William and Vanessa Revet were tired of renting. The couple longed for a home of their own, a place where they could put down roots for their young son, Logan, but saving enough money for a down payment seemed like a nearly impossible goal.
Then, William, a computer network specialist with NAYA (Native American Youth & Family Center), learned about the organization’s Home Ownership Program. He found out about ways to save for the down payment through the homebuyer education course and with the help of one-on-one coaching. The young family purchased a two-bedroom home that gives their son a place to run and play, and a neighborhood to establish the bonds of community.
“We now have a long-term investment. We can stay here 15 years or for the rest of our lives, if we want. This has provided the stability we needed for our family,” said Revet, who is a Yupik Eskimo.
NAYA knows the discrimination, misinformation, and inequities faced by the more than 55,000 Native Americans living in the Portland metro area. Its leadership and community also share the aspirations, achievements and potential of the more than 380 tribes represented in this urban area. With nearly 35 years of service, NAYA annually assists over 1,200 youth and families from more than 380 tribal backgrounds to ease the transition to urban life and move to prosperity. The Foundation’s support has helped leverage NAYA’s deeply rooted community connections, knowledge, and strong leadership in initiatives focused on building assets and wealth through education, direct services, and advocacy.
“Every member of our community deserves access to safe and affordable housing, whether it’s renting or homeownership,” said Sara Libby, NAYA’s Homeownership Program coordinator. All across the region and nation, low-income and minority populations struggle to secure affordable housing throughout region.
“Historically, the Native American community has been denied equal access to homeownership through policies like red-lining as well as other forms of institutionalized economic racism. Our program provides culturally specific services to ensure access to home buying resources and education, and we advocate closing the homeownership gap that still exists in this urban Native community.”
Efforts to correct misinformation, improve policy and revise practice affecting Native American population are often hamstrung by inaccurate public data. This was certainly the case with perceptions about Portland homeownership. The Foundation supported a 2003 NAYA study, which shows the ownership rate for Native Americans in Portland is less than half the 68 percent homeownership rate among white families.
Closing the gap yields more than a financial asset. “Traditionally, many Native American cultures value family stability over wealth creation,” explained Libby. “Owning a home means a safe place to put down roots, practice your culture, and, in turn, provides family, community and economic stability. We work to meet all these goals.”
NAYA’s holistic approach engages partners and accelerates action. It links arms with Native American organizations and with coalitions of advocates for minority homeownership to surmount barriers. NAYA also integrates multiple asset-building strategies for greater impact. In addition to educating and coaching, prospective buyers, like the Revets, are referred to homebuyer and down-payment assistance programs that fit income, family size and tribal affiliation, to leverage opportunity. NAYA also offers Individual Development Accounts (IDA), a matched savings program that provides three dollars for every one an eligible family puts toward a down payment. The culturally specific financial programming and strong relationships across Portland’s Native American community are changing people’s lives for the long term.
To date, these services have fostered more than 40 new home purchases or re-finances. NAYA’s goal is to help prepare over 2,000 homeownership-ready families by 2019.
“This program allowed me to buy a house sooner than I thought,” said Revet. “We’re very excited. I’m teaching my wife and son how to garden. I can now tell my son, ‘this is the school that you’ll be attending for many years.’”
For more information about NAYA, www.nayapdx.org.
