Long wait for a home of their own is over for the Bautista Family: Home Dedication Held in Cornelius

(Forest Grove, Oregon) On Wednesday, June 26, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity held its second home dedication and move in celebration of 2024, this time for the Bautista Family in Cornelius, with about 40 people on hand for the event. There are photos at the end of this page highlighting events of the day.

Unlike most Habitat homes, this home was not built by Habitat volunteers: this home is part of the Laurel Woods master-planned neighborhood by Holt Homes and was purchased by the family via West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s affordable mortgage program. “Juana completed her sweat equity, her financial literacy training and all of her homebuyer counseling a while ago, but there was not yet a Habitat home available for her and her family since she finished,” said Virginia Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat. “It will be more months before either one of our Rapid Homestead projects are completed or one of our homes at Countrymen Estates are ready. We felt that it was urgent to create apath for her homeownership as quickly as possible, and we are so pleased the financing was available for this very special home purchase to happen.”

Habitat volunteers will still be involved in this project, however: they will spend the next few days rapidly converting this house from three bedrooms to four bedrooms, to better accommodate the needs of the Bautista Family.

This Holt Homes master-planned community offers a huge park with a play structure and sports field, basketball court, outdoor exercise areas and walking trails, and a bus stop for Metro’s line 57 frequent service bus is less than a mile away.

Representatives from Holt Homes were on hand to welcome the family to their new home, presenting them with a lovely floral arrangements and the keys to their home.

West Tuality Habitat board chair Lois Hornberger also presented the family with a gift basket that included food to symbolize their wish for the family's health and prosperity in the home.

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.  

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.

West Tuality Habitat is soon beginning construction on its next home development, Countryman Estates, which is next door to Kidd Court, a development Habitat completed in 2023, both in Forest Grove. 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. The Habitat affiliate also completed a five-home development called Coopers Corner, at 19th Avenue and Oak Street in Forest Grove.  

West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and was formed in 1991. 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. 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. This program has helped almost 400 vulnerable homeowners in Western Washington County since 2018.

West Tuality Habitat also operates a ReStore in Forest Grove, selling gently-used, donated furniture, appliances, home furnishings, leftover building supplies and overstock, new items. 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.