By Elliott Bochstein, RCAC Staff Writer

Community in Action (CinA) is a Community Action Program (CAP) agency serving Oregon’s Malheur and Harney Counties. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Malheur County has the lowest per capita income in the state, underscoring CinA’s critical role. CinA offers a broad spectrum of free services, including housing counseling, which are made possible through grant funding.

The Wells Fargo Keeping People Housed initiative provides grant funding to CinA through Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), a national housing counseling intermediary. This funding has enabled CinA to enhance the services of its Housing Resource Department (HRD). The HRD aids individuals confronting or at risk of housing crises. The process starts with a free intake screening where CinA’s intake specialists gather necessary documentation, assess clients to determine their needs and arrange appointments with the appropriate staff member.

HRD’s core services consist of counseling and group education. Counseling covers topics such as pre-purchase advice, guidance on defaults and foreclosures, post-purchase assistance and financial literacy. Group education includes first-time homebuyer classes, financial literacy workshops, foreclosure basics and rental readiness courses that equip clients with the knowledge they need to maintain their homes. HUD-certified housing counselors administer these classes and counseling sessions. These services have been pivotal in helping community members secure stable housing amid stagnant incomes, inflationary pressures and mounting housing affordability challenges in the region.

Two particular cases over the past year illustrate the concrete impact of the Wells Fargo Keeping People Housed grant. CinA client Daisy faced eviction when her landlord decided to sell her rented home. Her extremely modest income made it nearly certain that she would have ended up unhoused. Fortunately, CinA offers a state-supported grant that covers up to $60,000 in homebuyer fees provided that recipients keep the property for at least five years. CinA awarded Daisy a $26,000 grant that allowed her to cover the down payment and closing costs while ensuring that her mortgage payment was within her means. CinA also provided Veronica, a single mother who faced similar struggles, with $30,000, enabling her to transition from being on the verge of experiencing homelessness to becoming a confident homeowner.