Habitat at the Capitol is a great opportunity to meet with our elected officials and make sure they understand the importance of affordable homeownership and how it affects people in their districts!

In communities throughout our state, skyrocketing home prices mean that qualified buyers are priced out of the opportunity to purchase their first home - adding pressure to a rental market bursting at the seams. The need to provide meaningful options to help stabilize at-risk homeowners has never been greater. At the same time much of our housing stock is deteriorating, especially in rural communities. Our communities become stronger and more vibrant as we unite to meet our neighbor's basic needs for a stable, affordable place to call home.

• Let's mobilize the resources needed to allow hardworking Oregonians to become first-time homeowners and purchase homes in the communities where they work. 
• Let's ensure that potential and current homeowners have access to effective counseling that maximizes their opportunities for lasting stability.
• Let's fund critical home repairs to protect seniors and families of modest means from displacement. 

Who should attend?

Affiliate Board Members and staff, local government leaders, business leaders, and faith community leaders are ALL welcome to participate!

Spread the Word! Click here to download our Habitat at the Capitol - Advocacy Day flyer.  

Why is your support essential to the success of Habitat at the Capitol?

By sharing the positive impact that you make every day in your community, you will convince your representatives to support Habitat's legislative initiatives.

Schedule of Events

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.  - Affiliate Meet & Greet with coffee and pastries at Salem First United Methodist Church

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Welcome and overview of advocacy agenda & training for legislative visits

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Habitat Affiliate Representatives meet with elected officials at the Capitol Building. You will be put in teams. Each team with have a Habitat spokesperson who will briefly share the agenda details.

*Drop in for box lunches as it works for your schedule between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Salem First United Methodist Church.

2017 Agenda

We are seeking legislative support for cost-effective strategies to help increase opportunities for Oregonians to realize the lasting benefits of homeownership they can afford:

• An investment of $20 million in LIFT 2.0 bonds will provide new, permanently affordable homeownership options throughout the state.

• The creation of a new revolving loan fund will increase the production of homes affordable for first-time buyers who have already completed homebuyer education and demonstrated their ability to repay a mortgage. We request $25 million to seed this fund.

• An investment of $10 million will accomplish at least 400 critical home repairs to help homeowners of modest means live in their homes in health and safety. This initiative will target rural communities at risk of losing much-needed housing stock.

• A new, flexible source of down payment assistance will help first-time homebuyers to enter the market and effectively complete with out-of-state cash offers. A $10 million investment will provide a hand-up for 600 first-time homebuyer families with low income and moderate incomes.

• An investment of $3-4 million for foreclosure prevention will maximize opportunities for families to maintain a stable living situation. Enabling Oregonians to remain in their homes will help prevent further pressure on the rental market. 

Click here to download our 2017 Advocacy Agenda.