Habitat for Humanity and Noyes Development: Working Together to Build A Stronger Community
At Noyes Development, we are proud to do what we can to strengthen our community. Whether that’s through sustainable building practices or working with local organizations we believe in, we‘re proud to do what we can to make the world a better place.
Some of our most impactful work to date has been with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for those in need. Continue reading to learn more about Habitat for Humanity, how Noyes Development got started working with them, and to hear from Mike Frey, Noyes Development Vice President, and Clark Vorm, Land Development Manager & Marketing Manager.
Habitat for Humanity in the Portland community
Habitat for Humanity, also known as Habitat, is a non-profit organization that works with families to build or improve homes that they can call home. Habitat’s vision is to work towards a world in which every person in every country has a place to live that they can be proud of. To reach this goal, Habitat focuses on empowering families to build strength, stability, and self-reliance.
The organization works with individual volunteers and outside groups like Noyes Development to build and refurbish homes with the families that will be living in them. This builds pride in ownership for the families and connects the community with the people they are helping in a very real way.
You can learn about Portland’s Habitat for Humanity organization here. Habitat partners with families and organizations in all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
Who can own a Habitat for Humanity home?
Habitat works hard to provide safe and affordable homes for those most in need. Anyone can apply for homeownership through Habitat for Humanity, and the local chapter of each Habitat for Humanity organization's selection committee will decide which families are selected based on three criteria:
- An applicant’s level of need and financial situation
- Ability and willingness to partner with Habitat and work with the organization to build or refurbish their new home
- The ability to pay for the home through an affordable payment plan
Learn more about how to apply for a home through Habitat for Humanity.
How did Noyes Development become involved in Habitat for Humanity?
Given Noyes Development’s commitment to both the Portland community and building beautiful homes that last, working with Habitat for Humanity was a natural fit.
Peter Noyes and Mike Frey were both interested in engaging with the community in a way that used Noyes Development’s unique expertise building homes efficiently. When Peter heard about the Home Builders Blitz event that Habitat for Humanity organizes every year, he brought the idea to Mike. Both agreed that it was a great opportunity.
“We think Habitat is an outstanding organization,” said Mike. “We believe in supporting our community and using our talents to help others. Partnering with Habitat was a natural fit.”
Noyes Development worked with Habitat for Humanity in 2014 for their Home Builders Blitz Event in which professional home builders work to renovate and repair homes for families. We also participated in the same event in 2016.
Noyes Development Vice President Mike Frey on the 2014 Home Builders Blitz
“Noyes Development partnered with Habitat for Humanity and our subcontractors and suppliers to build a house in two weeks for a local family in need during the 2014 Home Builders Blitz. We built one of four homes in this project alongside some other outstanding industry members. It took months of planning and a lot of teamwork, but it was a very successful event and four families have homes as a result. We look forward to participating in more events in the future!”
How does Noyes Development work with Habitat for Humanity to provide homes for those in need?
In addition to our “boots on the ground” help building the homes, Noyes Development helps plan and organize the construction of projects and events. Mike Frey was also part of the construction committee between 2016-2020 for the Portland-area Habitat for Humanity.
For the Home Builders Blitz, many of our trade partners donated some or all of their work on home projects. In the end, Noyes bridged the gaps to deliver the homes to Habitat with all of the construction costs covered for the Blitz homes.
Noyes Development has and will continue to donate to Habitat for Humanity financially. Additionally, Habitat approached us for help with a development related project in 2019. Clark Vorm, Noyes Development’s Land Development Manager & Marketing Manager, helped Habitat with getting development approval for the project. We are almost done and will have approvals to develop the lot in time for construction summer 2021.
Clark Vorm on working with Habitat in 2020 on a development project
“I worked in partnership with our planner and engineers (Westlake Consultants) to assist in the Land Use Decision and approval. It is a unique development that required overcoming some obstacles, but we were able to move forward. We are currently helping out with the engineering approvals and are on track to be ready for construction in the summer of 2021. I’m very grateful Noyes encourages me to use my skill set to help such a wonderful organization like Habitat for Humanity and look forward to helping out again in the near future.”
Habitat for Humanity into the Future
We are proud to have worked with such a great organization and look forward to working with them as we move into the future! We encourage you to learn more about Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, consider volunteering, and also if it is within your means, donating.
Contact us to learn more about Noyes Development and our engagement with Habitat for Humanity.
