Oregon has made a move that has left taxpayers bewildered and frustrated, a Portland-based organization is offering substantial down payment assistance to homebuyers – but with a controversial catch. The aid is exclusively available to non-U.S. citizens, sparking outrage among American residents struggling to find affordable housing in an increasingly tight market.
Hacienda Community Development Corporation, a taxpayer-funded entity, is now providing $30,000 in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers in Oregon. However, this generous offer comes with a stringent requirement: applicants must be non-citizens, such as DACA recipients, asylum seekers, refugees, or green card holders.
The journalism group Oregon Citizen posted the bombshell on X, igniting a firestorm of debate about the allocation of public funds and the priorities of state housing initiatives.
What do you think Oregon friends? Should non citizens and undocumented citizens be given $30,000 for down payments to buy a home here in the state of Oregon? Check out the requirements! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/riGm6AuMGJ
— Oregon Citizen (@oregoncitizen_) August 9, 2024
The funds for this program stem from Oregon’s Economic Equity Investment Program, which allocated a whopping $15 million to various organizations. Of this sum, Hacienda CDC received $692,775 – enough to provide 21 free down payments to non-citizen homebuyers.
While the organization touts its commitment to financial coaching and housing counseling, many are questioning why these resources aren’t being directed towards U.S. citizens who are equally in need and more entitled since their taxes paid for the funds of this housing assistance.
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Oregon State Representative Ed Diehl (R) voiced his dismay at the situation, stating, “American citizens in Oregon are struggling to find and buy a home. We have a severe housing shortage in this state. I am appalled that the hard-earned, limited tax dollars of Oregonians are being used to prioritize home ownership for certain non-US citizens.”
His sentiments echo those of many Oregonians who feel their needs are being overlooked in favor of non-citizens.
The housing crisis in Oregon is indeed severe. Economist Josh Lehner didn’t mince words when he told Oregon Public Broadcasting, “We have the worst affordability. Low vacancies and high prices is indicative of a housing shortage. And I think that’s clearly what we’ve been in for a while now.”
In light of these dire circumstances, the decision to allocate scarce resources to non-citizens seems particularly tone-deaf and misguided.
Moreover, this program raises serious legal and ethical questions. Andrew Quinio, an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, suggests that Hacienda CDC’s policy might constitute racial discrimination.
“Oregon cannot treat individuals differently based on race except in very rare exceptions, nor can it have groups do so on its behalf,” Quinio explained.
He further pointed out that the Constitution forbids the government from advantaging or disadvantaging individuals based on race, either directly or indirectly.
The situation becomes even more perplexing when one considers the broader implications for Oregon’s housing market. By funneling resources towards a select group of non-citizens, the state is effectively worsening the housing crisis for its own taxpaying citizens.
This misallocation of funds not only fails to address the root causes of Oregon’s housing shortage but also creates an unfair advantage for individuals who haven’t contributed to the state’s tax base.
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The message being sent is clear: in Oregon, citizenship doesn’t guarantee equal access to housing assistance. For now, Oregon’s taxpayers face the bitter irony of funding their own exclusion from vital housing assistance programs.
