The AGC Construction Leadership Council, in partnership with the Northwest College of Construction and the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter Foundation, recently participated in the Kenton Women’s Village Pod Build Challenge. This community effort sought local contractors to donate time and materials to build one or more sleeping pods during February–March 2019 for use at the Kenton Women’s Village in Portland, Ore.
The Kenton Women’s Village is a creative, collaborative project that offers a new potential approach for addressing houselessness at a small scale, which could be adapted and implemented in communities across the country. The clients of the Kenton Women’s Village are formerly houseless women from the Kenton and North Portland neighborhoods. Through Catholic Charities, the women are receiving access to services including case management, employment assistance, access to legal and financial services, mental and physical health care, and a personalized plan to transition to permanent housing by the time they leave the village.
The pod was built by apprentice carpenters at the Northwest College of Construction, with all materials provided by the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter Foundation. Once construction of the pod was completed, it was shipped to the project warehouse, where volunteers from the AGC Construction Leadership Council helped with the finishing touches to prepare the pod for presentation and media coverage.
This project is a testament to one of the CLC’s missions to give back to their community and use their skills and connections within the industry to do just that. For more information about the Construction Leadership Council, or to get involved, contact Ali Gadbaugh, AGC member engagement manager, by sending an email or calling 503-685-8308.