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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Controversy erupted after a taxpayer-funded housing support group in Portland, Oregon, appeared to have been offering grants of $30,000 to first-time buyers in the state, but with only those who are not U.S. citizens eligible to apply.
The money was offered by the Hacienda Community Development Corporation (HCDC) as part of its "Camino a Casa," which is advertised as being "only for people who are not American citizens." Reports it was not available to American citizens sparked an angry backlash, with one Oregon Republican lawmaker branding it "state-sponsored discrimination."
Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Business Oregon, which funds the HCDC, said an advertisement for the grant was "not accurate," adding, "We have confirmed with Hacienda that their program is in fact open to both U.S. citizens and non-citizens."
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An attached statement from the HCDC said the flyer had "misstated these program requirements" with regard to U.S. citizens being excluded.
Immigration has been one of the most hotly contested topics of the 2024 presidential election thus far and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made a major crackdown, particularly on illegal migration, one of the key planks of his bid for a second White House term.
The federal U.S. Customs and Border Protection has recorded around 8.1 million encounters with people suspected of crossing the southern border between February 2021 and June 2024.
According to a promotional graphic acquired by The New York Post the HCDC £30,000 grant program was available for "people who are not American citizens. For example (ITIN holders, DACA recipient, refugees, asylees, green card holders, amongst others)."
The advertisement states: "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 scheme is advertised as being funded by Business Oregon, the Beaver State's economic development agency.
HCDC is recorded as having received a $692,775 grant from the Business Oregon's Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP).
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The EEIP was formed after the Oregon legislator passed the Economic Equity Investment Act, or SB 1579, in 2022 which was designed "to build economic stability, self-sufficiency, wealth building, and economic equity among disadvantaged individuals, families, businesses, and communities in the state."
Initially the EEIP had $15 million to distribute, and in 2023 awarded grants to 36 organizations in Oregon according to its official website. The scheme received a further $8 million in 2024, which is intended to last through June 30, 2025.
Newsweek contacted the Hacienda Community Development Corporation for comment on Monday via online enquiry form outside of usual business hours.
Speaking to The Daily Caller Oregon state Representative Ed Diehl, a Republican, branded the scheme "discrimination."
He said: "American citizens in Oregon are struggling to find and buy a home. We have a severe housing shortage in this state. I am appalled that the hard-earned, limited tax dollars of Oregonians are being used to prioritize homeownership for certain non-US citizens. Oregon can't end this state-sponsored discrimination soon enough."
Last week 16 Republican-run states announced they were suing President Joe Biden's administration over a new program allowing around half a million undocumented migrants, who are the spouses of American citizens, to apply for parole in place of allowing them to remain in the country.
According to an audit from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, between 2019 and 2023 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement failed to properly monitor at least 30,000 unaccompanied migrant children after they were freed from government custody.
Update 8/29/24 5:03 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Business Oregon.
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