Habitat Oregon Blog

HFHO will be the host of a one day “Focus on the Future” conference on Saturday, October 18, 2008 in Salem, OR.  The conference will allow Habitat for Humanity affiliates from the northwest to come together to network, share their experiences and learn from experts.  HFHO will also be announcing the beginning of a statewide marketing campaign – “1000th Home Campaign.”  Currently, the 33 Habitat affiliates in Oregon have built 797 homes across the state.  They have projected that by the end of 2010 they will be building their 1000th home for hardworking Oregon families. “We want to use this milestone event as a way to raise awareness of our work around Oregon and in your own community,” Patricia Day TenEyck, Executive Director, HFHO said.

Habitat for Humanity of Oregon’s New Revolving Loan Seeded by the State (April 9, 2008 — Portland, OR)

Habitat for Humanity of Oregon (HfHO), a local nonprofit organization providing fundraising and outreach assistance to 34 affiliate offices across the state, has received a $500,000, 5 year, 0% interest loan from Oregon’s Housing and Community Services Department to be used as seed money for a revolving loan fund. Nancy Hamilton of the Governor’s Office will present the funds to HfHO at a dedication ceremony at on April 16^th, 10 a.m., at 635 SE 197th Ave., Portland.

“Putting this money to work as a revolving loan fund will mean leveraging an amount that might typically purchase two homes in Oregon into providing hundreds of homes for hardworking families,” said Patricia Day TenEyck, Executive Director of HfHO.Any Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Oregon will be able to apply for funds to assist in the process of acquiring land, purchasing permits, paying fees, and other activities related to homebuilding and renovation. Payments on the loans, made by the borrowing affiliate, will replenish the fund, allowing for continued lending to additional Habitat for Humanity projects in Oregon.

The fund is designed to become self-sustaining within five years. As additional monies are invested in the fund, Habitat for Humanity will increase the number and amounts of loans to affiliates. “The skyrocketing number of foreclosures and loss of homes due to unethical lending practices has drawn our collective attention to the overall housing crisis—a problem that Habitat for Humanity has been addressing for decades in Oregon,” said Victor Merced, Director, OHCS. “Our solution turns predatory lending upside down, offering zero-interest loans with payments that remain stable and that almost any hardworking Oregon family can afford, rather than creating a situation in which they are forced to choose between buying groceries and paying their mortgage,” said Day TenEyck.

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Ecumenical Christian housing organization, has been working in Oregon for 25 years. In that time, the default rate on mortgages has been less than 1%, lower than the national average. In addition to making regular mortgage payments, Habitat for Humanity partner families contribute 500 hours of labor on their own or other partner family’s home. By providing a hand up, not a hand out, the Habitat for Humanity program maintains the dignity and pride of homeowner families.