HBA Helps For the Holidays
Our collection boxes, and our hearts filled as we watched Home Builders Association members support HBF at their annual Builders Ball. HBA Members dressed in high style for the event, carrying with them toiletries such as shaving cream, razors, and shampoo for the Clackamas Veterans Village, which HBF has worked with for several years. Jose Garcia, of Stone Center Inc., tells us he was happy to bring a donation. “People are people, they all deserve help.” Home Builders Foundation coordinates collection drives like these to help people living in the shelters we support.
The donations were delivered to the offices of Clackamas Veterans Village right before Thanksgiving, to the delight of its staff. Therapist Desiree Catalano tells us “This makes such a big difference. Many veterans receive SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and they can’t be spent on toiletries.” She explains when some of their clients have been living on the streets, they often neglect their hygiene out of necessity or due to lack of resources. Having supplies helps the veterans prioritize taking care of themselves again as they work towards moving to more permanent housing.
Clackamas Veterans Village is run by Do Good Multnomah, featuring more than 26 “pod” homes. Starting with the 2019 donation of eight sleeping “pods”, HBF has continued to add to the village amenities. HBF Project Manager Chris McDowell organized many partners and volunteers who also built a putting green, exercise area, dog run, air conditioning, and soon, a cover for the BBQ area. Last winter after a storm, HBF supporters helped make repairs from fallen branches. When two additional pods settle in to a final spot by the end of 2021, our work there will complete.
Essentials drives such as this one, as well as volunteer labor, building supplies, and financial support from the home building industry are what helps HBF build new shelter beds, and improve existing spaces for our human services partners. The cost savings HBF brings to projects helps organizations devote more of their resources to the services people need to restore their lives