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Mauro Cettina knows that budgets are tight for most Washington County businesses, but he doesn鈥檛 mind calling to ask for their help.

Cettina, the facilities manager at in Tualatin, is helping coordinate a group of contractors volunteering their time and materials to help the region鈥檚 homeless population. He has reached out to local businesses and Rolling Hills congregants, seeking donations of any size.

鈥淪ome people don鈥檛 like to ask; I do,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes I pray a little bit before I push that last digit in the phone number 鈥� but everyone wants to give a little.鈥�

Since 2008, Rolling Hills has provided shelter from the elements to people who would otherwise be on the streets. Through Washington County鈥檚 Severe Weather Shelter program, community organizations are permitted to provide temporary shelter services when temperatures either drop below freezing or climb above 98 degrees Fahrenheit.

But church organizers were still finding gaps in the services provided. Despite a small budget and some permitting struggles, Rolling Hills has undertaken what some people say is the first construction project to expand services begun in the Severe Weather Shelter program.

鈥淪ometimes we鈥檙e hesitant to ask people for their time and materials because we don鈥檛 want to burden anyone when the economy is so tough,鈥� said Cettina, who has coordinated the construction project at the church since it began last summer.

鈥淏ut when it鈥檚 a worthy cause like this, people seem to really want to help, whether it鈥檚 because they want to be a part of the community or to ease their conscience or for whatever reason,鈥� he said. 鈥淓veryone has been so happy to help; I think they just appreciate being thought of.鈥�

In the final week of January 2011, 1,356 homeless individuals were counted in Washington County, according to Pat Rogers, manager of housing and homeless services at Community Action, a nonprofit organization. If Rolling Hills is able to finalize all of its permits, the church will be allowed to provide shelter and services to homeless people even when local officials have not officially declared a severe weather emergency.

The existing basement at Rolling Hills was a large, unfinished space with a concrete floor and no amenities. With donations of time, money and services, though, the space will soon hold beds for more than a dozen people in need.

笔辞谤迟濒补苍诲鈥檚 is donating $3,000 worth of labor and parts to install an HVAC system, according to Cettina, and the company installing exit signs and other fire safety equipment is donating 25 percent of its work on the shelter.

Ron Kief, owner of CPS Construction and a member of the congregation at Rolling Hills, has volunteered his time and brought in 10 workers to assist the remodel.

鈥淲e helped get things off the ground,鈥� Kief said. 鈥淎nd I got a bunch of guys off my team lined up for some good construction experience.鈥�

The next step in the basement is underground plumbing and electrical work, but because volunteers are limited to their after-work hours, progress has been slow.

The project has also faced some challenges in the permitting process, according to Faith Carter, Rolling Hill鈥檚 community global outreach coordinator.

Six faith-based organizations, including Rolling Hills, operate severe weather shelters through Washington County鈥檚 program. But Rolling Hills is technically within Clackamas County鈥檚 purview, which has created hassles as the church seeks to expand its services to a homeless population coming largely from Tualatin.

鈥淚鈥檝e wondered if everything would have gone faster if we were located in Washington County,鈥� Carter said.

The church has worked closely with Tualatin city officials and the police department, according to Carter, but has not yet built similar connections in Clackamas County.

Nevertheless, the construction process continues to progress and volunteers leading the effort have high hopes for the expanded facility.

鈥淧eople think that West Linn and Tualatin have a good income, but a lot of people need help with this economy,鈥� Cettina said. 鈥淭he bottom line is that once we get it built, this will be a community-oriented space.鈥�