Roof Repaired For Murrays, Northeast Portland Family Facing Foreclosure

GATHERING UP: Helen Murray (right, with friends Bernice Hornbuckle and Myrtle Minnieweather) says the potential of foreclosure keeps her awake at night. "I think every day, how can I pack up this stuff?" she says. "How can I move from this place?"

A team of 25 people made repairs last weekend to help save the house of Nelson and Helen Murray, the last African-American family on their block of Northeast 11th Avenue. 

WW reported in August that the family was in danger of losing their home to foreclosure after signing a “pick-a-payment” mortgage in 2007. In order to modify their loan and avoid additional fees from the city, the Murrays had to make a $40,000 roof repair to pass a city inspection. 

Following the WW story, the Murrays' neighbor Liz Getty raised $6,400 for the roof materials through a crowdfunding campaign, and a contractor agreed to donate the work. 

Getty was able to secure the roofing materials through donations from Parr Lumber, Wood Feathers and the Rebuilding Center.

When Helen Murray saw the first of the materials arrive in her driveway two weeks ago, she started to cry. 

"I knew it was going to happen, but to actually see it, I knew it was real," she says. 

The shingles—the last of the materials needed—arrived Sept. 3, and work began on the roof the next day. 

A team of neighbors and community activists on Sept. 6 cleared away debris from the old roof and put a new coat of paint on the Murrays' house. 

"The support was there because so many people have been in the same situation," Getty says. "It blew my mind, to be honest. I would have never expected that response." 

Next weekend, Getty plans to repair the gutters and downspouts and put another coat of paint on the house. The city inspection will take place on Sept. 17. 

Helen says that, thanks to the repairs, she is less stressed about losing her home, and she can sleep at night again. 

"We're very satisfied and most of all grateful," she says. "It's unbelievable." 

WWeek 2015

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