Habitat for Humanity Portland Region

“We had resolved that owning a home was just that… a dream.”

For the Shelton family, homeownership felt out of reach. With four children and a teacher's income, they’d made peace with the idea that a home of their own simply wasn't in the cards.

Then their landlord informed them that the house they’d been renting for years would no longer be available.

Just weeks after learning they needed to find a new place to live, applications opened for Habitat’s new community in Lake Oswego. The Sheltons applied on the very first day.

They told us, “The application was the easy part. The waiting was the difficult part.”

As they waited, they kept searching. But it felt like “door after door after door was closing in our face.”

Then came the call they never expected to receive.

“To be here right now, knowing that because of Habitat we may actually, for the first time, be able to permanently set down roots in a place is everything. That we may actually be able to breathe a little easier knowing our kids have a warm, safe home that they can live in without worrying about it being taken away.”

Thank you to the Shelton family for sharing their story so openly and honestly. We are honored to be part of their journey and grateful for the reminder that a stable home can open the door to possibility, security, and hope.