Volunteers train with drywall to prep for helping at Countryman Estates

Participants (future Habitat for Humanity volunteers!) practicing their new skills in working with drywall.

West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat University event, All About Drywall, was a success, with participants learning the ins and outs of cutting and placing drywall, a skill that will be oh-so-useful when these same folks turn out to volunteer with us at Countryman Estates, our latest construction site that will house eight families.

Participants from Forest Grove, North Plains, Cornelius and Hillsboro got a taste of what volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity construction is like and met some of the Habitat staff and lead volunteers, as well as learned skills that not only can help Habitat families, but can also help them around their own homes. Many of the participants had attended our earlier Habitat University event, which was focused specifically on welcoming and encouraging women to be Habitat construction volunteers. The event took place in the newly-constructed covered building space in the back of the Forest Grove ReStore. Pictures from the event are at the end of this blog.

This event was designed to help participants understand the basics of drywall, wallboard and plasterboard, how to cut it properly, attach it, tape it and mud it and make minor repairs, skills needed among those that will be helping at West Tuality Habitat’s new construction site, which is expected to start engaging volunteers soon for weekly work days. Participants also learned more about the mission of Habitat for Humanity and why we focus on helping people access affordable housing.

These Habitat University events are aimed at people who want to help Habitat with home construction and home repair but aren't already knowledgeable about the skills and tools needed, and aimed at eliminating the ‘intimidation factor’ surrounding construction skills and home improvement. These events are also designed to be an example of the welcoming, supportive atmosphere of Habitat construction and repair events, and how we welcome ALL people to support this work.

Once finished, Countryman Estates will consist of eight homes supported by West Tuality Habitat: two single-story, fully-accessible units and six townhomes, each with three or four bedrooms and two full baths, as well as all appliances and fully-accessible ground floor living spaces and bedrooms. Participating families will help build their own and their neighbors’ homes, utilizing their sweat equity to help reduce the costs of their homes. 

Countryman estates is named in honor of Bruce Countryman, who has been the Habitat affiliate’s volunteer construction manager for six of his 13 years volunteering with the organization.

West Tuality Habitat also built Kidd Corner, a project with seven homes, adjacent to Countryman Estates. Kidd Corner is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd. 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. That subdivision was named for one of the chapter's founding members, the late Glenn Cooper.

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. Their work has proven critical to combatting the state’s affordable housing crisis by enabling more Oregonians to live in affordable and safe homes. 

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 homes are built primarily by volunteers, alongside members of partner families who will be purchasing a home through Habitat as part of their “sweat equity” requirement (you can read more about sweat equity in English, o lee más sobre “sweat equity” en español). 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 Lowe's and Malarkey Roofing in Portland provide building materials at discount prices and sometimes donate materials as well.

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. 

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.