With Support From Lowe’s, West Tuality Habitat supports more than 100 households in its service area in 2024.
West Tuality Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 100 households in 2024 through its programs to support vulnerable homeowners in Western Washington County, Oregon, and financial support from Lowe’s has been crucial in making this possible.
In April 2024, West Tuality Habitat received a $16,000 grant from Lowe’s for collaborative efforts to achieve equitable, livable, and resilient communities with low- to medium-income families in need of housing assistance. In their grant award, Lowe’s noted, “Our focus is to build and share power with residents, center the margins of those most impacted and marginalized by systemic inequities, and to target systems to maximize outcomes and impact across sectors.”
Because of Lowe’s funding, the Habitat for Humanity affiliate was able to:
Undertake group volunteering events (“Rock the Block”) focused on two neighborhood revitalization efforts, one in Gaston and another in North Plains, with more than a few tons of debris and discarded furniture removed from the neighborhoods.
Replacing stairs with durable, ADA-compliant ramps for two different homeowners, one in Cornelius and the other in Forest Grove.
Providing new air conditioners to 25 households who could otherwise not access such during record-breaking temperatures in the area.
Photos from these efforts are at the end of this blog.
“This funding from Lowe’s has helped us in our efforts to make homes safer and healthier and create stronger communities,” said Virginia Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat. “A lot of people aren’t aware that Habitat for Humanity does more than help people access homeownership and to build new homes; we also work to help seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable homeowners, including military veterans, to be able to stay in their homes longer, by addressing critical repair needs.”
To date, the West Tuality Habitat program has helped to repair more than 400 homes in Western Washington County, a rural area of Oregon which, compared to much of the rest of the state, has a diverse population.
The funding from Lowe’s is part of a two-year, $6 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International to support home repair and preservation efforts in owner-occupied homes. This year, funding will enable 110 local Habitat affiliates to complete 295 projects and impact nearly 700 families across the U.S. Since 2003, Lowe’s and Habitat have worked together to help more than 18,000 people build or improve a place to call home.
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 households, 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, 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 westtualityhabitat.org or call (503) 359-8459. There is also information available at the Forest Grove ReStore at 3731 Pacific Avenue.
To get updates about West Tuality Habitat events and volunteering opportunities, go to our volunteer page and sign up on the form at the bottom of the page, and/or follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram.
