There are 23 Habitat for Humanity affiliates that operate in the state of Oregon, and all of them accomplish incredible work to house families. While we wish there was space to highlight the work of all affiliates, here’s a glimpse of three projects completed by West Tuality Habitat for Humanity this year. For over 30 years, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity has worked with local families, volunteers, and partners in Forest Grove, Cornelius, Gales Creek, Gaston, Banks, Timber, North Plains, Buxton and the surrounding areas of western Washington County building homes with affordable mortgages and making critical repairs. Here are three stories of families who have partnered with West Tuality.
VanLoo Family
Forced to move out when their landlord decided to sell their rental property, the VanLoo Family received the keys to their refurbished manufactured home early in the summer of 2024, with Habitat volunteers working hard to acquire, rehabilitate and house the Van Loo family in just 90 days.
“I just can't tell you how much love there is out there,” said Robin VanLoo, the new homeowner. She recounted to those gathered how she applied repeatedly through the Habitat program and how, after each rejection, worked to improve her credit score and financial profile so she would be a better candidate next time. “I started this journey in 2019. And I can remember sending the paper in and it getting denied. And I’m like, ‘oh my god. Okay. Well, I'll work on some of this stuff’… It's the one thing that I never gave up on. Because it's not just for me. It's for my family.”
Bautista Family
A move-in celebration and home dedication was held for the Bautista Family in Cornelius on June 26. Unlike most Habitat homes, the Bautista home was not built by Habitat volunteers: this home is part of the Laurel Woods master-planned neighborhood by Holt Homes and was purchased by the family via West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s affordable mortgage program. “Juana completed her sweat equity, her financial literacy training, and all of her homebuyer counseling a while ago, but there was not yet a Habitat home available for her and her family since she finished,” said Virginia Ohler, Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat. “We felt that it was urgent to create a path for her homeownership as quickly as possible, and we are so pleased the financing was available for this very special home purchase to happen.”
The house was rapidly converted by Habitat volunteers from three bedrooms to four bedrooms, to better accommodate the family’s needs.
Dominguez Family
The Dominguez family, which entered West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program in 2002, paid off their mortgage in 2024. The affiliate celebrated with the family, along with employees and volunteers. Donaciano and Dora Dominguez and their children, Sofia, then 9, and Chano, then 5, moved from a mobile home where they had been living into the Cornelius home built by Habitat volunteers and with their own contributions through sweat equity. The final mortgage payments were made by their now adult son, Chano, who is in the Pharmacy Residency Program at the University of California at Davis. Their daughter, Sophia, is now teaching at Cornelius Elementary School. Donaciano and Dora are now retired.
