Program Overview

Community Builders Program

REACH’s Community Builders Program (CBP) is a free, bilingual home repair program available to low-income senior and/or disabled homeowners in Portland, Oregon.  (Es usted hispanohablante y tiene preguntas sobre nuestro progama de reparaciones de casas?  Por favor llame a Sara Luisa Kowalczyk al (503) 808-7088 para más información.)

Our program began modestly a decade ago—a few neighbors painting three homes.  Today, the program serves close to 200 homeowners each year, and makes over 1,000 free repairs for Portland-area homeowners on an annual basis.  It’s like no other program in our region in its mission, scope and commitment to safe housing for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners.  Our services address significant public health concerns due to sub-standard and unsafe housing conditions; they improve the quality of each recipient’s life, helping homeowners avoid displacement due to gentrification and poverty, all the while bringing neighbors and area businesses together in the spirit of volunteerism. 

Repairs are performed throughout the year, and at three annual volunteer events.  The Paint & Repair-a-thon is REACH’s flagship home repair event.  It brings together 300 volunteers every year on the first Saturday in August to perform repairs for 20 or more homeowners in a single day.  Since its inception in 1996, the Community Builders Program has provided over 7,500 free home repairs to nearly 2,000 homeowners.  Repairs are completed by REACH staff, contractors, and skilled volunteers.  We leverage in-kind material and labor donations from area businesses with grants and individual donations.  Typical repairs include carpentry (installation of wheelchair ramps and hand railings); exterior upgrades (new windows, painting); installation of safety aides (smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, lighting); installation of energy-efficient fixtures; and resolution of dangerous or unsanitary conditions. 

There are income and age requirements you must met in order to qualify for the program.  To see if you qualify, please review the Community Builder Program’s Eligibility Requirements

For questions, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (503) 808-7088