March ushered in the partnership of Specialized Housing and DeConstruction Services. Like Our United Villages, Specialized Housing Incorporated is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation. SHI was formed in 1981 in collaboration with United Cerebral Palsy, The Epilepsy Association of Oregon and The Association for Retarded Citizens for the specific purpose of improving housing options for people with disabilities. SHI has developed over 100 projects throughout Oregon and has 28 years of experience in housing design, property management, new construction and substantial rehabilitation. Like The ReBuilding Center, Specialized Housing, Inc. has received many awards for outstanding service to the community.
SHI hired DeConstruction Services to dismantle five houses totaling 5,500 square feet--all of which the deconstruction crews have accomplished in record time. The freshly deconstructed site will be the future home for Eastgate Station, which will be high density housing with 61 units for special needs individuals and families. Eastgate Station will serve low and very low income individuals and families, people with disabilities, and hard to serve homeless families with disabilities. Services for homeless residents will be coordinated by Multnomah County and will be provided by Impact Northwest under Multnomah County's Bridges to Housing (B2H) Initiative and 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Senator Merkeley with DeConstruction Crew & Shane Endicott on SHI Site
The DeConstruction Services and Specialized Housing, Inc. project created the perfect storm to model the highest potential meaning of “Green Jobs.” Job creation, material reuse, community development, and partnering organizations presented a great reason to contact Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. The SHI project also happens to be in Senator Merkley’s own neighborhood. While making time in his very busy schedule on Friday, Senator Merkley learned on site how DeConstruction Services and The ReBuilding Center are viable, working examples of Green Jobs. The brief visit included a tour of the remaining house, and a short press interview. The Senator and his aids were very pleased to learn first hand the opportunities reuse develops in the community. The Senator’s closing remarks expressed his excitement about the possibilities this project represented, as well as his support of these kinds of jobs.
Senator Merkeley and Shane Endicott
Senator Merkeley with Executive Director of SHI
Deconstruction of the SHI site saved: 27,500 cubic feet of reusable materials out of the landfill
6,600 gallons of clean water, or daily water intake of 13,200 people
91 mature trees left in the forest, or 28 acres of newly planted pine
1,815 square feet of affordable housing from the reused building materials
2,495 additional hours of work at a living wage, supporting our local economy
7.9 cars removed from the road in the reduction in greenhouse gases
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