Every day in the Mid-Willamette Valley, low-income, hard-working families struggle to find affordable places to live.  Rapidly rising rents force these families to live in unsafe, unhealthy and crowded conditions.  These families often have to move once or twice a year in search of rents that stay within their reach.  Because of this, children transfer from school to school, affecting their learning and their self-esteem.  
 
The American dream of homeownership is seen as simply unattainable, due to the skyrocketing cost of home prices and little change in incomes of hard working families.  

Our mission of working with the community to build simple, decent, affordable homes with and for these families has resulted in over 50 local families permanently escaping poverty housing. We believe in this mission, because we have seen first-hand how affordable homeownership impacts families, children, and communities.

• Families have a chance to experience stability, build equity wealth, and have something tangible to pass on to their children.
• Children are healthier and safer. They do better in school, have higher self-esteem, and feel more hopeful toward their future.
• Communities are improved, as homeowners tend to be more active in their communities than renters, and pay into the community tax base.

For specific research data on the impact of homeownership on children, families and the community, we encourage you to download the report "The Private and Social Benefits of Homeownership", authored by Dr. Haurin, a professor at Ohio State University.

Thank you for caring about simple, decent, affordable housing in your community!