Habitat for Humanity of Oregon Inc

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: THE APRIL 2025 WESTERN REGION CONFERENCE WELCOMED A RECORD NUMBER OF ATTENDEES, BRINGING TOGETHER 550 HABITAT STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, AND VOLUNTEERSALONG WITH GENEROUS SPONSORS, SPEAKERS, AND HOUSING PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND BEYOND. CENTERED ON THE THEME FRAMING BRIGHTER FUTURES, THE CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON BUILDING CAPACITY, ADVANCING HOUSING JUSTICE, FOSTERING RESILIENCE, AND PLACING PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. THE 2025 CONFERENCE AFFIRMED THE STRENGTH, SPIRIT, AND DETERMINATION OF THE HABITAT NETWORK AND ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIES. IN ADDITION TO THIS IN-PERSON CONFERENCE, HABITAT OREGON HOSTED NUMEROUS WEBINARS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. WE PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORT TO OREGON AFFILIATES DURING TIMES OF KEY TRANSITION. QUARTERLY NETWORKING GROUPS CONVENED PARTICIPANTS FROM A FOUR-STATE AREA TO DISCUSS TIMELY TOPICS IN FIVE STAFF FOCUS AREAS: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, HOMEOWNER SERVICES, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND RESTORE MANAGEMENT.GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OREGON HAS FORMED AND SUPPORTED THE UNLOCKING HOMEOWNERSHIP COALITION. ANCHORED BY DOZENS OF NONPROFITS, HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPERS AND OTHER ALIGNED PARTNERS, THIS COALITION STANDS UNITED IN THE BELIEF THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH, COMMUNITY STABILITY AND A MORE JUST OREGON. IN MARCH 2025, WE HOSTED THE FIRST UNLOCKING HOMEOWNERSHIP COALITION ADVOCACY DAY: NEARLY 100 ADVOCATES FROM 45+ ORGANIZATIONS MET WITH 66 OREGON LEGISLATORS TO PUSH FOR BETTER ACCESS TO FIRST-TIME AND FIRST-GENERATION HOMEOWNERSHIP, AND THE INCREASED SUPPLY OF ENTRY LEVEL HOMES FOR SALE. AMID FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY AND COMPETING PRIORITIES FOR STATE RESOURCES, WE SECURED KEY WINS THAT MOVE US CLOSER TO A FUTURE WHERE MORE OREGONIANS CAN PUT DOWN ROOTS AND THRIVE. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND RESPONSE: HABITAT OREGON PROMOTES AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DISASTERS IN AFFILIATE SERVICE AREAS, PROMOTES RISK REDUCTION, ASSISTS AFFILIATES WITH DEVELOPING A CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN AND PARTICIPATES IN STATEWIDE RECOVERY PLANNING. THIS BODY OF WORK IS A COMBINATION OF INFORMATION SHARING AND TRAINING WITH LOCAL AFFILIATES. HABITAT OREGON MOST FREQUENTLY SUPPORTS OREGON AFFILIATES WITH IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM WILDFIRE RECOVERY BY ENGAGING KEY CONTACTS FROM THE STATE, AS WELL AS REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PRACTITIONERS IN WILDFIRE RECOVERY.