Friends of Forest Grove Library partners with West Tuality Habitat

This summer's READ FOR A CAUSE program by Friends of the Forest Grove Library benefitted West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, raising $3500 to help fund building materials, appliances, and other items for new homes being built in Western Washington County.

People in Forest Grove, Cornelius, Gaston, Gales Creek, and surrounding areas of Western Washington County, Oregon logged in more than 3,500 hours of reading this summer as a part of this partnership program, which is funded by the Rotary Club of Forest Grove and the Forest Grove Lions Club.

A symbolic check was presented at a Friends of the Forest Grove Library meeting to West Tuality Habitat representative Steve Mann. Joining in the festivities were Amy Tracewell (Rotary Club of Forest Grove) and Steve Krautscheid (Lions Club).

As part of this partnership, Mann did a presentation online, hosted by the Forest Grove Library, on Housing and Housing Needs in Washington County.

Friends of the Forest Grove Library was established in 1973 to support the Forest Grove library, which is part of Washington County Cooperative Library Services. It is an all-volunteer group.

Partnerships are essential to the work of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity. If you would like to partner with West Tuality Habitat in some way - in a fundraiser, in a volunteering activity or in our home construction or home repair programs - please contact us at development@westtualityhabitat.org.

West Tuality Habitat is beginning construction on its next home development, Countryman Estates, which is next door to Kidd Court. Once finished, Countryman Estates will boast eight homes: 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.

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 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-term 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 Whirlpool, IKEA and Hunter-Douglas provide building materials at discount prices and donate materials as well. Specialized construction tasks requiring licenses and bonding, including electrical, plumbing and roofing, are contracted out.

Homes built by Habitat meet all local building code requirements.

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 people, 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 support Habitat activities in the area.

For more information about donating, 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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