Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, founded in 1981, builds permanently affordable homes across the Portland metro area. It was formed by a 2021 merger of two local affiliates and keeps homes affordable for the next buyer through a resale formula. Here is how to qualify, when to apply, and how to help.
Homebuyers help build their homes and buy them with an affordable mortgage, with payments set to the buyer's income and a Habitat subsidy or second mortgage covering the gap. Homes stay permanently affordable through a resale formula, so the next buyer also gets an affordable price.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | 35 to 80 percent of the Portland metro area median income; a minimum verifiable combined gross income of $39,600 with two years of work history, and maximums that scale by household size. |
| Ownership | A first-time homebuyer, or not having owned a home in the last three years. |
| Credit | No minimum credit score, though credit history and current debt are considered and must meet lender requirements. |
| Savings | Minimum savings reserves, or the ability to save roughly $6,000 to $8,000 for reserves and closing costs. |
| Application fee | A $30 application fee. |
| Sweat equity | Hundreds of hours of sweat equity, helping build homes. |
The service area covers Multnomah County, northern Clackamas County, and Washington County after the merger.
Applications are accepted only when homes are available, so there is no fixed annual window; you join the mailing list to be notified when applications open. New construction uses a random selection, while resale homes are first-come, first-served.
The steps run through reviewing requirements, an optional info meeting, preparing documentation, and the online application, followed by review and a pre-approval notification. Questions go to [email protected].
The affiliate partners with low-income homeowners on critical repairs and safety fixes to prevent displacement. Its four ReStores, in Beaverton, Gresham, Portland, and Tigard, sell donated building materials and home goods, take drop-off donations, and offer scheduled pickup.
It also runs homeownership education on financial wellness, home maintenance, and employment skills, in person and online.
Volunteers can work at a ReStore at 14, and build sites accept ages 14 and 15 with an adult chaperone and 16 and 17 with a signed waiver, with task limits for minors. You register through the volunteer portal.
Habitat Portland Region holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 97 percent score. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 93-0801200, and it reported a record year of homeownership in 2024.
Permanently affordable homes with an affordable mortgage and gap subsidy.
Critical repairs to keep low-income owners in their homes.
Four stores: Beaverton, Gresham, Portland, and Tigard.
Classes on finances, maintenance, and employment skills.
A resale formula that keeps homes affordable for the next buyer.
Build-site and ReStore shifts across the metro.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity Portland Region (habitatportlandregion.org) homeownership, qualify-and-apply, and repair pages, plus the ReStore site; Charity Navigator (EIN 93-0801200). The current pages describe an affordable mortgage without stating a fixed interest rate. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Portland Region and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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