a small staff and dozens of dedicated volunteers. It has operated for over 8 years and is currently in a phase of tremendous growth.

For a full job description, visit our employment page by clicking here.

The two homes in northeast Portland received a Platinum certification and are one of 20 national projects being recognized for the EnergyValue Housing Award.

January 7, 2010 (Portland, Ore.)–The NAHB Research Center has announced that Habitat for HumanityPortland/Metro East is one of 20 builders from 15 states to have been selected to receive the 2010 EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA), the nation’s preeminent energy efficiency award honoring builders who voluntarily incorporate energy efficiency into all aspects of new
home construction.

Now in its 15th year, the EVHA is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Building America program, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in addition to the NAHB Research Center. The EVHA challenges builders to elevate standards for energy-efficient construction, provides educational opportunities for home builders, and fosters the adoption of energy efficiency principles.
Finalists were selected from builders’ projects in three climate regions (cold, moderate, hot) and five categories (affordable, custom/demonstration, factory-built, multi-family, production).

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East completed two homes in April 2009 that received LEED Platinum certification. These homes were the first LEED-certified Habitat homes in Oregon, and were the result of a unique opportunity and collaboration between the Cascadia Region Building Council, Walsh Construction Co., Bank of America and Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East has a commitment to green building and continuously looks for ways to make homes affordable to buy and affordable to live in. Most Habitat homes are already Energy Star efficient, and currently four more homes are slated to receive an Earth Advantage Gold accreditation. The LEED demonstration project was an opportunity to utilize many non-traditional products and systems that Habitat wished to learn about. A large amount of the materials and labor for this project were donated, which allowed the homes to be affordable for low-income families. The families will purchase the homes at cost and pay a 0% interest mortgage. While building green is more expensive, the long-term benefits of lower-energy cost help make these additional up front costs worthwhile.

It is Habitat’s hope that the LEED homes can become a model of how socially and environmentally responsible decision-making can ultimately provide more progressive and energy-efficient homes for families in need.

The EVHA awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held during the International Builders’ Show on January 18, 2010, at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel. While finalists have already been notified of their status, their placement (Gold, Silver, Builder of the Year, People’s Choice) will be announced at the awards celebration. For more information please visit http://www.nahbrc.com/evha/.

Some features of the Habitat LEED homes on 604 NE Webster:
● FSC Certified framing lumber from local sources.
● Standing seam metal roofing from Taylor roofing.
● Faswall, a wood-chip Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) locally produced with recycled wood fiber is used in the low walls of both homes.
● American Clay interior plaster produced from local clay by local craftsmen.
● Yolo Colorhouse provided locally produced, organically based paint product.
● SIPs panels and standing seam metal roof manufactured in Oregon.
● Marvin Integrity Fiberglass windows and patio doors.
● Owens-Corning Blown-in fiberglass insulation and rigid foam insulation.
● Fly-ash in concrete.
● Concrete from demolition re-used for landscape pavers.
● Decks constructed from reclaimed discarded wood.
● Paperstone countertops in one unit, Urea-Formaldehyde free laminate counters in the other.
● Urea-formaldehyde free composite woods and cabinets.
● Marmoleum floors in kitchen, bath, and utility areas.
● 100% wool carpets with 100% jute backing in sleeping areas.

The King family makes their final mortgage payment on Dec. 31 and Habitat for Humanity celebrates the completion of eight more homes.

Portland, Ore. (Dec. 31, 2009) -Eleven years ago Richard King, his wife Nona, and their four boys moved into a Habitat for Humanity home in northeast Portland. On December 31, 2009, Richard walked into the Habitat for Humanity office, check in hand, to pay off his mortgage.

“Being a Habitat homeowner has been a great experience and I would recommend the program to anybody.” King said. “Our mortgage payment has been less then rent, and the utilities are affordable.”

In May 1998, the Kings couldn’t afford a home. They had lost a down payment on a home in the late 1980s after the builder declared bankruptcy, and they fell too far behind on expenses.

“We’d been married 20 years and never owned a home,” Richard said. “We were renting a place that had bad mice problems, but home prices skyrocketed in the 90s and we couldn’t afford to move. One day my sister told me about Habitat for Humanity, and I checked into it, and now I’ve paid off my house. It’s a great feeling.”

King sells heavy duty truck parts for a living, while his wife home-schools their children. Their oldest two boys, Nick, 29, and Chris, 26, have gotten married and moved out of the house. Their younger sons, Michael and Richard, are 12 and have lived most of their lives in the Habitat home. They purchased the house with a no-interest mortgage after contributing sweat equity hours to Habitat.

Coincidentally, Habitat received the final permits for four new homes in Gresham on December 30 and four more homes in southeast Portland will be finished by the end of January. Key ceremonies will be held on January 18 and January 30 to dedicate the new homes to the families.

“We have many of reasons to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2009, and the King family is one of them,” said Steve Messinetti, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East.” Now that Habitat has been serving the Portland area for 28 years, we have families who come in to make the final payment on their mortgage. Paying off a mortgage means that the family has a new level of financial stability, and has truly broken out of the cycle of poverty.”

About Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East: Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East serves Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County. No other housing organization in the Portland/Metro East area offers a no-interest mortgage, giving Habitat the ability to reach out to families one step away from homelessness. Habitat sells the homes at cost, making no profit. Houses are sold below market value because of volunteer labor and donations. Families pay a 1% down payment on a 0% interest mortgage. Instead of being in a vulnerable and fragile economic position, Habitat families find themselves in a position of strength. www.habitatportlandmetro.org

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East keeps dollars local and is hoping to establish a land bank to keep affordable homeownership opportunities in Portland.

Portland, Ore. (Dec.18, 2009) – Steve Messinetti, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, commonly battles two typical questions when he tells people what he does for a living.

“Habitat builds homes in third-world countries, right?” or “I’d support Habitat, but I want to donate to a local organization.”

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is a local organization. An independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the affiliate has built and sold over 190 homes in the Portland area with low-income families, and maintains less than a 1% foreclosure rate. In fact, 33 local Habitat affiliates exist throughout Oregon and are on schedule to build the 1,000th home in the state in 2010. While Habitat enjoys the great name recognition of its parent organization, each affiliate is responsible for doing all of its own fundraising locally, and does this by mobilizing local businesses, faith and community organizations, and individuals to support the work both financially and as volunteers.

The Board of Directors of the Portland/Metro East affiliate recently approved a new five-year strategic plan to increase its production of homes by 50%. The foundation for this plan is to pursue the acquisition of land to support this growth while land prices are low.

“We have been actively searching for deals on land in Portland and Gresham for the past six months, and we are finding properties at costs 40% less than what we paid just 10 months ago,” Messinetti said. “Habitat has set the goal to aggressively build up a land bank for the next 150 homes now, while the prices are low, to allow every donated dollar to go further and enable increased homebuilding locally in the coming years.”

To accomplish this goal they intend to appeal to the community for financial support.

“One of the challenges of being a local affiliate of an international organization is letting people know we are here in Portland, building homes for local families,” Messinetti said. “We’ve seen increased housing needs this past year. We know how permanent, stable housing benefits the physical health of children and keep kids in the same schools. We serve an immediate need by getting families in stable, affordable housing, but the long-term benefits serve the entire community.”

Unhealthy living conditions are not so obvious from the outside. Families applying to the Habitat program have horror stories-children with health problems due to black mold, infestation or inadequate heating. Families making choices between putting food on the table and paying rent. Families living in places with faulty wiring or no electricity because they can’t afford it. Overcrowding as family and friends double-up in small apartments to save money. However, perhaps the biggest affect unstable housing has on the community is mobility. Children being yanked out of schools every time rents rise and a family has to move creates instability in the classroom as well as emotional and physical stress on kids and their parents. In some neighborhoods in east Portland the mobility rate is approximately 60%.

The benefits of homeownership counteract all these problems, creating stability, a healthy living situation, and a sense of pride for our local residents.

Take Carrie Christian for example. Carrie is a single mom who moved into a Habitat home in north Portland in 2007. Once she purchased her home at a 0% interest mortgage after putting in 500 hours of sweat equity several realities set in. First, her mortgage payment was only 30% of her income, allowing her to save money for the first time in her life. Second, working on the construction of her own home gave her the confidence to switch careers, and she got a higher paying job as a professional painter. Finally, her mortgage payments are cycled back to Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East and will be used to build another home for a family in need.

“Habitat has really changed my life.” Christian said. “I would have never become a homeowner, always living from paycheck to paycheck. This home is where I am going to be for the next 30 years, and has provided much needed stability for my son.”