Neighborhood revitalization
Habitat for Humanity is a movement of people around the world working together to build more prosperous and vibrant communities by making sure everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. In addition to helping people access home ownership, Habitat for Humanity also engages in neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Neighborhood revitalization is a long-term, holistic strategy that supports residents to improve the quality of life in under-resourced communities. Habitat for Humanity affiliates like West Tuality Habitat partner closely with residents in under-resourced areas to leverage our resources and partnerships to invest in community-led projects that improve the lives of current and future residents. We listen to the community’s priorities and work to help address at least some of their challenges. This allows our affiliate to maximize its local impact and gain a deeper understanding of the root causes driving disinvestment.
Residents know their neighborhood’s unique challenges and opportunities, and that’s why West Tualith Habitat for Humanity takes a local and community-based approach to neighborhood revitalization, to ensure that our work is driven by those with lived experience.
What our neighborhood revitalization efforts can look like:
Mobilizing volunteers and residents to work together to cleanup a block or neighborhood, which we often call “Rock the Block” (see below).
Building inclusive partnerships with residents and local organizations.
Supporting coalitions to define and achieve neighborhood goals.
Uplifting residents’ collective action as they advocate for equitable policy changes or implement community-led projects.
Redistributing resources to support the priorities of community members.
Hosting or co-hosting leadership training.
Rock the Block efforts serve communities by:
Keeping neighborhoods clean and safe.
Improving property values for residents.
Benefiting more than one homeowner at a time.
Unifying people - volunteers and community members - with a common purpose.
Increasing neighborhood pride and quality of life.
Team building for residents, community groups, and local businesses
When Habitat and communities improve neighborhoods with an intentional racial and social equity approach, it can help prevent displacement and spur further investment in historically marginalized communities.
West Tuality Habitat’s service area includes Forest Grove, Cornelius, Gales Creek, Gaston, Banks, Timber, North Plains, Buxton and the surrounding areas of those communities. We also regularly welcome volunteers from other parts of Washington County and beyond.
Is your neighborhood in our service area, and do you want to explore ways West Tuality Habitat for Humanity can help support revitalization efforts in your neighborhood? Does your nonprofit already undertake community-building activities and you want to explore partnering with West Tuality Habitat? We’re ready to talk: contact us by phone at (503) 359-8459 or email us at projects@westtualityhabitat.org. We would love to talk to you about ways we can work together.
You can see profiles of our work in the community, and beyond, in our blog.
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 social media, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Mastodon for more frequent updates.