Construction Lessons with a Heart
Project Manager Chris McDowell Explains the Assignment
The Constructing Hope trainees arrived at the new Safe Rest Village site with just three weeks of pre-apprenticeship classroom work under their belts. HBF’s Chris McDowell showed them plans and explained they’d be building 8- foot by 12- foot wooden platforms covered with sheets of plywood, where people experiencing homelessness can place their tents. Some had never held a power tool before. Others had construction experience, so they stepped right up at the saws. The morning was slow going, as the trainees learned basic framing skills. Because the platforms will be the only thing between people’s tents and the ground, McDowell often had trainees removing screws and starting over to make sure the platforms were level.
Constructing Hope instructor Irving Brown told us he was happy to have this opportunity “This is our first hands on project as a team…once they get to know that- I don’t know how to do this, he doesn’t either, that’s my team partner- I have no reason to be embarrassed because he doesn’t either. It’s kind of a learning process all the way around.”
CH Trainees Hands-on Learning
About Constructing Hope
Constructing Hope provides free, ten- week pre-apprenticeship classes to low income adults, most of whom are BIPOC, and a majority were formerly incarcerated. HBF has provided support to this program for more than four years, which has included building projects.
Student Lewis Marshall IV told us he was happy to be out of the classroom. “It’s the concept of using a team, and not sitting around”. The first building day included a special surprise, as media teams came by to check on their progress. Trainee Rafael Cook told KGW “I’m having a good time, learning, getting things done, soaking up the trades here.” By the end of the first building session, the trainees muscled over the very heavy platforms to start making a pile. They completed seven platforms, with a daunting 13 to go.
New Gideon Street Shelter Site
HBF Executive Director Brenda Ketah Tours Village
The platforms will be available in a covered area at Portland’s first mass shelter site, located at 1490 SE Gideon. The platforms are intended for people who are reluctant to stop living in their tents. HBF staff took a tour of the rest of the site, which includes 140 tiny homes built by Portland’s Lit Construction. The village operators are California based urban alchemy , and many of the staff have lived experience being homeless. The village features group facilities for laundry, bathrooms, and a common kitchen. People who live there will receive one meal a day. There will eventually be amenities including a dog area, raised garden beds and community sitting area. Central City Concern, one of the area’s largest homeless services providers, will have caseworkers on site, as well as health care organizations.
Operators explain people will move in slowly to the facility, perhaps five at a time, to allow them all time to adjust. Portland Mayor Wheeler says he expects people living unsheltered will want to move there in part because Multnomah County officials have agreed to relocate residents as quickly as possible into private apartments. Eventually, the site is expected to house up to 200 people. Funding for the site comes from the Legislature and Multnomah County. Shelter planner Nate Tanaka worked with HBF to coordinate building the platforms for folks who may prefer to continue living in tents at the site. The city provided the lumber for the platforms. HBF helped save thousands of public dollars to build the platforms by using a volunteer crew.
Second Session Nails it!
What a difference the second building session brought the following week. The trainees got right to work, with their newly learned skills bringing them confidence. Teacher Alex Hughes told us he noticed the project really was helping keep them focused. Instructor Brown told us they typically teach the trainees carpentry by having them build a shed. But the platforms provided a more meaningful experience. “Just like a construction worker, you drive by, and they’ll say “I built that! Same thing with these guys. Hey, I played a part in that. “
Without complaining, the trainees worked tirelessly. It didn’t look possible, but they put the final nail in the platforms in the final minutes, and placed the 20th platform on the pile for future use. The trainees universally were excited about their accomplishment. “Greatness” Ahmed told us it was great to serve the community “You’re making your community very strong. You’re building mindsets that may not have been strong.” HBF would like to thank all of the participants who helped: Trainees Serena and Zahira Ahmed, Rafael Cook, Christopher Briggs, Germarcas Lambert, Lewis Marshall, Raheem Ola, Ljay Powell, Audrey Wasberg and Alexander York, as well as instructors Irving Brown and Alex Hughes.
Group of Constructing Hope trainees
20 platforms done!
City leaders tell us they hope to include HBF and its education partners in building projects for two additional mass shelter sites they have planned in the near future. If you’d like to be involved with HBF’s shelter building projects, please contact Project Manager Chris McDowell, Chrism@hbapdx.org.