Housing Center Marks Its 15th Anniversary

The Portland Housing Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary of helping low- and moderate-income residents to buy a home.
More than 2,500 families have bought homes with the Portland Housing Center's assistance.
Peg Malloy, the agency's executive director, said she is proud of the housing center's contributions.
"Through promoting homeownership, we have helped people realize their dreams of homeownership, created wealth and helped stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods," Malloy said.
Malloy, who is one of four of the original founders for the organization, has served as Portland Housing Center's executive director since the organization's inception. The nonprofit organization also was founded by former Portland City Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury, Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten and Steve Rudman, executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland.
The organization, an affiliate of the national NeighborWorks America, is a one-stop homeownership center. Three years ago, the Portland Housing Center became a certified development financial institution, which allowed the center to use financing and loan programs to help more people buy homes.
Nancy Clark, Portland Housing Center customer and board member, bought her house through the Portland Housing Center.
"I always dreamed of owning my own home but didn't know where to start," Clark said. "I was overwhelmed. Portland Housing Center helped me understand the process and connected me with partners including lenders, real estate agents, title and home insurers and home inspectors to help me on the path to buying my first home.
"After my experience at the Portland Housing Center, I wanted to help other people achieve the goal of homeownership, so I joined the board," Clark said.
Portland Mayor Tom Potter said the Portland Housing Center meets a critical need in the community by working with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and the private housing industry to help people find homes they can afford.