Willie’s Story
“This is a happy, happy day. These are repairs that I would not be able to afford myself.”
~ Mr. Willie Rounds, Community Builders Recipient
Mr. Rounds was born in Cleveland, Mississippi and moved to Portland with his six children in 1975. He became a homeowner in the Humboldt neighborhood after retiring from Greyhound in 1996 and has been there ever since. Mr. Rounds porch was falling into disrepair when a friend told him about REACH’s home repair program.
Barbara’s Story
“REACH was there to help us get by.”
~ Barbara, Ritzdorf Court resident
Barbara and Emily moved from transitional housing into their own apartment at the Ritzdorf Court in October 2006. It was a chance for their family to get a fresh start. However their good luck did not hold. Barbara was on her way to a new job when she fell and broke her leg. Her first worry was how she was going to get Emily to school.
Anne’s Story
“You can’t get on your feet when you’re looking for a place to sleep every night.”
~ Anne Buffum, former Rose Apartment Resident
When Anne moved into the Rose Apartments, she was coming from a life on the street to her own apartment. Developed by REACH in 1988, the Rose was Portland’s first permanent affordable housing for homeless women and for many, the start to a brighter future.
