Next Habitat for Humanity build is underway in Newberg

Venture up North College Street on any given Monday, Wednesday or Saturday and you may witness a collection of folks constructing families’ dreams.

The latest Newberg Habitat for Humanity Project is located in the 700 block of North College Street, a parcel that formerly held the Holveck Veterinary Clinic. Bob and Karla Holveck sold the College Street end of the property to Habitat in 2022, then entered into a contract with the nonprofit to sell the remainder of the land a year later, according to Shannon Selah, Habitat’s executive director.

Two small, two-story homes are under construction on the site now, with an additional home slated for construction on the west end of the site later. Two of the three families who will inhabit the homes have been selected and have begun contributing the “sweat equity” that Habitat requires of future homeowners.

“Those families began by volunteering in our ReStore and are now assisting with building each other’s homes,” Selah said. “It is very exciting for the families and also for the volunteers who get to work alongside the partner families for whom they are building homes.”

The East Fifth Street project, known as the Veterans Build, will be unique in that one of the two families to inhabit the homes will be required to have served in the military.

Selah said the North College homes represent a milestone of sorts for the nonprofit, launched locally in March 1994: “Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity has constructed, rehabilitated or recycled 30 homes in Newberg.”

That includes the agency’s last completed project: a pair of common-wall townhomes in the 1200 block of East Fifth Street that were completed in 2021. Following the completion of the first two North College Street homes, Habitat will begin construction of another home at the East Fifth Street site. The nonprofit’s building record, however, is construction of two duplexes (four homes) at the corner of Third Street and Everest Road about a decade ago. Habitat’s space on which to construct homes is at an all-time high as well.

“The amount of land we have at one time is a record, I believe,” Selah said. “After these three homes are built at 717 N. College St., we have enough land to build six more homes.”

The demand for affordable housing is not unique to Newberg, although agencies address the problem with different approaches.

“Our affiliate tries to stay in touch with the city of Newberg to advocate for affordable housing and give feedback whenever there is opportunity,” Selah said, adding that Habitat also attempts to stay abreast of affordable housing grants as they become available. “For example, I was able to share this week with the planning department about what our organization does, obstacles we have faced and successes we have had working with the city.”

Selah said she recognizes Habitat’s part in addressing Newberg’s affordable housing woes.

“Our Habitat affiliate has a great responsibility and fantastic opportunity to add to the affordable housing stock within Newberg,” she said. “In my opinion, the Habitat model is the best model that I have seen or heard of actually making change for future generations of low-income families.”

Although the agency’s record is building one home per year, “we are stepping that up to two to three homes per year (due to the level of need and land availability), which, as you might imagine, is a daunting fundraising feat.”

The cost of building materials alone “have risen exponentially in the past several years, plus we need to raise two- to three-times the funds we would otherwise need to hit that mark.”

Thanks to the donations, grants and proceeds from sales at Habitat’s popular ReStore on North Meridian Street, the nonprofit has successfully raised the funds it needs to undertake the current building projects. But that’s not to say Habitat can accommodate all the low-income families in town that need housing.

“We build homes for purchase by local families making 25% to 60% of Area Median Income (AMI),” Selah said. “The level of unaffordability in the area of homeownership is so enormous that those making even 100% of AMI are finding it difficult to buy a home at market rate. Unfortunately, this means that we can’t build homes for everyone in need and there is a gap other organizations and developers are left to fill.”

That being said, Selah said she welcomes partnering with area developers who would like or are being required by the city to build a certain percentage of affordable homes in their development projects.

“Our immediate challenge is to build our capacity organizationally, through our number of volunteers and funding — these are my focuses as director,” she said.

Selah concluded with a plea for those wishing to help Habitat help families: “We are rebuilding our hospitality crew and are actively seeking individuals and organizations to provide meals (prepared or purchased) for our build site volunteers on a rotating basis.”

For more information, email office@newberghabitat.org .