West Tuality Habitat for Humanity To Break Ground on Countryman Estates on April 13

Eight Affordable Homes To Be Built in Forest Grove, Oregon

(Forest Grove, Oregon) Volunteers, affordable housing advocates, neighbors and others will join West Tuality Habitat for Humanity for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, April 13, 10 a.m. to noon at the new Countryman Estates in Forest Grove. It is the local Habitat affiliate’s most ambitious project to date. The public is invited to attend.

Event attendees are encouraged to park on 23rd Avenue between B and D streets, or to park on D Street near the intersection with 22nd Place, and then walk to Countryman Estates for the ceremony on 1520 23rd Avenue, near the intersection of State Highway 8, in Forest Grove. The event is .6 miles from the Pacific Avenue & A Street stop on TriMet 57 coming from Cornelius.

Coffee and cookies will be provided and photos and video will be taken before, during and after the event. The event will happen rain or shine.

Press representatives are asked to email marketing@westtualityhabitat.org if they will be attending to cover the event. City, county, Metro and State officials and leaders of communities of faith (churches, temples, mosques, etc.) are asked to call (503) 359-8459 or email development@westtualityhabitat.org if they plan to attend.

Completion of the entire development is expected by 2025. Once finished, Countryman Estates will boast eight homes supported by West Tuality Habitat: two single-story fully-accessible units and six townhomes, each with three-four bedrooms and two full baths, each with all appliances and fully-accessible ground floor living spaces and bedrooms.

“Countryman Estates will be our biggest building project to date,” said Virginia Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat, which serves Western Washington County. "As so many of us are all too aware of, home ownership is out of reach for so, so many here in Oregon, and all over the USA. This is part of our ongoing efforts to help put home ownership within reach for families in our community. With continued support, we can do even more."

This project is funded in part by the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) funding from the State of Oregon Housing & Community Services Department (OHCS). Other funding was secured through the Community Project Funding that was passed recently as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 to fund the government for the next year, through the efforts of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR 1st District).

Countryman estates is named in honor of Bruce Countryman, who has been the Habitat affiliate’s volunteer construction manager for six of his 12 years volunteering with the organization. He has volunteered for other community groups in the area as well, including Valley Arts Association and the Forest Grove Forestry Commission. He is expected to be on hand for the ceremony.

West Tuality Habitat is also nearing completion of work on Kidd Corner, an adjacent property with seven homes, and six of those homes have already welcomed families. Completion of Kidd Court is expected by the end of April of this year. Kidd Corner is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd, who is also expected to be in attendance at this event.

The local Habitat affiliate also completed a five-home development called Coopers Corner, at 19th Avenue and Oak Street near the Tuality Forest Grove Hospital two years ago. That subdivision was named for one of the chapter's founding members, the late Glenn Cooper.

A Habitat home owners' mortgage, including mortgage payment, taxes, insurance and homeowners association fees, if applicable, will not exceed 30% of that family's gross monthly income at the time of sale. Habitat for Humanity often works to reach underserved communities specifically regarding affordable housing, and recognizes that a structure of intentional and systemic racial discrimination in the USA has created barriers to homeownership for many families. Individuals and families accepted into the Habitat home ownership program perform sweat equity as a part of this program, working at the construction sites or in the Forest Grove ReStore. Participants also complete financial literacy training and homebuyer counseling, which helps to ensure long-time success as new homeowners.

Habitat houses are built primarily by volunteers. For West Tuality Habitat, there is a core group of volunteers with advanced construction skills who work at least three days a week on Habitat projects in Western Washington County. These core volunteers are regularly joined in the work by families that have qualified for home ownership through Habitat, as well as volunteers from the community, including employees volunteering through their work places, such as Intel, Lowe's, Wells Fargo, Heritage Bank, USA Bank, Parr Lumber and more, as well as students from area colleges and universities. These additional volunteers often have no construction experience at all. Companies such as Lowe's and Malarkey Roofing in Portland provide building materials at discount prices and sometimes donate materials as well. Particularly specialized construction tasks requiring special contractors, including electrical, plumbing and roofing, are contracted out.

Homes built by Habitat meet all local building code requirements. Particularly specialized work like wiring, plumbing and roofing is contracted out.

West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and was formed in 1991. In addition to the affordable housing program, West Tuality Habitat also has a critical home repair program for low-income seniors, military veterans, and people with disabilities, allowing them to remain in their homes and age in place. West Tuality Habitat also operates a ReStore in Forest Grove, selling gently-used, donated furniture, appliances, home furnishings and leftover building supplies. These sales help fund its Habitat activities in the area.

For more information about donating financially, volunteering or applying to be a program participant, visit the West Tuality Habitat for Humanity web site at www.westtualityhabitat.org or call (503) 359-8459. There is also information available at the Forest Grove ReStore at 3731 Pacific Avenue.

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