West Tuality Habitat for Humanity Completes Kidd Court Development, Celebrates Homeowner

(Forest Grove, Oregon) Volunteers, affordable housing advocates, neighbors and others will join West Tuality Habitat for Humanity on Sunday, August 13, 1 p.m. at the now fully complete Kidd Court development to dedicate the final home and welcome the new homeowner. The public is invited to attend.

There is very little parking on 22nd Place, so attendees are encouraged to park on D Street near the intersection and then walk to Kidd Court for the ceremony at 1513 22nd Place in Forest Grove. The event is .6 miles from the Pacific Avenue & A Street stop on TriMet 57 coming from Cornelius.

Kidd Court boasts seven homes built by West Tuality Habitat — two detached single-family residences and five attached townhouses. The first house completed at Kidd Court was formally presented to the Epler family in September 2018. This latest home is the seventh and final one completed. This is the third home completed by West Tuality Habitat to utilize the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) funding from the State of Oregon Housing & Community Services Department (OHCS).

Kidd Court is named in honor of former Forest Grove mayor and long-time Habitat supporter Richard Kidd, who is also expected to be in attendance at this event.

Photos and video will be taken before, during and after the event. Light refreshments will be available. Representatives from West Tuality Habitat will also be available for any questions.

Press representatives are asked to email marketing@westtualityhabitat.org if they will be attending to cover the event. City, County, Metro and State officials and leaders of communities of faith (churches, temples, mosques, etc.) are asked to call (503) 359-8459 or email development@westtualityhabitat.org if they plan to attend.

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.

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 two years ago. That subdivision was named for one of the chapter's founding members, the late Glenn Cooper.

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.

# # #