Although the ReBuilding Center is located on Mississippi Avenue in North Portland, ReBuilding Center materials come from all over the region and continue living on in many different places. Recently, we had the opportunity to follow the purposeful path of some reclaimed lumber and plywood to the hills of Southwest Portland.
These reclaimed materials were donated by RBC to Build Hope, an initiative to build cost-effective tiny homes to house individuals and families transitioning out of houselessness. This project was formed through a partnership between Cascadia Clusters and Neveh Shalom. Currently, the Cascadia Clusters Maker Village is situated in the upper parking lot of Neveh Shalom.
Cascadia Clusters employs and trains houseless Portlanders to build affordable, sustainable, and high-quality workforce and transitional housing. During our visit, residents of Hazlenut Grove were working on a two-stall shower trailer—very exciting!
Just a couple of miles down the road, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland donated space on an empty lot for this project to continue and expand. The goal is to move the Maker Village to this land by the fall. Whether it is turning an old RV into office space or using a trailer for storage, creative reuse is key for the village makers. Making unconventional use out of the materials that may have otherwise ended up in a landfill allows for new opportunities all around. We’re excited to see the build progress over the next few months!
To learn more about Build Hope, contact Cascadia Clusters at cascadiaclusters@gmail.com.
To learn more about ReBuilding Center materials donations, go here.