Repairing
Communities
Free DIY home repair kits for Portland households experiencing hardship — assembled from donated materials, delivered with simple instructions, and designed to put dignity back in the hands of the people who live there.
Small repairs
become big problems
"A loose lock, a drafty window, a missing smoke detector — left unaddressed, they become emergencies. We intervene before that happens."
Across Portland, households facing financial hardship share a common pattern: small, preventable maintenance issues go unfixed — not because residents don't want to fix them, but because access to materials, instructions, and support simply isn't there.
Existing repair programs are valuable and we respect their work — but they often require lengthy applications, serve limited populations, focus on larger-scale projects, and cannot respond quickly to the small, urgent issues that affect daily safety and comfort.
Repairing Communities fills that gap with speed, simplicity, and materials in hand.
How It Works
Six steps from first contact to completed repair — designed to be fast, low-barrier, and entirely resident-controlled.
We meet residents where they are — parks, community spaces, partner locations, and trusted neighborhood hubs. No office visit required to start.
A brief, respectful conversation documents the repair need and determines whether it falls within our program scope. We are honest about what we can and cannot address.
Using donated materials currently in inventory, we assemble a repair kit tailored to the specific need. Kits are built from what we have — this keeps the program sustainable and waste-free.
- All needed materials
- Simple, step-by-step instructions
- Clear safety guidance in their language
The resident completes the repair themselves, on their own time, in their own home. This is the point — we equip, they accomplish.
Before-and-after photos document the completed repair, ensuring accountability and building our impact record. This documentation supports future funding and program growth.
What Makes
This Model Work
What We Fix —
and What We Don't
We are honest and clear about what falls within our program. For everything outside our scope, we provide a referral — you will never leave without a next step.
Who We Serve
Kits are prioritized for households currently receiving qualifying assistance — but hardship alone is always considered.
Households experiencing hardship who do not qualify through the above programs may still be considered through self-certification or a partner referral from a trusted community organization. If you need a kit, reach out — we will work with you.
Why This Model Works
"Portland has strong repair and reuse organizations — but a critical gap remains: access, speed, and simplicity."
Repairing Communities is designed to reach people before problems escalate, operate with minimal overhead, complement rather than compete with existing programs, and convert surplus donated materials into real, measurable community outcomes.
This program is highly differentiated in Portland's service landscape. It is low-cost to operate, scalable with volunteers, aligned with a clear donation pipeline, and fundable with concrete impact metrics. It is not just a program — it is a system for turning surplus into safety.
Built for the
Gap That Exists
Designed for fast response to small, urgent needs — not a waitlist program.
Each kit is assembled for a specific need from available inventory — no waste, no excess.
We don't compete with larger repair programs — we serve the gap they can't reach quickly enough.
Volunteer-powered and donation-driven — the model scales without proportional cost increases.
Before/after photo documentation creates a clear impact record for funders and community accountability.
Inventory-responsive design means the program adapts to what's donated — no fragile supply chains.
Partners & Funding
Repairing Communities is powered by donated materials, volunteer labor, and community partnerships. We also refer participants to trusted organizations when needs exceed our scope.
Get Involved
Whether you need a kit, want to volunteer, or can help refer participants — there is a place for you in this work.
We respond within 5 business days to schedule your assessment. Kits depend on available donated materials.
Request received.
We'll be in touch within 5 business days to schedule your brief assessment. Thank you for reaching out. — The THTF Team
No experience required — just a willingness to show up. We'll respond within one week.
Welcome aboard.
We'll be in touch within one week with next steps. Thank you for giving your time. — The THTF Team
We respond to all partnership inquiries within one week.
Let's build this together.
We'll be in touch within one week. Thank you for your interest in partnering. — The THTF Team