June is National Homeownership Month in the United States. The month marks a time to celebrate and commemorate the importance and significance of homeownership across our nation. Homeownership still constitutes the heart of the American Dream and remains the number one way for most people to build personal and generational wealth.
While it may prove too easy for many of us to take homeownership for granted, the truth is that homeownership has been historically — and presently — out of reach for many of our neighbors across America and the state of Oregon.
In 1900, the rate of homeownership across the entire nation was 46.5%. By 2000, the number had increased by a full twenty points to 66.2%. Today, the rate continues to hover around 66%. National Homeownership Month offers us a time to reflect on those gains and to express our gratitude for the historic increases in access to homeownership.
At New Era Homes, we are proud to offer Oregonians the opportunity to reach their dreams with homeownership and would call us all to reflection and action during the month of June. To mark National Homeownership Month, we encourage all Oregonians to reflect on the privilege of homeownership and to consider benefiting organizations that serve people for whom the dream of homeownership has not yet been achieved.
History of National Homeownership Month
The two-pronged call for National Homeownership Month to be one of both celebration for gains in homeownership and consideration for those who are not yet within reach of homeownership aligns with the historic roots of the commemoration.
President Bill Clinton first declared June 2, 1995, National Homeownership Day. In his proclamation, he noted our nation’s progress in making housing more affordable and accessible for all, citing policies like the National Housing Act of 1934 and the Housing Act of 1949. By 1998, President Clinton extended National Homeownership Day to National Homeownership Week, the first being observed June 7–13, 1998.
In 2002, George W. Bush extended the week to a month, declaring National Homeownership Month for the entirety of June. In his proclamation, President Bush cited the federal government’s commitment to “helping any more Americans achieve” the dream of homeownership. He also stated the nation’s commitment to providing “all families with the tools and information they need to accumulate wealth and overcome barriers to homeownership.”
Both Presidents Clinton and Bush included civic pleas in their proclamations. Clinton enjoins Americans to “observe [National Homeownership Day] with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate the great American Dream. Bush’s declaration includes a call for “the people of the United States to join [him] in recognizing the importance of providing all our citizens a chance to achieve the American Dream.
Similarly, in a declaration for 2023, President Biden issued the following plea: “I call upon the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice.”
How to Commemorate National Homeownership Month in Oregon
Considering the history and intent of National Homeownership Month, it is right, then, and in keeping with the proclamations of presidents across both parties, that we encourage Oregonians to remember and advocate for those for whom homeownership has remained out of reach. We can celebrate individual and national gains in homeownership while also remembering those who struggle with barriers to homeownership and affordable housing.
Barriers to Housing in Oregon
The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis finds that “hundreds of thousands of Oregon households . . . struggle with high housing costs relative to their incomes.” According to the data, a full 54% of renters in Oregon do not have enough money to pay for other basic necessities after paying for rent; 20% of homeowners are in the same situation.
A 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that Oregon has the second-highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the country. Oregon also saw the second-highest percent increase in individuals experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic between 2020–2022. Compared to the rest of the nation, Oregon has the fourth-largest prevalence of homelessness per capita, after D.C., California, and Vermont.
Opportunities to Give Back
With such dire rates of homelessness across Oregon, National Homeownership Month presents us with an opportunity to serve those for whom homeownership has not yet been attainable. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of organizations where you might consider donating your money, time, or other resources to commemorate National Homeownership Month in June.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds and improves places people can call home. They work with families to build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay for the home with an affordable mortgage. Habitat for Humanity in Oregon has various chapters with a multitude of volunteer opportunities, including working in the ReStore, constructing homes, performing outreach, and more. Find your local chapter below and consider reaching out to see how you can help.
- Albany
- Bend-Redmond
- Benton
- Central Lane
- Columbia County
- Columbia Gorge
- Coos County
- Florence
- Grande Ronde
- Grants Pass
- Junction City-Harrisburg-Monroe
- LaPine-Sunriver
- Lebanon
- Lincoln County
- McMinnville
- Mid-Willamette Valley
- Newberg
- North Willamette Valley
- Portland
- Rogue Valley
- Sisters
- Tillamook County
- Umpqua Valley
- West Tuality
Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together makes essential repairs to help people remain in their homes. They work to make housing safe and healthy for neighbors across the county. Consider contacting one of the branches below to see how you can help join the mission.
Operation Tiny Home
Based in Oakland, Oregon, Operation Tiny Home builds high-quality tiny homes for veterans, natural disaster survivors, young adults aging out of foster care, and other at-risk populations. Operation Tiny Home is sustained by donations and volunteers. Get in touch with them to see how you can help further their cause to provide housing for at-risk people.
Shelters for Unhoused Persons
We would also encourage you to donate your time, money, or other resources to the organizations that serve Oregon’s unhoused persons day in and day out. They need our help to provide food, shelter, clothing, and community for those who do not currently enjoy the privilege of housing or homeownership.
- Albany
- Beaverton
- Bend
- Corvallis
- Eugene
- Grants Pass
- Gresham
- Hermiston
- Hillsboro
- Klamath Falls
- Medford
- Portland
- Redmond
- Salem
- Springfield
- Tigard
Celebrate National Homeownership Month Together
Part and parcel of the American Dream, homeownership has been a key that has made America the nation it is today. We have made great strides over the twentieth century, but we acknowledge that for many Americans, the dream has remained unfulfilled. In the same way that we have come together to make strides for generations gone by, our hope is that we will join together this June during National Homeownership Month to commemorate our collective accomplishments and make a positive difference in our neighbors’ lives.
