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About Home Building Foundation

The Basics

Home Building Foundation (HBF) was founded in 1997 as the philanthropic arm of the Home Building Association (HBA) of Greater Portland.

HBF harnesses the resources and expertise of the home building industry to build and renovate shelters and transitional housing for those experiencing homelessness. As an affiliate of HomeAid, we do this through a unique approach that recruits builders and remodelers through the HBA and others in the industry who donate or heavily discount labor and materials to allow our nonprofit service providers to put more money into their programs instead of construction costs.

We work hand in hand with the HBA of Greater Portland to enhance and strengthen their advocacy work on housing and housing affordability and provide a tangible, meaningful way for HBA members to make an impact in the community.

HBF also supports and connects construction training programs, resources, and jobs to build the future workforce and create better living wage job opportunities for all.

Our Mission

To build shelter for people experiencing homelessness and provide educational and training opportunities for people interested in careers in the home building industry.

We believe that every individual has worth, and that shelter is a necessity of life.

Home Building Foundation-HomeAid Portland History

Every project includes support services that help residents move toward self-sufficiency

In 2005, HBF became an affiliate of HomeAid. HomeAid Portland builds housing for our nonprofit service providers serving families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

HomeAid Portland provides construction-related technical assistance as well as in-kind labor and materials from the generous building industry, which allows our partners to focus their energy and resources on providing direct services to people experiencing homelessness while we take care of construction.

Our nonprofit service providers offer support services that enable residents to get back on their feet and on a path to permanent housing. HomeAid nonprofit partners serve people who are temporarily homeless due to circumstances beyond their control: job loss, lack of affordable housing, natural disasters and other catastrophes, illness and medical problems, mental health and addiction issues, domestic violence, and more.

Former HBA President Rudy Kadlub of Costa Pacific Communities spearheaded the 1997 creation of the Metro Portland Housing Industry Foundation (soon after changed to Home Builders Foundation). Kadlub said “at the time the HBA was seen in somewhat of a negative light in the region as an organization that was constantly battling with Metro, DLCD, and 1000 Friends of Oregon.” A nonprofit arm of the Home Builders Association could, in his mind, change public perception of the industry “to more accurately describe the concerned and generous nature of the HBA and its members, and demonstrate how [the industry] could and would give back to the communities in which we applied our trade, i.e., providing shelter.” Early promotional materials declared the HBF would “enhance a healthy and prosperous housing industry” and “protect the future of safe, decent and affordable housing.” Other founding goals were to fund student scholarships, and research about urban development at local universities.

In the spring of 1998, HBA President George Lorance hosted “Indiana George and the First Crusade,” a dinner and auction to give the new Foundation its financial start. With the $40,000 they raised at the event, the Foundation gave its first grant to an economics policy seminar at Portland State’s Center for Urban Studies. By the second auction, HBF’s focus on housing began when $10,000 from the Gala was given to affordable housing builder HOST Development and Christmas in April (now known as Rebuilding Together Portland), a nonprofit that helped refurbish homes of low-income residents in Washington County.

During his nine years of leadership, Kadlub continued to improve HBF. In 2003, while attending the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, Kadlub recalls meeting with the founding president of Home Aid America. “I immediately saw the benefits of adopting its fund-raising model and mission and recommended to the HBFMP board that we become affiliated with this national organization.” HomeAid America grew out of the Building Industry Association of Southern California in 1998. HomeAid provided HBF a building template, which involves connecting local builders with nonprofits needing to build or remodel their shelters.

Leading up to this this new partnership, the first HomeAid Portland project was announced to the crowd attending the 2004 Brat Pack-themed Gala. “Haven House” was a new facility for Catholic Charities to serve homeless pregnant teenage moms and their babies. HBF recruited Jim Chapman of Legend Homes, and Randy Sebastian of Renaissance Homes to serve as Builder Captains. Builder Captains provide expertise, materials and labor to projects, typically saving shelter providers 30-50% of their building costs. Originally, HBF focused on one building project a year. By 2008, we juggled two. Home Building Foundation now has multiple projects underway, and several others in the pipeline at all times.

About HomeAid Portland

The Basics

HomeAid Portland is a local affiliate of HomeAid. We approach the reality of homelessness with a unique and collaborative approach. Through housing development and community engagement, our mission is to help those experiencing homelessness to build new lives.

Vision Statement

HomeAid’s vision is to be a vital force in creating safe and dignified housing and programmatic facilities for those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Mission Statement

HomeAid’s mission is to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.

Core Values

Inclusiveness: Valuing that every individual has worth and human dignity through a willingness to help our neighbors in times of need and to understand the unique stories behind each individual we serve.

Collaboration: Embracing working together as a community to achieve what is not possible alone.

Integrity: Ensuring that everything we do is accomplished with a sense of responsibility, honesty, respect, confidence, and a commitment to stay consistently aligned with our mission.

The Power of a Triangle

The Triangle is one of the most simple shapes yet it exudes strength, stability and can bear the weight cast upon it from a variety of angles. The Triangle is often found in various elements of construction including building support and trusses. Equally as strong, are the three sides of HomeAid’s Triangle, as they are each critical components to fulfilling our mission and clearly demonstrate how HomeAid exists to serve those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.