Rachael Duke, who has spent 11 years leading a Tigard-based affordable housing nonprofit, received the 2026 Community CARES Award from Washington County.
Duke is executive director of Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH), which has built and planned housing developments in Tigard and Tualatin.
Washington County announced the award Nov. 6 at its Annual Housing Forum, held at the Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro. The CARES Award honors individuals who exemplify collaboration, accountability, responsiveness, equity and service.
The county recognized Duke for expanding affordable housing, strengthening resident support and building partnerships that promote long-term housing stability.
Her leadership was shaped by early work in public health, where she saw how a stable home provides a foundation for health, learning and opportunity.
The county opened nominations to the public for the first time this year.
Among CPAH's Tigard projects, Woodland Hearth is a 63-unit family housing community with 19 three-bedroom and four four-bedroom units. The county's Metro Affordable Housing Bond tracker lists Woodland Hearth with an October 2026 completion date under its completed projects table.
A second CPAH development, Torchwood South, is planned for a parcel next to Woodland Hearth and would serve low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities with a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments.
In June 2025, Washington County's Community Development Policy Advisory Board voted 11-0 to approve a $400,000 reallocation of HOME funds from CPAH's Meadowlark Place project to Woodland Hearth.
Unexpected construction issues, including earthwork problems, groundwater and asbestos pipe, had depleted the project's contingency fund.
Washington County Commissioner and Vice-Chair Jerry Willey said in the county's announcement that Duke's leadership "has been central to expanding affordable housing and supporting our community."
The forum drew more than 175 regional housing leaders, service providers, elected officials and community partners.
Metro Council President Juan Carlos Gonzalez delivered the keynote address, and a panel featured partners from Lane County, Multnomah County, CPAH and state agencies.
