Collaborating to better serve Portlanders at the 3rd annual ‘Partners in Home Repair’ event

Blog post

Staff from across the City of Portland and community partners came together for the ‘Partners in Home Repair’ event, which offered an opportunity to share resources and knowledge, and to make new connections.

Published

May 21, 2026 5:37 pm

On Wednesday, May 6, staff from across the City of Portland and community partners came together for the ‘Partners in Home Repair' event, held at the Portland Building. This event brings together service partners to join in conversation about how to better provide home repair, weatherization, and home retention services to Portlanders.

The event received significant praise last year, with participants expressing appreciation for the opportunity to gather and share knowledge.

As expressed by Claire Swanback, Community Energy Project in-homes auditor:

"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!"

Home repairs are complicated and layered and it takes all of us!

Keeping with the multi-bureau planning approach from last year, the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), Portland Water Bureau (PWB), Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), Portland Permitting and Development (PP&D), and the Bureau of Planning & Sustainability's Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) secured a packed house of participants. Local contractors and community-based organizations were able to connect directly with City staff, and participants learned from presenters about City, County, and other local programs, such as Energy Friendly Homes, Home Repair and Home Ownership Retention Services and Home Water Leak Repair Program.

Many people participating in Q&A — Audience participation during the Q&A session

Breakout sessions covered topics such as: 

Understanding Clients Who Hoard; Project Success Ideas
New Updates from PCEF, including the Energy Friendly Homes Program
Succeed at Permitting & Inspections + Help Clients Who Have Unfinished Work Without Permits
Beyond Repairs: Integrating Occupational Therapy into Affordable Aging in Place Programs
Serving Challenging Clients through a trauma informed approach
Strategies to Address Rats and Mosquitoes: Prevention, Response and Support
Healthy Home Assessments and Scoping Home Repair Projects
Deconstruction and Salvage Lumber Reuse
The Power of Partnership in Home Repair
Demonstrating How/Why Your Program is Successful
Mold and Moisture Management

Here are a few reflections from this years' event:

Two staff from Sparks Northwest pose for a photo at the 3rd annual event. — Johnnie Pedersen and Johanna Rohde with Sparks Northwest

"This was Spark Northwest's first time attending this event, and we were thrilled to be there. It was neat to see how many local organizations and departments within the City of Portland are passionately working toward improving Portlanders' quality of life - from energy efficiency retrofits to waste removal to bill assistance. Events like these are so important because they give folks the opportunity to see the work that is being done, make connections, and join forces with other organizations to deepen and extend service to homeowners."
- Johanna Rohde, Project Manager at Sparks Northwest  

"Getting direct feedback from grantees and community members isn't a nice-to-have. It's how we make sure we're actually doing our jobs well… The kind of knowledge-sharing that happens at events like this — between large and small organizations, funders, and practitioners — is what leads to better coordination, clearer processes, and more consistent housing improvements across communities."
- Jonathan Modie, OHA Communications Manager; and Brett Sherry, Healthy Homes and Schools Unit Manager

Water Bureau staff 3rd annual ‘Partners in Home Repair’ event — Penny Beckwith, Portland Water Bureau: Water Efficiency Manager

"Home repair is complex, and no one program can do it all. The Water Bureau can fix leaks, but collaboration is key to addressing home repair needs more holistically. When we run into barriers, it's critical to know which programs can weave in their support. I was inspired to work on this event by one of our community partners who asked the City to improve collaboration. This is a direct response to that request, and it's incredibly rewarding to see so many amazing organizations come together to better serve our community."  
- Penny Beckwith, Water Efficiency Manager, Portland Water Bureau

"Home repair is a vital community service that stabilizes homeowners and prevents displacement. It's a really unique group of organizations and individuals doing the work. We don't get many chances to see each other, share resources and build connections. The community need is much larger than any individual organization can solve, so the ability to collaborate and share resources is critical to be of service to Portlanders. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share and learn from partners doing similar work."
- Molly Luft, Housing Construction Coordinator, Portland Housing Bureau

"Another great Partners in Repair Event last week. Every time I attend, I learn something new. For example, we are going to add low-income waste services to our 'Income Qualified Discount' programs. I really think it is one of the best events we have out there. Thank you for all the work in putting it together."
- Jim Plantico, Program Director, Community Energy Project