Adair and Marsh McLennan Volunteers Join Forces to Finalize an HBF Shelter Project
More than six months after closing out its project at Project Homeless Connect in Hillsboro, HBF assembled a team of volunteers to paint the original teardrop siding of the organization’s Access Center that had been covered with asbestos since the 1950’s. After the City of Hillsboro completed a bathroom and kitchen renovation in late May, they used remaining government funds to remediate and remove the asbestos siding but there was simply no money to paint the building. So HBF stepped in to help.
Marsh McLennan Agency, a local insurance firm, began talking with HBF staff earlier in the year about doing a hands-on service project. PHC staff members, who spoke at HBF’s 2024 Gala, reminded Project Manager, Chris McDowell, of the tight timeline to reopen the center that had been temporarily relocated since March. MMA was a perfect fit to help put the finishing touches on the shelter space. In turn, they pulled along some skilled team members from Adair Homes, a local homebuilder.
As Oregon dried out from its rainy season, volunteers showed up on a bright June day to begin painting the wood siding. Old newspapers that wrapped a wooden shim, revealed a date of 1956, presumably when the asbestos was installed on the Craftsmen-era structure.
Carpenters from Adair were able to rip a small wooden cap for the “belly band” trim board that had been ripped off when the asbestos was installed. Another couple of volunteers ripped down the derelict gutters that no longer were connected. Jim Blake with Adair Homes, quickly primed the unpainted soffit of the roof that was replaced in 2023.
In typical volunteer fashion, a few hours of hard work polished the dirty exterior into a fresh and bright, yellow gem of a house. HBF stuck with the original color at the request of the shelter staff, as the building is affectionately known as the “yellow house.” HBF was happy to help the bustling shelter that serves over 100 people a day, providing meals, showers and a place to rest from the heat of the day. And with this, the PHC Access Center is now truly complete.