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June 4, 2001
Major Focus On Local Affordable Home Ownership: First Ever Home Ownership Fair
(Bellingham, WA ) For the first time ever in Whatcom County, a Home Ownership Fair will focus on local programs that help first-time homebuyers achieve the American Dream.
With U.S. Census numbers showing the rate of homeownership declining in Whatcom County, the efforts to fix the problem locally could not be better timed.
In Whatcom County, economic and employment trends point to a worsening housing affordability problem with little relief in sight. Over the last 20 years, the median price for single-family homes in Whatcom County climbed, on average, 6% per year - but household income rose only half as fast. The Washington Center for Real Estate Research monitors statewide housing affordability through their Housing Affordability Index (HAI). In the fourth quarter of 2000, a family earning 70% of the area median income had only 73% of the income they need to purchase a home priced at 85% of the area median home price.
All four of the affordable homeownership nonprofits have teamed up for the Home Ownership Fair this Thursday, and the energy around Whatcom's homeownership efforts has attracted the interest of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Community Home Ownership Center. Both agencies will be sending their staff to the Fair and will be looking for ways they can help address the dilemma of making housing affordable.
"We're finding more ways to work together so we don't end up with the same problem as Seattle, the San Juans and San Francisco - housing too expensive for too many of the folks who work there," according to Paul Schissler, executive director of Kulshan Community Land Trust.
The local informational event is one of hundreds of events occurring nationwide to promote homeownership activities during the fifth annual National Homeownership Week from June 3rd through 10th. The National Partners in Homeownership, a diverse mix of over 50 national organizations, sponsor National Homeownership Week and work towards a common goal - to increase the nation's homeownership rate to an all-time high.
At the Whatcom County free event, everyone can learn about the programs offered by Kulshan Community Land Trust, Habitat for Humanity, Whatcom Self Help Homes and the Lummi Island Community Land Trust, and get to know the services offered by the Community Home Ownership Center. People can drop in anytime between 5 and 8 PM for food catered by Carol's Girls, door prizes donated by area merchants, supervised childcare, and time to mingle with housing nonprofits and neighbors. "We've packed alot into this event," according to community planner, Paul Schissler.
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Contact for more info: Paul Schissler, (360) 671-5100
Kulshan Community Land Trust is a community partner for affordable homeownership solutions and operates as a membership-based 501(c)(3) WA State nonprofit corporation.
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