Groundbreaking For New Affordable Homes Draws VIPS to Forest Grove
(Forest Grove, Oregon) Volunteers, affordable housing advocates, neighbors and others, including Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR 1st District) and Andrea Bell, Executive Director of the Oregon Housing and Community Services, joined West Tuality Habitat for Humanity for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, April 13 at the new Countryman Estates in Forest Grove, Oregon, the future site of eight new homes. It is the local Habitat affiliate’s most ambitious project to date.
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).
Photos from the day are at the bottom of this page.
At the event, Representative Bonamici said, “We know that housing is fundamental. It forms the bedrock of stability and security. It's vital for full and meaningful participation in our communities and in society... I want to acknowledge Habitat's work especially to focus on the needs of historically marginalized communities, to make that a priority.”
“The lack of affordable housing is a serious and ongoing challenge. We know that. We acknowledge it, for northwest Oregon, for individuals, for families. But, as director Bell so eloquently put, addressing these challenges is going to take us all working together. And that's what we do as Oregonians. It's going to take response from every level of government, from public and private sector, and from individuals all being a part of this, like you are today. This project is a powerful example of the kind of collaboration that is making a meaningful difference. It sends a message that we are here to solve problems. We are here to build housing.”
“As you may expect, there are a lot of needs here and we get a lot of requests for community project funding but this one really rose to the top… It's inspiring, very inspiring, to see this region's collaborative approach, and I stand with you, as your partner and as your member of Congress.”
After stating her gratitude for being a part of the morning and her appreciation for the "steadfast" leadership of Habitat, for board member Val Valfre and for Representative Bonamici, Andrea Bell noted, "Anytime that we are in a space together in community, individually and collectively, this is representative of what I believe is our shared values. Our shared values to our beloved communities, our shared values to the people that we serve, and what I believe is our shared values and you will hear me say this a lot, which is that we do not accept, as a community, as a collective state, we do not accept homelessness, as a fact of life. We do not accept housing instability as a fact of life. And it is that very alignment, it is that very solidarity of that being that continues to serve as a collective fuel to push us for progress.
“Anytime I think about Habitat, I always think about community, that sense of community... And I think what I have come to learn and appreciate - yes, as an executive director of a state agency but also as individual that grew up in a very working class family - which is that you don't just get community. It is something you have to cultivate. It's something you have to care for, and there are shared responsibility in that.
“My grandfather was an agricultural worker… As far back as I can remember, I recall him talking about the dream of home ownership. Affordable home ownership, which shouldn't feel like an elitist thing to pursue, an elitist thing to want. But that was always the collective pursuit in progress. and it was because of that sense of community, it was because of that championship around us, that that became a very real thing.
“Now obviously here across the state housing is of top care and concern in all communities. And it is these moments like this, it is the manifestation of this quite frankly as an Oregonian. as a director, that gives me so much hope and optimism. I also want to be very clear that it doesn't mean that we don't see challenges. We have challenges. And I think we need to be able to say that. There are vast amounts of challenges. But even despite those challenges, I see, we see, we are here because we see what is possible beyond those challenges. For me, that is also what it means to be an Oregonian. That is what we do, we do tough things, we do hard things, we summon are best selves, and we show folks in our community and across the nation what we are made of. That is what we are doing. And so it is in those moments when we may feel like hope is a little frayed, perhaps maybe we don't see a pathway forward, that we can take these moments that we're in here to summon our best selves. because it will be required of us over the next few years There is a lot at stake for the state of Oregon. and it gives me a great deal of hope and optimism.
“To all of the homeowners and future homeowners, we do this every day because of you, you absolutely deserve this, this is what we eat, sleep and breathe, every day as a collective because of you. And to the volunteers, there's so much that I could say, but I will just say thank you. Thank you for honoring that sense of beloved community, thank you for persevering (with) your time and energy, when, quite frankly, there's a million other things that you could be doing.
What you can expect from us as a state, as a collective, is that through the lens of humanity we will continue to be relentless in every moment of every single day to continue to push for progress. I fully believe that Oregon's best days are ahead.”
In her moving dedication before the actual ceremonial groundbreaking, Marlene Mutchler, Vicar of St. Bede's Episcopal in Forest Grove, said, “As all gifts come from Grace and are not something we create or earn, we give thanks to the Creator of all for this gift of land. Our hearts both rejoice and ache for those who have walked this way before us. The stories of tribes who stewarded this land and of the Gray family who lived here for five generations echo among us today. Those stories call out to us from the very earth. I invite us to take a moment of silence to listen to them. Perhaps you can hear native languages, as people engaged in handicrafts and daily life, children running and laughing, roosters and chickens raising a ruckus, and dogs barking.”
Noted Mandie Ludlam about the day, “Exciting start! We at CHF are delighted to have been the acquisition funder for this project!”
In addition to more than 50 members of the public, including Habitat volunteers and home owners, also in attendance were Shannon Villhauer, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Oregon and Sarah Padilla, Grant Portfolio Director at Habitat of Oregon, Washington County Commissioner Jerry Wiley, Forest Grove City Councilor Timothy Rippe, North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan, Housing Rehabilitation Coordinator Sarah Branson, Mandie Ludlam and Mary Routheaux of the Community Housing Fund, Pastor Mary Anthony of Emmanuel Lutheran in Cornelius, and Claudia Yakos of the Forest Grove / Cornelius Chamber of Commerce.
Portland television station KGW also covered the event for its afternoon, evening and morning broadcasts.
Forest Grove Mayor Malynda Wenzl, who was unable to attend, said in this statement to West Tuality Habitat, “Affordable housing is the foundation of a healthy community. The City of Forest Grove is grateful to West Tuality Habitat for Humanity and Congresswoman Bonomici for helping make this a reality for eight local families.”
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.
“This has been a perfect way to kick off the start of building at Countryman Estates, our biggest single-site building project to date,” said Virginia Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat. "This development, in addition to our program to provide critical home repairs to vulnerable home owners, 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."
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.
West Tuality Habitat is nearing completion of work on Kidd Corner, an adjacent property to Countrymen Estates, with seven homes, six of which have already welcomed families. Kidd Corner is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd, who was in attendance at this latest groundbreaking 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.
More photos from the day:
