Oregon Taxpayer Group Gives Money to Illegal Immigrants for Purchasing Houses, Excludes Citizens
A taxpayer-funded organization in Oregon is involved in a payment assistance program that hands out money to illegal immigrants to purchase their first homes. At the same time, American citizens are excluded from the program despite qualifying.
The Hacienda Community Development Corp (CDC) allegedly offers $30,000 down payment assistance to eligible new homebuyers through their program Camino a Casa.
“Clients work closely with financial coaches and HUD-certified housing counselors throughout the entirety of the homebuying process. In addition to mortgage readiness and financial fitness workshops, we provide various opportunities for down-payment assistance,” the organization’s website says.
To qualify for the program, individuals must not be U.S. citizens.
Rep. Ed Diehl (R-OR) confirmed the details of the program to the Daily Caller, stating that his research proved the accusations to be true.
“American citizens in Oregon are struggling to find and buy a home. We have a severe housing shortage in this state,” he told the outlet.
“I am appalled that the hard-earned, limited tax dollars of Oregonians are being used to prioritize home ownership for certain non-US citizens. Oregon can’t end this state-sponsored discrimination soon enough.”
Hacienda CDC receives some of its funding from the Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP) which was passed in 2022 as an equity project through the Economic Equity Investment Act.
The organization also receives millions in funding from Oregon taxpayers, along with federal funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The EEIP was designed to restrict its grants to organizations advancing equity goals and individuals considered in need of financial assistance for purchasing land or properties.
This year, the state legislature allocated an additional $8 million to the EEIP to support organizations, such as Hacienda CDC, that deliver “culturally responsive services to foster economic stability, self-sufficiency, wealth building, and economic equity for disadvantaged individuals, families, businesses, and communities.”
Critics informed the Daily Caller that the act allows organizations like Hacienda CDC to use the term “disadvantaged” to justify discrimination against residents based on race and citizenship status while advancing their agendas.
“Citizenship status is considered an economic equity risk factor, so non-citizens residing in Oregon are eligible beneficiaries,” the website states.
According to a contract reviewed by the Daily Caller, the organization’s actions seem to breach its agreement with the state by rejecting applications based on citizenship status, even if the applicant meets all other criteria.
“Recipient shall consider all eligible beneficiaries (meeting 2 or more economic equity risk factors) as described in Exhibit A and shall not refuse to work with individuals, families, businesses, or communities based on protected class considerations,” the contract states.
According to the EEIP’s guidelines, citizens are eligible to receive these benefits.
Andrew Quinio, an attorney with the public interest law firm Pacific Legal Foundation, that although he has not personally examined Hacienda CDC’s potential discriminatory practices in detail, he believes Oregon has recently exhibited a pattern of racially discriminatory policies and programs that infringe on residents’ constitutional rights.
“Oregon cannot treat individuals differently based on race except in very rare exceptions, nor can it have groups do so on its behalf,” Quinoa told the outlet. “The Legislative Counsel’s analysis raised important questions of whether the EEIP would survive a court challenge, given that its apparent intent and application is to provide assistance to groups that assist only individuals of specific races.”
“The Constitution forbids the government from advantaging or disadvantaging individuals based on race, either directly or indirectly this way.”
