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.
Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 22, 2025
2026 IBS Sustainability & Green Building Scholarship Application Now OpenThe NAHB IBS Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship aims to provide emerging green builders exposure to the world of high-performance homes and help them jump-start their professional journey by attending the International Builders’ Show (IBS).
Jul 21, 2025
House Bill Restores Funding for Several Housing Programs from Trump BudgetThe House Appropriations Committee has voted to restore funding for key housing programs that President Trump eliminated in his “skinny budget,” such as housing choice vouchers, project-based rental assistance and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Latest Economic News
Jul 22, 2025
Top 10 Builder Market Share Across MetrosAn earlier post described how the top 10 builders in the country captured a record 44.7% of new single-family closings in 2024. BUILDER Magazine has now released additional data on the top ten builders within each of the 50 largest new home markets in the U.S., ranked by single-family permits.
Jul 21, 2025
Use of Private Water and Sewer Systems in New Single-Family HomesThe share of new single-family homes built with individual septic systems declined slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year, while the share of homes served by private wells remained steady.
Jul 21, 2025
Sales of Lower-Priced New Single-Family Homes Declined Over the Past Five YearsFrom 2020 to 2024, sales of lower-priced new homes declined significantly as the market moved toward higher-priced segments. Rising construction costs—driven by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages—as well as higher regulatory costs, made it increasingly difficult for builders to construct affordable homes.