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Family Focus: The Beng-Mou Family
With constantly rising rent and high utility expenses, Emanuel Beng and Abuk Mou work diligently to support their five children. Emanuel is a custodian at a building in downtown Portland and Abuk works for a uniform production company. Even though both of them work full-time, it has been difficult for them to make ends meet. The family has rented a house in southeast Portland for the past four years that is in poor condition. Learn more.
Rivergate Commons
Rivergate Commons is a 12-home project on a large site purchased from the adjacent Rivergate Community Church on north Lombard Street. The church approached Habitat in 2008 in their search for a developer of housing to support the congregation’s socially conscious desire for a project that serves the community.
Habitat was able to purchase this property at a discounted price with financial support from the Portland Development Commission. Habitat is building four tri-plexes to meet the needs of families currently fulfilling their sweat equity.
Rivergate Community Church has been a wonderful partner to us–not just by selling us the land below market value but also by supporting the volunteers, families and even building a community garden for the project!
The lot is bordered on three sides by city streets which allow the front entrance of each home to be close to the street. The triangular shape of the lot will provide a large community space for a play structure and gardens in the area between the two tri-plexes on both north Newman and Olin Avenues.
Construction started July 2010 and is being built in phases. The first phase includes six homes that face North Olin avenue. This phase — including homes for the Gonzales-Hankins, Keith, Bati, Beasley, Bonga and Martinez Cruz families — was completed in May of 2011. The completion of phase one and the starting of phase two was celebrated at the Rivergate Commons Half & Half Celebration on May 25, 2011. Phase two is now under construction with six more homes that face North Newman avenue. These homes — for the Mitchell, Onishi, Aymerew, Avila-Guzman, Ascencio and Speakman families — are scheduled to be complete in early 2012.
Victoria Cottages
Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 204th Place
Victoria Cottages is located on Southeast 204th Place in the Rockwood and North Central neighborhoods of Gresham. There are currently 14-preexisting new homes neighboring the Habitat build site. Habitat plans on building eight additional new homes for low-income, hardworking families to complete the Victoria Cottages sub-division. Habitat is currently in the design and planning phases although streets, sidewalks and infrastructure are already established and waiting to host volunteers.
Habitat’s goal is to provide energy efficient housing for families with low allergens, high-efficiency utilities, access to public transit and pervious surfaces. The exterior design and color will compliment the neighboring homes and each entryway will face Southeast 204th Place. The eight Habitat homes will be built to Earth Advantage certification levels. The neighborhood is close to TriMet route #20 bus stops and a half mile from the Ruby Junction stop on the TriMet MAX Blue Line.
Parking: if you are volunteering at Victoria Cottages, please park on SE 205th Ave, one block east of the build site.
