Housing for All, Always

As we jump into the new year and prepare for a new/returning presidential administration, there may be many changes ahead in our world. But one thing I know won’t change: People need safe and affordable housing. Young and old, white, brown or Black, he/she/they and everyone in-between, the need for housing is inclusive. As we savor the holidays and gear up for another spring housing market, I want to take a minute to acknowledge how difficult homeownership can be for some, and hopefully provide resources and information to eliminate barriers on your path toward homeownership.

Oregon is a state that originally barred homeownership for Blacks and Chinese, and later used restrictive covenants to keep certain races confined to specific neighborhoods. Many well-intentioned people like to believe that discrimination no longer exists here, but I can assure you that even my 12-year-old Black daughter has faced it. So while I can’t tell you that you won’t face discrimination in home buying, I can assure you that Realtors adhere to a strict Code of Ethics meant to help us identify and report any discrimination in housing. I have appreciated seeing the work of the now-completed Good Deeds Program, educating and providing resources to homeowners who have deeds with discriminatory language

The rise in discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community in the past few years is staggering and sickening. Sexual identity has only been fully protected under Oregon law since 2008. If you ever suspect discrimination in housing (whether renting or buying), Fair Housing Council of Oregon is available to review your complaint and guide you through what your options are. Visit: fhco.org/report-housing-discrimination.

¿Sabe que todos los documentos de comprar una casa son disponible en español? The contract, disclosures, every document can be provided to you or your loved ones in Spanish. It can be hard to want to sign something in your second language for fear of not understanding — take the guess work out and have your agent provide both sets of forms. Ask your Realtor about Spanish-speaking lenders here in Central Oregon as well!

Finding an agent with the AHWD designation (At Home With Diversity) also provides added assurance that your Realtor is committed to championing our protected classes (race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity, age, marital status).

There’s a growing need for affordable housing in our community, and various programs can help, like down payment assistance, closing cost grants and no-interest loans. A standout local option is the IDA savings through NeighborImpact. Accounts are awarded via a lottery, but if you’re not selected the first time, you might be next. This unique savings program offers a 5:1 match — for every $2,000 you save, you’ll receive an extra $10,000, giving you a total of $12,000 to put toward your future home.

This article can’t cover it all, so this list is meant to be the start of a conversation rather than the end. As our community grows and diversifies, the need for housing and supportive community relationships also grows — so let’s grow together, not apart.

This article appears in Source Weekly December 19, 2024.