Stronger Together: 32 Homes, 400 Volunteers and the Power of Coming Together

Rebuilding Together Portland and Rebuilding Together Washington County have recently joined forces as the newly merged affiliate: Rebuilding Together Pacific Northwest. This exciting merger marks a new chapter in their shared mission to repair homes, revitalize communities and rebuild lives.

By combining resources, staff and decades of collective experience, Rebuilding Together Pacific Northwest is now positioned to serve more neighbors in need with greater efficiency and impact. Instead of working in silos, the two teams are now united under one roof, allowing for smarter operations, expanded reach and a stronger presence across the region.

This past April, they celebrated their very first National Rebuilding Day as one unified affiliate and what a day it was. In just one Saturday, over 400 volunteers came together to provide critical home repairs to 32 homes across the region. From fixing leaky roofs to installing grab bars, building ramps and refreshing landscaping, the work done that day was nothing short of inspiring.

One of those homes belonged to Dianne Cain, a lifelong Portland resident who has lived in her home for 50 years. After her husband's passing, Dianne found herself overwhelmed with the upkeep of her house. On a fixed income, she couldn't afford the necessary repairs and had been focusing on decluttering the home, removing 14 dumpsters' worth of items over four years. The house needed a new roof, bathroom remodel and siding replacement, repairs that were out of reach for her financially.

"They have already reroofed the house, they are remodeling my bathroom, they are taking off part of the siding, well, a lot of the siding, they will reside the home. You name it, they are doing it," Dianne shared. She expressed immense gratitude, saying, "Portland right now is very difficult to find a home to live in that is reasonable, that is comfortable. My home is paid for, so good lord has put me here to stay forever—this is my forever home."

The success of that day reflects what this merger is all about: doing more, together. With a combined team and broader network of supporters, Rebuilding Together Pacific Northwest is ready to meet the growing needs of the communities it serves and do it with heart.

As the team looks to the future, they’re focused on scaling their impact, strengthening community partnerships and ensuring that every neighbor, no matter their zip code, has a safe and healthy place to call home.