Through advocacy and action, Habitat for Humanity of Oregon works to make homeownership accessible, stable, and equitable.
Families and individuals across Oregon and beyond are paying too high a price to cover the cost of home.
At Habitat for Humanity, we believe no family should have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Yet in 2021, 20.3 million households — nearly 1 in 6 — paid more than half of their income on housing. Across cities, suburbs, and rural areas, the stability that home should bring remains out of reach for far too many of our friends and neighbors.
We understand the complexities surrounding the cost of home, along with the struggle, stress, and pain facing too many families in our communities. Families who have endured redlining, racial inequality, and persistent housing disparities. Families who have worked hard yet still come up short — not due to a lack of effort, but because of systemic issues and an inequitable economy. And we know that those with the fewest resources are always forced to make the hardest choices.
Everyone deserves the foundation of a stable, healthy future for themselves and their families — no matter who they are, where they live, or how much they earn.
In addition to lifting hammers to build homes, Habitat advocates across the state are raising their voices for policy and systems change at local, state, and federal levels. Habitat for Humanity of Oregon is a leading homeownership advocacy organization, collaborating with our network to build advocacy capacity, steer legislative agendas, provide feedback on statewide program implementation, and work alongside state lawmakers. We aim to drive people-focused policies that create affordable paths to homeownership and housing stability for all Oregonians. Our deep commitment to racial equity and housing justice underpins both our advocacy efforts and program design.
