Oregon Offers Down Payment Grants to Non-Citizens

Hacienda Community Development Corporation (HCDC) in Oregon is offering a $30,000 grant to assist first-time homebuyers, but the program initially created controversy by specifying that it is available only to non-U.S. citizens, including asylum-seekers and DACA recipients. Funded by the state's Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP), the initiative aims to promote economic stability and wealth building among disadvantaged communities. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, have labeled the program as discriminatory, arguing that American citizens facing a housing crisis should be prioritized. In California, a proposed Assembly Bill 1840 seeks to allocate taxpayer funds to help illegal immigrants buy homes, raising similar concerns about fairness toward veterans and citizens. Following backlash, HCDC clarified that it serves all Oregonians equally and does not discriminate against any applicants, asserting the intention to assist historically marginalized groups. The controversy underscores the broader national debate over immigration and housing policies amidst rising home prices and homelessness.