Oregon’s 1000th Habitat for Humanity Home within Sight
Springfield/Eugene Neighborhood has been chosen for Oregon’s 1000th Habitat for Humanity Home
(Portland, OR) An ambitious goal of building 1000 Habitat for Humanity homes in Oregon by 2010 is within reach for the statewide organization. Earlier this month a site in Meyer Estates, a 10-house development in Springfield, was chosen and a hardworking local family was paired with the planned home. “We are so honored to be associated with this important milestone,” said Don Griffin, Executive Director of the Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity affiliate, who will head up the planning and construction of the 1000th home. “We’re proud of the fact that in the last 19 years we’ve built more than 40 homes for families in this community. Knowing that we are a part of such an impressive statewide total makes our work that much more meaningful.”
A dedication and celebration date of October 10, 2010 has been chosen for the 1000th home, which is realistic but will require an efficient build schedule. The community is coming together to build the 1000th Home and to do their best to ensure that the timeline is adhered to. In addition to fundraising and strategic partnership development by Habitat for Humanity of Oregon, additional materials, volunteers, and grants will come from the City of Springfield HOME program, Habitat for Humanity volunteers, and several centers of faith. Because of the extensive commitment by faith communities, the project has been named an Apostles Build.
“A lot of hard work and a lot of amazing people have helped get us to this point,” said Patricia Day TenEyck, Executive Director of HfHO. “But the reality is that Oregon has thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of hardworking families still living in substandard housing. We won’t stop with 1000 homes. Affiliates across the state have accepted Habitat for Humanity of Oregon’s challenge to build the next 1000 homes by 2020. That’s 1000 more homes in 15 fewer years than the first 1000. But I believe we’re all up for the challenge. In fact, we’ll keep building until all hardworking Oregon families have a safe, decent and affordable home.”
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Ecumenical Christian housing organization, has been working in Oregon for 25 years. In that time, the default rate on mortgages has been less than 1%, lower than the national average. In addition to making regular mortgage payments, Habitat for Humanity partner families contribute 500 hours of labor on their own or other partner family homes. By providing a hand up, not a hand out, the Habitat for Humanity program maintains the dignity and pride of homeowner families.
