Local Building Community Constructs Home for Youth Facing Hardship

The Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland (HBF) — in partnership with A Village for One, Oregon Department of Human Services and the Agnew Family Foundation — built a therapeutic home for girls escaping sex trafficking, abuse and exploitation in rural Clackamas County, Ore. The Portland metro region is a major destination for sex trafficking and was recently named one of the worst locations in the nation for commercial sexual exploitation of children. Anisa's Place was designed to provide local youth with a safe home, nourishment, education, holistic healing, counseling and mentoring services. Residents at the home are girls between the ages of 12 to 17 who live at Anisa's Place for about a year. "With the ever-presence of a global pandemic and uncertainty of what is to come, creating an island of stability for the girls staying at Anisa's Place is paramount," said David Nielsen, chief executive officer of The Home Builders Association of Metro Portland (HBAMP). "The whole community came together to create a safe place for these girls even during a very difficult year for everyone." A longtime member and past president of the HBAMP, Jim Standring of Westland Industries Inc. brought the project to the attention of HBF Executive Director Brenda Ketah and volunteered to lead the project as builder captain. The home was completed with the help of members of the HBAMP and the local building community. Nearly 50 trade partners donated more than $415,000 of in-kind labor and materials. A Village for One also received $350,000 from the Department of Human Services and a $50,000 grant from HBF to complete the project. "This project was a fantastic example of a private/public partnership that brought the community together to provide a much-needed solution to protect vulnerable youth," said Ketah. More than 750 individuals find shelter in a facility that HBF has built or renovated each year. The local Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council brought the project to the attention of The National Women in Roofing, who partnered with local suppliers for a one-day roofing blitz. The group provided labor and material for the roof at no cost. PWB members hosted multiple fundraisers, including a "Lend a Hand(bag)" fundraiser that raised more than $3,000. The home has six bedrooms and one separate suite with a bathroom and kitchenette for an on-site house monitor. The residence also has a group room, large kitchen, laundry room and office space for staff. HBF works closely with HBAMP's government affairs team to discuss upcoming shelter projects and seek out opportunities to engage local jurisdictions to help shelter projects. To find out how you can support future projects, visit buildhopepdx.org.