The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO) supports and encourages homeownership for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, disability, marital status, source of income, etc. in accordance with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local Fair Housing laws.

There are numerous resources across Oregon and SW Washington for home buyers ranging from educational programs to grants and assistance funds.  Following is a list of known resources for you to scroll through.  If you're aware of similar resources we've missed and should link to, please let us know at information@FHCO.org.

Homeownership Resources

(in no particular order or preference)

Homeownership Opportunities Website Northwest
Launched by the Portland Metropolitan Assn. of Realtors(R) in 2008, this site provides a summary of housing related programs for homebuyers in the Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County areas. A number of programs detailed also provide home buying assistance to individuals based on income.

http://hownw.com

Oregon Regional Housing Centers

One of the best stops you can make in your search for affordable housing is to visit a Regional Housing Center. OHCS supports the creation and success of Regional Housing Centers because their staff  has knowledge and experience helping low- and moderate-income families rent and purchase affordable housing. They know who offers a variety of housing services locally and can help eligible families access these services. Regional Housing Centers also specialize in offering homebuyer training, financial education, closing cost assistance, as well as other homebuyer services.

http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/SFF_HousingResourceCenter.shtml

Home Ownership Center

http://homecen.org/

The Center supports and guides families in Southwest Washington through the process of becoming home buyers for the first time. In the past 11 years, the Center has worked with over 15,000 households. About 5,000 of those families have purchased a home within one year of contacting the center.

Habitat for Humanity

To build partnerships among volunteers, families and the community to transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods by enabling families in need to earn and own a simple, decent, affordable home.  We believe in the power of homeownership to affirm dignity, encourage hope and transform lives by breaking the cycle of poverty.  See links below to find a chapter in your area:

http://www.pdxhabitat.org/

http://www.salemhabitat.org/

http://www.bendhabitat.org/

www.wwhfh.org/

www.mthoodhabitat.org/

www.midcolumbiahabitat.org/

www.bentonhabitat.org/

http://www.deschutes.org/go/living-here/social-services/families/habitat-for-humanity

www.grantspasshabitat.com/

www.sistershabitat.org/

http://www.albanyareahfh.org/

http://www.nwvhfh.org/

www.uvhfh.com/

www.roguevalleyhabitat.org/

www.redmondhfh.org

www.habitatdane.org

www.mthoodhabitat.org

www.klamathbasinhfh.org

www.tillamookhabitat.org

www.habitatportlandme.org

www.grantspasshabitat.com

www.midcolumbiahabitat.org

The Homeownership Center

Serves the Central Oregon region as a "one-stop shop" for citizens who want to become financially fit and make their way towards financial strength and home ownership. We provide both direct services such as the homebuyer education and counseling as well as indirect services including meaningful referrals to partners of the center. Other programs include low-income housing weatherization grants, housing rehabilitation loans, reverse mortgage counseling, credit counseling, down payment assistance programs, individual development accounts, state-funded loan programs and other affordable mortgage products.

http://www.neighborimpact.org/homeownership.html

The Springfield Home Ownership Program (SHOP)

Created to encourage home ownership in Springfield by assisting low-income residents with the first-time purchase of a home.

http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Housing/shop.home.htm

Umatilla Tribe Program

The Homeownership Program has taught more than 80 individuals about financial responsibility - the first step toward owning a home.

http://www.hud.gov/local/or/news/umatilla.cfm

Saint Vincent de Paul

http://www.svdp.us/mainsite/housing/ownership.html
Helps eligible families actualize the dream of homeownership.

The Office of Manufactured Dwelling Park Community Relations (MDPCR)http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/MDP_MainPage.shtml

Program staff provides services and information to residents and landlords of manufactured dwelling parks to promote cooperative community relationships and positive alternatives to the court system.

OHCS is Oregon’s “State Housing Finance Agency,” AKA:  the “Oregon Bond Loan”

http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/SFF_HomebuyerServices.shtml

The Department periodically issues mortgage revenue bonds to fund lower than market interest rate mortgage loans for below-median income homebuyers in Oregon.  OHCS helps low and moderate income households in Oregon buy their first home by providing below-market rate financing and cash assistance through our Residential Loan Program. The program’s below-market rate helps eligible families increase their home purchasing power and lower their monthly house payments to be affordable.

The Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland (NAYA)

http://www.nayapdx.org/

NAYA promotes healthy living through positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors and promote the values of sobriety, family stability, culture, active lifestyles and education.  NAYA Family Center offers limited housing resources; visit the link above for more information.

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) 

http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/SFF_DownpaymentAssistance.shtml

Downpayment Assistance Programs (DAPs) are intended to help eligible borrowers come up with the cash they need to close the loan. Most downpayment assistance programs are limited to serving low-income first-time homebuyers, who earn 80% of the area median income or less adjusted for household size income limits. 

Purchase Assistance Loan (PAL)

http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/SFF_ADDI_PALProgram.shtml

The State of Oregon, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is pleased to introduce a new downpayment and closing cost assistance program called the Purchase Assistance Loan (PAL).   PAL is funded from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a part of its American Dream Downpayment Initiative.

Homebuyer Training from Oregon Housing and Community Services

http://www.oregonbond.us/OHCS/SFF_HomebuyerTraining.shtml

You wouldn't attempt to drive a car without first taking lessons, so why run out and buy a house without first knowing the basics about the homebuying process? Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) along with other sponsoring organizations, support the Homeowner Education Collaborative of Oregon and its training course, "The ABC´s of Homebuying" or a similar course.

Homeownership Program for Farmworker Families

http://www.casaoforegon.org/what.html

The educational component of the Homeownership Program grew from a demand of farmworker families that needed assistance buying a home. In 1993, CASA providing homeownership classes throughout Oregon. The homeownership classes cover the home buying process and how to maintain a home.

Portland Housing Center

http://www.portlandhousingcenter.org/

Everyone deserves access to home ownership. The Portland Housing Center makes it possible through quality education, counseling and financial services.

Umpqua CDC

http://www.umpquacdc.org/html/homebuyer_programs.html

Assists eligible home buyers in Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties in Southwest Oregon to obtain decent, safe, structurally sound, and affordable homes.

           http://www.umpquacdc.org/html/home_construction.html

           Umpqua also offers a Mutual Self-Help Housing program, where groups of families work together with the help of

           volunteers to build each others homes.

City of Corvallis First Time Home Buyer Program

http://www.w-nhs.org/homeowner.html

Helps income-qualified home buyers in Corvallis secure down payment and closing cost assistance through the City of Corvallis First Time Home Buyer Program and other programs offered by our lenders.

HOST (Home Ownership a Street at a Time)

http://www.hostdevelopment.com/

This non-profit corporation is dedicated to providing home ownership opportunities for working individuals and families.

What Is an Individual Development Account?

http://www.oregontaxcredits.com/ida/faq.asp

Individual Development Accounts, or IDAs, are part of an innovative matching fund program that helps low-income Oregonians save and invest their way out of poverty. IDAs are not handouts. They are special accounts that provide a powerful incentive for low-income individuals to save money toward the purchase of permanent, productive assets.

Gresham Homeownership Program

http://www.ci.gresham.or.us/departments/cedd/cr/homeownership.asp

The Program provides second mortgage financing for affordable homeownership in Gresham. The Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) is for first time homebuyers who can qualify for a home loan, but who cannot afford a modestly priced home in today's market.  PLEASE NOTE:  The City of Gresham does NOT have funds available for the Gresham Homeownership Program at this time. 

Hacienda’s “Mi Nuevo Hogar” (My New Home) Program

http://www.haciendacdc.org/housing/42/

The Program provides affordable homeownership opportunities to minority first-time homebuyers. Hacienda will provide up to $20,000 for 12 first-time minority homebuyers with zero percent interest deferred loans for downpayment assistance in Portland and Gresham.

Threshold Homeownership Education and Counseling Program

http://www.nedcocdc.org/threshold.htm

Since 1994, NEDCO has been working with low-income families and individuals to prepare them to become successful homeowners through the Threshold Homeownership Education and Counseling Program.

OregonHelps.org

http://www.oregonhelps.org/

It can be tough to get the help your family needs. Try this web site to find out if your family can get help from several different services.

FannieMae.com

http://wwwFannieMae.com

Features a variety of homeownership and other resources.

FreddieMac.com

http://www.freddiemac.com

Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation chartered by Congress in 1970 to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing

Portland Community Land Trust

http://www.pclt.org/

Since 1999 Portland Community Land Trust has been helping families own homes at prices they can afford by removing the land cost from the housing equation: the land is held in a community trust and the homeowner owns the house - and they can do the kinds of things homeowners want to be able to do, all while building wealth based on homeownership. Because the land is in trust, land trust homes are permanently affordable.

Clackamas Community Land Trust

http://www.clackamasclt.org/sponsors.html

The mission of the Clackamas Community Land Trust is to create homeownership opportunities that are affordable to low and moderate-income people now and for generations to come.

Central Oregon Partnership (COP)

http://www.copartnership.org/home.php?tab=allcats&menu=home&chapter=home&location=allcats

Works to provide affordable housing as a means to combating poverty.

Lincoln Heights Land Trust

www.cocaan.org

Lincoln Heights Land Trust works collaboratively with the Central Oregon Community Action Agency Network (COCAAN) to break the cycle of poverty by helping to remove the barriers that prevent people from achieving economic self-sufficiency.

Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation

www.nedcocdc.org

From 1990-2004 the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation has developed – through new construction, house moves, and renovation – over 130 quality affordable homes for low-income first-time homebuyers. They have completed developments throughout Eugene and Spring, Oregon and have several current developments in the area as well.