‘Blitz Build’: Several organizations coming together to build five more sleeping units for Oasis Village

'A celebration of community': Kelsey McGee will have a report at Five

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A nonprofit, First Story, along with several other organizations are coming together in a 'Blitz Build' Wednesday to build five new sleeping units for Oasis Village.

Oasis Village helps our unhoused neighbors build a path towards a home. The nonprofit provides transitional housing to help them bridge the gap, leading to stable housing.

Kelsey McGee is visiting the build Wednesday to learn more about it and what it means to be a part of the building community on these special community projects. Her report will be on NewsChannel 21 at Five.

Here is the Hayden Homes news release:

First Story, an affordable homeownership nonprofit, is proud to announce it will host a Blitz Build on Wednesday, Aug. 21, in partnership with Hayden Homes, Simplicity by Hayden Homes, The Parr Company and Heart of Oregon Corps’ YouthBuild program to build five new sleeping units for Oasis Village. The event will take place at the Heart of Oregon Corps Redmond training center. Media are invited to attend–see details below.

The event will highlight youth workforce development and the public-private partnerships involved in successfully launching Oasis Village, a drug and alcohol free low-barrier shelter located east of Redmond. Five Oasis Village sleeping units will be constructed in the morning by partner groups, with a community lunch to follow starting at 12 p.m.

Elected leaders, nonprofit organizers and housing advocates have been invited to attend the community lunch, which will feature four interactive learning stations. Guests will be invited to tour a completed sleeping unit and learn about Parr Opti-Frame technology, write a special message on the walls of a sleeping unit under construction, add their name to an art installation for Oasis Village, and learn about Heart of Oregon’s YouthBuild program.

“Blitz Build is a celebration of community,” said Claire Duncan, executive director of First Story, which was founded by Hayden Homes in 1998 and provides access to homeownership for working families across the Northwest. “This event is about the energy of uniting to solve community problems, and re-affirming that by working together there’s nothing we can’t achieve.”

Blitz Build was born out of a strong relationship between Hayden Homes, First Story and Heart of Oregon Corps’ YouthBuild program. The organizations have partnered together since 2011 to build homes for under-resourced families. Last year, Hayden Homes and First Story gave Heart of Oregon Corps a check for $100,000 for its capital campaign to build out the Redmond Campus so more youth can access workforce training. This event gives the youth another chance to practice their skills to help solve Oregon’s housing crisis.

“To lower housing costs and increase housing supply, Oregon needs more youth to choose a career in the construction industry,” said Steve Klingman, president of Hayden Homes. “As baby boomers retire we face a dire shortage of workers. We must invest in youth workforce development to stem this tide and strengthen community across the Northwest. We are so proud to support Heart of Oregon Corps in their transformational work with youth to achieve this goal.”

After Blitz Build, any remaining work to complete the five sleeping units will be accomplished by the youth in the YouthBuild program before the units are provided to Oasis Village to become homes for neighbors working to transition out of homelessness.

“We are so grateful for this partnership with Hayden Homes, First Story, Parr and Oasis Village,” said Laura Handy, executive director of Heart of Oregon Corps. “These projects are essential for our students to gain the skills necessary to take their place in the workforce. Blitz Build is like the community telling each and every one of them that they matter, and that their contributions can change outcomes for our community.”

BLITZ BUILD EVENT DETAILS

Schedule

• Wednesday, Aug. 21
  • 8-12 p.m.: Event partners will build sleeping units
  • 12 p.m.: Community lunch and interactive stations tour

Location

• Heart of Oregon Corps Redmond Training Center
  • 835 E. Hwy 126 Building #4, Redmond, OR 97756