History.

In 1990, a small group of community-conscious Forest Grove residents began to consider starting a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity to serve Western Washington County, Oregon. This group included Richard Osburn, Frank Blair, Lois Campbell, Theola Van Loo, Bill Bash, Tim Schauermann, Lauren Waltz, Lois Stevens, Ida Smith, Tim King, Harold Meyer, Kathryn Ferrie, Betty Weddell, and Bill Hoover. 

It took a considerable amount of time, organizing and coordinating with Habitat International to get all the necessary paperwork completed, but at last, the group was able to begin to fund raise for what became West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, so they could start building affordable homes with families in Forest Grove, Oregon. Attorney Stephanie Lommen helped with the articles of incorporation and by-laws. The United Church of Christ in Forest Grove, and the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Cornelius were both covenant churches supporting West Tuality Habitat for Humanity in those earliest of days.

Lauren Waltz sold West Tuality Habitat its first lot, at a discount, to begin our first house build. The house built on this ‘B’ Street lot became the home of the Cardenas family. In 2013, the Cardenas family completed paying off their mortgage on this house. 

The second house was a ‘rehab’ done on a structure that Frank Blair donated to West Tuality. This house is located on Pacific Avenue, and once the place had been set on a new foundation and fully rehabilitated, Bobby and Grace Kral moved in. Much of the volunteer work force that built this home with the family came from local service organizations and church volunteer groups. Experts in required areas also donated time. Grace was the first West Tuality partner/homeowner to finish paying her house off.

Over the years, more houses were built, including two side by side in Cornelius at 19th and Alpine, a single house in Forest Grove near 14th and Elm, and a duplex at 21st Place. Later, volunteers helped to construct five town houses on one street at 19th and Oak Streets in Forest Grove, dubbed Cooper’s Corner, named for one of the chapter's founding members, the late Glenn Cooper. The first house completed at Kidd Court, near the corner of 23rd Avenue and D Street, in Forest Grove, was formally presented to the first family in September 2018. The last family moved into the seven-home development in August 2023. Kidd Court is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd.

In 2023, West Tuality Habitat broke ground on its next development, Countryman Estates, which will consist of eight homes. Participating families will help build their own and their neighbors’ homes, utilizing their sweat equity to help reduce the costs of their homes. Completion of the entire development is expected by 2026. 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.

The chapter began a very small ReStore in some donated warehouse space in 2008. A small band of volunteers dedicated to making this successful included Glenn Cooper, Tom Raabe, Ray Giansante, and Diane Wiley. That group expanded and we soon outgrew the small space that Henningsen’s Cold Storage had given us, and began searching for more room. We moved into our current location on Hwy 8 in October of 2010. Read more about the history of the ReStore here.

From the beginning, volunteer committees of Forest Grove residents were busy with fundraising to sustain the organization and build more housing, organizing awareness and fundraising events, searching for property to build on, selecting partner families for homes and critical home repairs, etc. A Walkathon was organized by Bill Bash to raise community awareness and funds. Eventually, West Tuality Habitat began hosting an annual evening gala and a gold tournament to further engage community members to learn more about us and to support our work.

Many dedicated board members and other volunteers have followed in the footsteps of the original group. Volunteers help West Tuality Habitat with home construction, home rehabilitations, home repairs and neighborhood cleanups, community outreach and advocacy in Salem and Washington DC with elected officials, as well as with events and ReStore staffing. Community engagement remains a priority with us!

In 2017, West Tuality Habitat hired local resident Virginia Ohler as their new full-time Executive Director. Ms. Ohler had previously served on the Board of Directors for several years. The number of full time and part-time staff at West Tuality Habitat has slowly expanded as the programs and number of clients have expanded, though we have kept our paid staff numbers small.

West Tuality Habitat for Humanity has expanded its critical home repair program to help people with disabilities, military veterans, seniors and others to be able to stay in their homes. By 2023, the critical home repair program was the highest performing one in the state in terms of numbers of households helped. West Tuality Habitat also organizes Rock the Block events where entire neighborhoods of low-income homeowners are assisted with yard cleanups and debris removal.

With further support, we can expand more fully throughout Western Washington County, helping families in Banks, Buxton, Gaston, Gales Creek, North Plains and Cornelius realize the dream of home ownership and help to revitalize neighborhoods.

Here’s more how to volunteer and how to donate financially to our efforts.