Healthy Communities Start at Home.

Today in our city, one out of five working families spends more than half of their earnings to pay for the roof over their heads. Oregon now has one of the highest hunger rates in the country, and the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force reports that the most important reason Oregonians go hungry is the high cost of housing.

In search of an affordable place to live, many low-income families move into dilapidated trailers or older homes with little insulation. Too often, low-cost housing is of substandard quality, providing unsafe and unhealthy living conditions for families. Health risks include lead paint in older buildings, pests in poorly maintained structures and the damp, moldy conditions so prevalent in the Portland Metro area.

A child living in inadequate housing has an increased risk of slow growth and is 10 times more likely to contract meningitis, respiratory problems or asthma. Asthma is the number one reason for school absence, and school absence affects performance. Safe, solid housing eliminates many of the conditions that pose health threats to children and parents alike.

Read more about how healthy housing creates healthy communities by clicking here.

Success in School Starts at Home.

Almost half of all low-income families in Multnomah County move every 15 months, primarily due to rising rents. We have schools with classroom mobility rates as high as 60%, and research shows that it takes a child four to six months to recover academically from each school transfer. A high rate of student mobility within a school also has a collective, negative impact on all students, even those who do not move. This is one reason Habitat has chosen to focus building efforts in specific neighborhoods, to have the greatest stabilizing impact.

During the past five years, Habitat has built 37 homes in the Lents neighborhood in southeast Portland and 45 homes in Gresham’s Rockwood neighborhood, introducing hundreds of stable students to the local schools.

Just as it enhances younger students’ ability to learn, affordable homeownership promotes adult learning and career advancement. Since purchasing their Habitat homes, we have seen parents win competitive scholarships to private colleges, complete associate degrees and receive advanced certifications in professional trades. These achievements help families retain employment even during tough economic times.

By providing a hand up, not a handout, Habitat’s unique homeownership program maintains the dignity and pride of the families we serve. With a less than 1% foreclosure rate, Habitat has a proven track record helping hardworking families leave substandard housing behind forever.

Read more about the effects of homeownership on education by clicking here.

When Habitat’s board of directors made the commitment in 2010 to increase home building efforts by 50% they knew that securing a four-year bank of land was the foundation for this plan. In the past, Habitat scrambled to find affordable lots. The recent economic downturn, however, produced a glut of foreclosed properties and left other developments incomplete.

Habitat successfully took advantage of this rare opportunity to open a dialogue between housing developers with upside-down lots and local lenders with bad loans plaguing their balance sheets. We brought them together with our public sector partners and generous individual donors looking to leverage their philanthropic impact.

Over the past year we made these connections again and again and successfully secured property at record low prices. Bringing these parties together was a win-win situation, helping to establish and preserve affordable homeownership in the neighborhoods that need it most.

The largest of these parcels is located at Southeast 171st and Division streets. This site includes 45 vacant lots, adjacent to 20 homes built by a for-profit builder and sold at market rate. Habitat capitalized on the opportunity to purchase the 45 vacant lots through Mr. John Gray’s leadership gift to the campaign and the support of one-time federal Recovery Act funds. Because the first 20 homes were sold at market rate, this completed development will be a mixed-income community.

The development at Southeast 171st and Division streets will be the largest Habitat build in Oregon. The average developed lot cost was $33,000 per home, about 50% less than land prices one year earlier. Once built, the entire community will benefit from the $6,750,000 added to the local property tax base. With $0.30 of every property tax dollar spent on police, fire and parks, that means $25,000 more each year for these services.

As these homes are built, more than 10,000 volunteers will have a hand in transforming the lives of 45 families, including over 100 children.

The 45 Habitat homes on Southeast 171st and Division streets will be the largest Habitat build in Oregon.

Every year, each one of Bank of America’s 45 markets recognizes five high school juniors and seniors as Student Leaders for their passion and commitment to improve their communities. The Student Leadership Program allows each student to participate in an eight week long summer internship with a local nonprofit organization and a week long Student Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. This summer, three Student Leaders have been working with Habitat’s Portland/Metro East affiliate.

Hamda Jama divides her time working at the front desk and with the homeownership department. She has researched ways to recruit youth volunteers and has also worked at build sites. Being a Student Leader has allowed Hamda to learn interpersonal skills, time management skills and establish key networks. She has enjoyed working at build sites and with staff members who create a welcoming and comfortable working environment. Hamda will attend Portland State University this fall to major in Biology and later hopes to attend the Oregon Health and Science University to become a pediatrician.

Ximena Fonseca works in the communications department. The main focus of her internship has been to help document the experience of the volunteers at build sites and share it through our social media outlets. Ximena wanted to work with Habitat to learn about the executive side of a nonprofit organization and help provide housing for hard working families through home builds. She has enjoyed working along side future homeowners, volunteers and team builders to help build affordable housing. This fall, Ximena will pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Architecture at Oregon State University.

Robert Yu works with the volunteer department and at build sites. Throughout his internship, he has focused on increasing the amount of regular volunteers and also recruiting young adults to volunteer through Youth United. Robert wanted to work with Habitat to learn about how nonprofits work and further understand Habitat’s mission. As a Student Leader, Robert has developed leadership skills that have enabled him to reach out to his community. This fall, Robert will attend the University of California Berkley to major in Business and Economics.

Hamda, Ximena and Robert will finish their summer internships with Habitat in the first few weeks of August. Habitat would like to thank each of them for their hard work  and wish them great success as they advance on to college.

Deadline for recipe submissions is August 15, so spread the word and help this book get cooking!

Do you normally skip through the grocery store or your garden thinking about all the delicious delights you want to make? We do! And we’re looking for a few more recipe submissions to include in our Women Build cookbook. All proceeds from cookbook sales will go towards empowering women and building a home for a local family.

Please take a moment to share a recipe and a Habitat memory by clicking here!

Habitat for Humanity celebrates the Grand Opening of its Washington County ReStore, the newest of three ReStores serving the Portland/Vancouver areas

Now there are three! The Washington County ReStore joins the Portland Metro ReStore and the Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store in raising funds to help support Habitat for Humanity’s home building efforts in the Portland/Vancouver areas. After months of preparation and with support from the local community, the Washington County ReStore opens for business and celebrates its grand opening Friday, June 10, 2011.

Joe Connell, ReStore Director, said, “We started planning for this store three years ago as part of a plan to better serve our community and raise more funds for Habitat. We are immensely grateful for the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who helped us open by cleaning, painting, and assembling and stocking shelves.”

The day begins when the ReStore hosts the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee Connection from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Immediately following Coffee Connection, Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the store. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the store immediately after, when all merchandise will be available for purchase.

The new store provides a convenient location for Washington County residents to shop for affordable reuse items. Residents can also drop off materials left over from their home improvement projects and arrange for pickup of larger items. A complete list of items the ReStore accepts in donation is available at pdxrestore.org.

About the Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are open to the public and sell a variety of donated reuse building materials and other home improvement products at a fraction of retail prices. The Portland Metro ReStore, together with the Washington County ReStore and the Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store, eases demand on natural resources by keeping usable materials out of landfills. Funds raised through the sale of reuse materials help Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes in the Portland Metropolitan and Vancouver areas. To date, the Portland Metro ReStore and Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store have raised over $1 million to help fund Habitat for Humanity’s local homebuilding efforts. Last year alone the ReStores diverted 1,800 tons of materials from landfills.

We have three AmeriCorps postions. Construction Crew Leader (five openings), Volunteer Engagement Advocate (one position) and Homeownership Program Assistant (one position.)

AmeriCorps Construction Crew Leader

Supervisor: Construction Site Supervisor

The members will help our affiliate engage more community volunteers and partner families in the construction of simple, decent and affordable homes in our community. These concentrated building efforts in neighborhoods with the greatest need will have a ripple effect on these communities, creating safer neighborhoods, better schools and a healthier community for all.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the site supervisor and construction manager in day-to-day construction activities, i.e.; all aspects of new construction, trouble-shooting mechanical problems, tool and site organization, picking up materials and supplies for job site, site clean-up and maintenance, and assisting skilled trades people.
• Lead volunteers and homeowners on construction tasks; teach complex construction techniques in an empowering and accessible way while maintaining compliance with Habitat safety protocols at the build site.
• Act as a host to homeowners and volunteers by welcoming them, signing them in, making sure coffee, water, and other hospitality supplies are available to volunteers; present “Habitat 101” at the start of each workday; and answer questions on Habitat history, policy and programs.
• Help to create a work environment that is cheerful, productive and inclusive of all (homeowners, regular volunteers, new volunteers and staff).
• Assist with warranty issues at completed Habitat projects including recruiting and organizing skilled volunteers on warranty work.
• Assist in pick-up and delivery of donated items to warehouse.

Required:

• Age 18 or older
• A U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
• High School diploma or GED required
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to climb ladders 32 feet
• Maneuver over uneven ground
• Ability to stand most or all of day
• Occasional heavy lifting up to 50 lbs
• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions

AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance, education award upon completion of the service year, health benefits and childcare benefits if eligible. Low cost shared housing is provided.

• Living allowance – up to $12,100 for a full 46.5 weeks of service
• Education award – $5,550 upon successful completion of service

To apply, submit a motivational statement along with your resume to: marianne@habitatportlandmetro.org with “HFH AmeriCorps” in the subject by Friday, June 17, at 5:00 p.m.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is to build partnerships among volunteers, families and the community to transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods by enabling families in need to earn and own a simple, decent affordable home.

AmeriCorps Volunteer Engagement Advocate

Supervisor: Volunteer Programs Manager

The member will implement a system that will help our affiliate increase from 6,000 volunteer slots/opportunities to 10,000 in their service year, helping us to build more homes.

Responsibilities:

• Manage volunteer program tasks on site including volunteer sign-in, nametags, volunteer orientation, information table and bulletin board, first aid supplies, etc.
• Recruit and train additional site host volunteers and continue to manage this group.
• Ensure sponsor lunch days are on time and well organized.
• Assist volunteer coordinator in fielding phone calls from prospective and active volunteers.
• Send reminder emails to volunteers prior to work day and ensure that all volunteer information is in database prior to their workday.
• Conduct new volunteer orientations at the start of each new project and at the monthly tours.
• Assist with volunteer tracking and reporting –  includes data entry.
• Help build the audience. During both morning orientation and build time, encourage volunteers on the construction site to sign up for our monthly e-news, “Like Us” on Facebook, “check-in” from site, as well as communicating upcoming events.
• Under the instruction of the Communications team, develop and deliver content to create interest, and passion through the posting of video and photos taken on site.
• Encourage volunteers to document their experience, using their phones to take video and photos while working and to share them on our Facebook page when they go home that night.
• Assist with follow-up calls and/or emails to new volunteers after their first workday to include feedback opportunity using a tool such as survey monkey.
• Work with the communications team to ensure that all specialty build and volunteer information on Habitat’s web site is up-to-date and fresh.
• Track volunteer names and faces to help tag Facebook photos on Habitat’s Facebook page.
• Contribute to the writing of the print and e-newsletters to include identifying outstanding volunteers to interview and write an article for the spotlight and construction update.
• List and update volunteer opportunities on Habitat website.
• Assist Resource team with Special Events. (wall-raisings, home dedications, kick offs)

Required:

• Knowledge of and commitment to Habitat for Humanity’s mission
• Comfortable with public speaking and strong interpersonal skills
• MS Word and Excel
• Strong writing, editing and communication skills
• Knowledgeable about social media tools and their ability to engage and connect people
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to sit in front of a computer for long periods of time
• Member will occasionally work on the construction site which has uneven ground

AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance, education award upon completion of the service year, health benefits and childcare benefits if eligible. Low cost shared housing is provided.

• Living allowance – up to $12,100 for a full 46.5 weeks of service
• Education award – $5,550 upon successful completion of service

To apply, submit a motivational statement along with your resume to: marianne@habitatportlandmetro.org with “HFH AmeriCorps” in the subject by Friday, June 17, at 5:00 p.m.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is to build partnerships among volunteers, families and the community to transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods by enabling families in need to earn and own a simple, decent affordable home.

AmeriCorps Homeownership Program Assistant

Supervisor: Homeownership Program Manager

The member will help our affiliate engage more partner families in the construction of simple, decent and affordable homes in our community. These concentrated building efforts in neighborhoods with the greatest need will have a ripple effect on these communities; creating safer neighborhoods, better schools and a healthier community for all.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Family Services Coordinator in the family application and selection process.
• Conduct outreach to potential applicants.
• Respond to inquiries from potential homeowners regarding the selection process and homeownership program.
• Assist with recruitment, training and retention of volunteers for the Family Selection Committee.
• Organize and host Homeowner Orientation meetings.
• Coordinate application workshops to provide application assistance to applicants.
• Update and maintain applicant files,  application spreadsheets and homeowner interest spreadsheets.
• Coordinate orientation sessions for newly selected families.
• Provide continuing support to new and existing homeowners including assisting with the design and administration of meetings, events, and programs that support Habitat partner families and assist with the coordination of homeowner and condo association meetings.
• Schedule partner families to complete sweat equity on site, at the ReStore and at the Habitat office.
• Track and input homeowner sweat equity program hours in database.
• Work with homeowners on the construction site and in the office.

Required:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Ability to work with low-income families of very diverse backgrounds
• Proficiency in Spanish desired
• Interest in and commitment to low-income homeownership
• Detailed orientated.
• MS Word, Excel computer skills
• Strong organizational skills and time management
• High level of interpersonal skills
• Ability to sit in front of a computer for long periods of time
• Member will occasionally work on the construction site, which has uneven ground

AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance, education award upon completion of the service year, health benefits and childcare benefits if eligible. Low cost shared housing is provided.

• Living allowance – up to $12,100 for a full 46.5 weeks of service
• Education award – $5,550 upon successful completion of service

To apply, submit a motivational statement along with your resume to:marianne@habitatportlandmetro.org with “HFH AmeriCorps” in the subject by Friday, June 17, at 5:00 p.m.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is to build partnerships among volunteers, families and the community to transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods by enabling families in need to earn and own a simple, decent affordable home.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East expects all staff, board and volunteers to behave in a way that reinforces the mission and founding principles of the organization.

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, therefore, does not discriminate against any employee, volunteer, partner family or applicant for a Habitat home on the basis of race, color, cultural heritage, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical condition, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status or any other status protected under local, state, or federal law. This policy extends to all personnel decisions, terms and conditions of employment, vendor contracts and provision of services. Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East does not tolerate harassment for any reason. Respect for the dignity of others shall be the guiding principle for our relations with each other.

Want to know more?  Read our Frequently Asked Questions or see who qualifies for our program.

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization.  If you would like more information about our organization or programs, please contact us at 503-287-9529.  Thank you for your interest!

(August 24, 2011) At the time this article was written, Habitat for Humanity was not alone in being alarmed by the findings reported by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon about housing discrimination in the Portland Metro area. Indeed, the results of the FHC’s most recent round of testing were widely reported in The Oregonian, Willamette Week and other publications. However, a recent audit by the Bureau of Labor and Industries determined that FHC’s audit methods were subject to errors that invalidate the results.

“We have concluded the audit is not reliable,” Commissioner Nick Fish told the Willamette Week. “There have been failures of communication and breakdowns of protocol. The test they gave us has been demonstrated to be something we cannot rely on.”

As a result, the Portland Housing Bureau has not renewed FHC’s contract. However, Moloy Good, Executive Director of FHC, stands by the report. Although there is anecdotal evidence of some level of housing discrimination locally, Habitat is uncertain at this point whether or not the data reported by FHC and shared by Habitat in its newsletter is valid.

Below is Habitat’s unchanged article written prior to these findings.

(May 31, 2011) Habitat for Humanity is committed to the vision that every person deserves an affordable and decent place to live. While Habitat selects qualified applicants without consideration for race, ethnicity or other factors, our program levels the social and economic playing field for some groups that have been historically disenfranchised.

A low rate of homeownership among people of color has been one particularly entrenched disparity. A City of Portland study on this issue in 2004 showed that the homeownership rate for Whites in 2000 was 59%, while the rate for African-Americans, Native Americans and Latinos averaged 34%.

A look at local history shows that decades of exclusionary practices led to this situation. Until 1927, the Oregon Constitution barred African-Americans from living in Oregon. Redlining practices prohibited African-Americans from buying homes in the city limits when many arrived to work in the shipyards during World War II. Specific codes forbade homes sales to all people of color in white neighborhoods. In the North Williams neighborhood in Portland, incomplete development efforts in the 1960s backfired and depopulated an area that was once 80% African-American.

Some overt discriminatory practices have disappeared, but despite the enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968, people can still experience discriminatory renting and lending practices. A 2008 Oregon Center for Public Policy study showed that people of color in Oregon were twice as likely to get a subprime loan as Whites with the same income. The Fair Housing Council of Oregon found during a test in Beaverton in 2009 that 75% of African-American and 50% of Latino test applicants were treated differently than Whites. In addition, homeownership has been out of reach for many families of color since their earnings are lower, on average, compared to Whites. It will take concerted, long-term efforts to reverse the minority homeownership gap.

Habitat’s selection process is open and inclusive, going far beyond simply complying with the Fair Housing Act. Since technology and language barriers can exclude otherwise qualified applicants, we have been aggressive at outreach and building relationships, to ensure that the applicant pool reflects our community’s diversity. Even though Habitat approves partner families without considering race or ethnicity, currently about 80% of the homes we build each year are sold to people of color.

Among our active mortgages, 145 are homes located in north and northeast Portland, many in historically African-American neighborhoods. Our work is helping preserve that legacy: the Rivergate Commons project in north Portland will soon sell 12 homes, eight of these to families of color. Of these eight, seven families are currently residents in north or northeast Portland.

Habitat builds and sells homes each year to people of any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religious preference, ability or disability, family composition or sexual orientation. As Portland and Gresham continue to grow, Habitat is helping create a rich tapestry of diverse neighborhoods. It is our firm belief that this adds to the quality of life for all of us.

When Habitat for Humanity partner families are accepted into the program, they sign on for more than just buying their own home. Families are required to complete at least 500 hours of sweat equity before purchasing their new home, and in the process, they learn valuable skills to maintain their home long-term. A significant amount of sweat equity time is spent on the construction site, learning building techniques and tool use. However, some sweat equity doesn’t include any sweat at all. Future homeowners also accrue sweat equity by attending Habitat’s homeowner education curriculum, which teaches valuable financial skills that don’t involve hammers or nails.

The homeowner education classes teach families about financial topics that relate to owning a home. Most of the skills are new to Habitat partner families, who are always first-time homebuyers. Curriculum classes fall into four main categories: financial wellness, home maintenance and safety, career building and information specific to Habitat mortgages. Classes include a diverse range of topics, such as paying taxes, gardening, interacting with homeowner associations and avoiding predatory lenders.

Future homeowners start their education by attending a Financial Fitness course through a HUD-certified provider. An eight-hour course taken over four weeks, the class focuses on budgeting, saving and managing credit. Here, families get an understanding of effective spending patterns and learn to match them with their future goals.

These classes also foster the skills that help families make mortgage payments and still successfully budget for other family needs. From the fundamental knowledge learned in the Financial Fitness course, homeowners continue their financial education by learning more advanced topics like the basics of investing, retirement planning and the importance of having a will.

Through partnering with other community organizations like Financial Beginnings, Habitat is also able to offer unique workshops that bring entire families together to discuss and learn about financial strategies. In April, Habitat parents and children came together for the Dollars and Sense Workshop, which included learning tools that appealed to all ages. Not only was the information useful for parents, but it also taught children basic financial management skills.

For future homeowner Pam Onishi, the Dollars and Sense lessons expanded on what she learned in the Financial Fitness course and also included her grandson in the learning process. Information was presented in a fun format with parents and kids learning side-by-side about using money responsibly.

“The things we learned at the Dollars and Sense workshop were especially good for my grandson,” said Pam. “He learned things that he doesn’t learn in school and we were able to do this activity together.”

Timber Joey, mascot for the Portland Timbers, also made an appearance with his signature chain saw to give away prizes and help raise excitement in the workshop.

Habitat’s homeowner education curriculum also brings Habitat volunteers and future homeowners together off the construction site. Regular construction volunteers teach home maintenance classes using the skills and knowledge they have accumulated on the Habitat work site. These classes allow homeowners to ask specific questions about how to operate and care for their home’s many systems and build upon relationships already established on the construction site.

In addition to the core classes, homeowners have the opportunity to learn more in workshops that focus on fire safety, weatherization and being a good neighbor. We are very fortunate to also have a Habitat homeowner currently teaching future homeowners about gardening and growing food inexpensively in their own backyard.

Habitat continues to forge relationships with other community partners that can help bring families together to become successful homeowners, protecting the investment that they’ve worked hard to own. Habitat has formed partnerships with the Community Energy Project, Innovative Changes, Multnomah County Family Economic Security Project, Oregon Construction Contractors Board, Financial Beginnings and many more local organizations.

David and Ursula have big plans to use their extra income on home improvements and sending their kids to college.

Zero. That is how much David and Ursula Hernandez owe on their home in northeast Portland. Last year, the Hernandez family made their final payment to Habitat, paying off the mortgage on their single-family home, which they bought in 1994.

When the family moved to Oregon in the early 1990s, the only place for them to live was in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with Ursula’s sister. After living there for over a year, Ursula and David managed to move their family into an apartment. The couple constantly feared for their children’s safety and moved three times in under three years.

“Every night something different would happen,” said Ursula. “It would be a shooting in the park across the street or police coming to the apartment next door.”

With their mortgage staying steady for the past 16 years, Ursula and David have been able to make financial decisions that have allowed them to keep paying their mortgage and still support their family of five children.

“We’re all done paying,” said Ursula. “We never have pay to live in our home again.”

Ursula, who recently got laid off from her job, feels fortunate that in a time when many families have lost their homes, they can stay in their home and keep their family stable.

“We have faced the same hardships as others but have been able to keep our home,” said Ursula. “But only because it remained affordable until we paid it off.”

Portland’s King neighborhood, where the Hernandezes live, currently has an 18% foreclosure rate. This rate is higher than the 14% foreclosure rate in Multnomah County and the 15% foreclosure rate in Oregon.

Ursula says the stability of owning a home has been great for the family and allowed their children to stay in the same school system throughout their education. Ursula is proud when she talks about her oldest son, who is now attending Seattle University.

“Habitat has really changed our lives,” said Ursula. “When we first started out, David was only making six dollars an hour while I raised the kids. Habitat made the monthly payments affordable so we had the money to pay the mortgage and to spend on our kids.”

The Hernandez family recently repainted the exterior of their home and hopes to use some of their extra income to make other home improvements and send their younger kids to college.

“I am really happy because we love our home,” said Ursula. “We are rooted here and our best memories are here. If it wasn’t for Habitat, we wouldn’t have all the good things we have now.”

Construction Sites and ReStores Closed This Saturday in Observance of Memorial Day Holiday. They will be open again Tuesday as usual.