On May 7th, staff from across the City of Portland and community partners came together for the ‘Partners in Home Repair’ event, held at the Portland Building. The event offered an opportunity to share resources and knowledge, and to make new connections. As stated on the agenda, “We know that home repairs are complicated and layered and it takes all of us!”
Planning the well-organized event involved staff from the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), Portland Permitting and Development (PP&D), Portland Water Bureau (PWB), and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). The event allowed staff to network with local contractors and community-based organizations, and provided opportunities to learn from presenters about City, County, and other local programs. Leslie Goodlow, PHB Equity and Business Operations Manager, was the featured lunchtime speaker, inspiring attendees before folks headed off to afternoon breakout sessions.
Breakout sessions covered topics such as:
- Finding and Applying for Grants
- City of Portland Language Access Program
- Accessibility Upgrades
- Healthy Homes Assessments
- Heat Pumps & Energy Efficiency
- Working with Clients that Hoard
- Moisture & Mold Management
- Sewer Repair, Connection, and Replacement Resources
- Serving Challenging Clients Through a Trauma Informed Approach
Here are a few reflections from the Partners in Home Repair event:
“I’m full of gratitude to work alongside such passionate community advocates at Water, PCEF, PP&D, PWB & BES. It’s taken years of relationship-building to create meaningful spaces to connect across City bureaus around home repair resources. While we have a long way to go to ensure the public can easily access all the services the City has to offer, I’m excited and motivated by my colleagues and their eagerness to connect to better serve Portlanders. The hope is that committing to events like this will connect service providers, city staff and contractors to share resources, grow community, and ensure we are making meaningful referrals for community members.” - Molly Luft, PHB Housing Construction Coordinator
“The recent Partners in Home Repair event was a great success. It was inspiring to connect with so many organizations who are just as committed to housing stability as we are at Habitat for Humanity. The event sparked meaningful inter-agency networking and opened up some great conversations about how we can align our efforts for the greatest impact. I’m feeling hopeful about the new relationships built and excited to see where this collaboration takes us in better serving homeowners across the city of Portland.” - Joel Dixon, Director of Home Repair Programs at Habitat for Humanity
“If you have ever tried navigating the bureaucracy of assistance programs of any sort out there – you know it can often be frustrating. Getting a list of 10 phone numbers to call, unsure if anyone is going to pick up on the other end or offer the services you need. The Partners in Home Repair event is so important because it allows home repair agencies to hear directly from each other – on what they can and can't do, the regions they serve, waitlist times and how to make good referrals. I'm so thankful for this event and the partnerships that come out of it!" -Claire Swanback, In-Homes Auditor, Community Energy Project
“I started working in the home repair field in 2015 and noticed a huge need for partnership, networking, and resource-sharing amongst the various home repair agencies. This event, Partners in Home Repair, is a dream come true. I was incredibly honored and grateful to meet and learn about other amazing programs and I look forward to the collaboration that will come of attending. The people we all serve will benefit greatly from the separate programs coming together to learn and strengthen referrals and relationships. I am so very grateful to all who put on the event and made it possible.” - Ashley Wills-Ehlers, Weatherization Inspector, DHS Youth and Family Services
Learn more from the Home Repair Partners: