March 31, 2010
Creating Affordable Home Options
Nonprofits
serve first time
and minority
homebuyers
T w o new
h o m e b u y e rs
a c h ie v e d
th e d ream
of
homeownership through Proud
Ground, a non-profit organiza
tio n
c re a tin g
a ffo rd a b le
homeownership opportunities for
low- and moderate-income first
time homebuyers, and the Mi
nority Homebuyer Assistance
Collaborative.
The collaborative is a coali
tion of local nonprofit organiza
tions dedicated to promoting mi
nority homeownership through
culturally specific homebuyer
education and counseling ser
vices that are offered in both in
English and Spanish. The group m a riK S io rrouo uround and the Minority Homebuyer Assistance Collaborative, Tracie Cole (second from left) has realized the dream
o f homeownership. "I feel such joy, " Tracie exclaims, “I can't believe this is really mine. ” Tracie is joined at the Pardee Commons
—co m p rised o f the A frican
ribbon cutting in southeast Portland by (from left) John Mohlis o f the Portland Development Commission; Tom Walsh and Serena Cruz
A m e ric a n
A llia n c e
fo r
Walsh o f Cityhouse Builders; Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish; and Greg Brown o f Albina Bank.
H o m e o w n e rsh ip , H a c ie n d a
Community Development Cor my kids will want to become
poration, and Portland Com mu hom eow ners.”
nity Reinvestment Initiatives —
T racie and another Proud
also makes small grants avail Ground homeowner helped by
able to help households on their the nonprofits recently joined six
way to homeownership.
other households at Pardee Com
Tracie Cole is a perfect ex mons, a 10-unit Earth Advan
ample of the difference the col tage Platinum Home develop
laborative can make.
ment in Lents that uniquely com
Tracie fell in love with her bines duplex-style townhomes
F .w- _ » *
.
brand new, Earth Advantage and detached units with shared
town home in the Lents neigh green space and green features.
f H
r
•• ’»• / *
borhood from day one. Though
Since 1999, Proud Ground has
the home was offered through helped 120 families buy their
Proud Ground for just $ 124,499, first home. For more informa
the monthly payments were still tion, contact Proud Ground at
just a bit too high for Tracie’s 503-493-0293, extension 10 or
budget.
visit proudground.org. For infor-
B ut
the
m in o rity m atio n ab o u t the M in o rity
collaborative’s $5,000 down- Homebuyer Assistance Collabo-
payment grant wa§ just the right ra tiv e , c o n ta c t the A frican
amount to bring Tracie's monthly A m e ric a n
A llia n c e
fo r
payments down to a level that H om eow nership at 503-595-
made owning her first home pos 3517 or visit aaah.org/M HAC.
Call 503.823.3292
sible.
For information about Hacienda
or visit pdc.us/nhp
“There’s not a better feeling Community Development Corp.,
than becoming a homeowner,” call 5 0 3 -5 9 5 -2 1 11 or v isit
Tracie explains as she describes haciendacdc.org; For informa
the impact homeownership has tion on Portland Com m unity
on her and her three children. “I Reinvestm ent Initiatives, call
PORTLAND
DEVELOPMENT
C O M M IS S IO N
feel such joy; I can ’t believe this 5 0 3 -2 8 8 -2 9 2 3 o r v is it ;
is really mine. Hopefully now pcrihome.org.
PRESERVING THE
COMMUNITY
STARTS AT HOME
Home Repair
Programs
Lead H
Grants
First-time Buyer
Programs
PDC
Advertise with diversity in
Portland Observer
( all 503-288-0033
ads@])Ortlandob server.com
Portland
Housing
Bureau
mm