The City of Portland is partnering with the ReBuilding Center to provide donated construction materials for free to low-income property owners who need help bringing their homes and businesses into compliance with building codes.
The pilot program, “From Excess to Access,” enables the ReBuilding Center to offer free materials to property owners with long-term compliance cases. It is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Every year the Portland area sends thousands of tons of useful building materials to landfills,” said Rebecca Esau, director of the Bureau of Development Services. “While Portland has a strong ethic for reducing waste, we can do more to ensure leftover building materials are put to work helping those who need them the most.”
How the program works
Anyone performing deconstruction, remodeling and new construction projects can donate new and reusable building materials to the ReBuilding Center. The ReBuilding Center’s website keeps an updated list with the types of materials it accepts.
Owners of property within the City of Portland who have long-term property compliance cases are prioritized to receive free materials from the ReBuilding Center, subject to availability. These individuals and those participating in the Empowered Neighborhoods Program are encouraged to learn more and contact the program coordinator.
Funding for this pilot project will run through November, at which time the program will be evaluated.