Representative Bonamici, Administrator from USDA, Other VIPs Celebrate Habitat for Humanity & Discuss Affordable Home Efforts & Rural Development in Oregon
April 4, 2024
Forest Grove, Oregon – U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrew Berke of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Andrea Bell of the Oregon Housing and Community Services and others joined representatives of both West Tuality Habitat for Humanity and Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity on April 4, 2024, to celebrate several recent large federal grants and loans in support of Habitat programs and activities.
As previously reported, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is receiving a $319,200 federal grant award to help build eight homes in rural western Washington County.
In her remarks at Countryman Estates, Representative Bonamici noted
I travel around Northwest Oregon and throughout the district which I am honored to represent… and everywhere I go whether it’s urban, suburban or rural, there is a real common issue and that is that people are struggling to find affordable housing… the federal government really does play an important role in affordable housing and expanding access to homeownership and investing in the infrastructure that we need to keep communities health and thriving.
What is now this vacant lot will soon be eight homes. And they will be owned by members of the community right here in Forest Grove. This is a really important thing to celebrate but also a testament to what happens when we work together. I’m inspired by the collaboration that made this site possible and inspired by future homeowners like Marybelle.
Andy Berke, who was appointed by President Biden to serve as Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service at the USDA, noted that support for housing in rural areas is part of the government’s overall strategy to preserve rural communities.
People need to have choices in all parts of their lives, including where they want to live. If you have to go to the city to get housing or to get a job then we will see our rural communities die… in 2024, it is more possible than ever to live in a rural community and work a job that might be across the country. So there’s a chance for communities like Forest Grove to thrive in this modern environment. But to do that they need infrastructure. They need water, they need high-speed internet, they need clean energy and, of course, they need housing.
I don’t think of this, as I look at it, as just these eight houses around here. I think about it as this whole neighborhood and what we’re doing to ensure that it thrives.
The event also acknowledged a $1.13 million Rural Development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will be used to buy an 8,625-square-foot commercial facility for Habitat for Humanity of Tillamook County's ReStore's retail operations and the organization's administrative offices.
After remarks at the future build site, a meeting was held at the offices of West Tuality Habitat, lead by Congresswoman Bonamici and Administrator Berke, to discuss challenges to affordable housing in Oregon and housing equity. Others that attended the day’s events included:
Andrea Bell, Executive Director of the Oregon Housing and Community Services
Briar Smith, Executive Director of Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity
Maribel Gonzalez, a Countryman Estates Future Homeowner
Margaret Hoffman, USDA Rural Development
Jill Rees, USDA Rural Development
Virginia Ohler, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity
Jennifer Anderson, Habitat for Humanity of Columbia County
Sarah Padilla, Habitat for Humanity of Oregon
Sarah Radcliffe, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region
Jennifer Parrish Taylor, Urban League of Portland
Rob Prasch, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing
Rachel Bidou, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing
Tracy Rainey, Clean Water Services
Chris Faulkner, Clean Water Services
Timothy Rippe, Forest Grove City Councilor
Greg Hinkelman, Clatskanie City Manager
Jesse VanderZanden, Forest Grove City Manager
Val Valfre, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity board member
Rob Drake,West Tuality Habitat for Humanity board member
Lois Hornberger, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity Board Chair
The recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance grant for West Tuality Habitat for Humanity will assist several low-income and underserved local families as they construct their homes through the Countryman Estates project in Forest Grove. Currently in land-use planning, work is expected to be underway by summer 2024.
Once finished, Countryman Estates will consist of eight homes supported by West Tuality Habitat: two single-story, fully-accessible units and six townhomes, each with three or four bedrooms and two full baths, as well as all appliances and fully-accessible ground floor living spaces and bedrooms. 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 2025.
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 was in attendance with other Habitat volunteers.
Last year, Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat, noted that this was the Habitat affiliates biggest single-site building project to date, and said "This development, in addition to our program to provide critical home repairs to vulnerable homeowners, is a part of our ongoing efforts to help put home ownership within reach for families in our communities in Western Washington County. With continued support, we can do so much more."
For over 30 years, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity in Forest Grove has worked with local families, volunteers, and partners in western Washington County to build homes with affordable mortgages and make critical repairs. Their work has proven critical to combatting the state’s affordable housing crisis by enabling more Oregonians to live in affordable and safe homes.
West Tuality Habitat also built Kidd Corner, a project with seven homes, adjacent to Countryman Estates. Kidd Corner is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd. 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, three 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, US 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.
A video of the day’s events is on the West Tuality Habitat YouTube channel. More photos from the day:
