True North will create opportunities for low-income households with historic ties to North and Northeast Portland to begin building equity through an affordable home buying model
EVENT DETAILS: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wed., Sept. 23 at 6631 N Syracuse St. in Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore. – In a part of Portland deeply shaped by a history of displacement, a significant investment in affordable homeownership is taking place. Habitat for Humanity Portland Region will join Metro, the City of Portland and other project partners on Sept. 23 to celebrate the start of development on True North, a large affordable homeownership community in North Portland’s University Park neighborhood.
The 50-home development will give priority to homebuyers with low incomes who qualify through the City of Portland’s N/NE Preference Policy, which prioritizes people with historic ties to the area who have been displaced or are at risk of displacement. The development will create opportunities for individuals and families to purchase affordable homes, build equity and reconnect to the community.
“This community has a long history, and we want to celebrate the many partners that were involved in making True North a reality,” said Steve Messinetti, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland Region. “To understand why these homes matter, you have to understand the history. True North shows what is possible when communities, non-profits, and many level of government — in this case, City, Metro, State, and federal — come together towards a shared goal of advancing affordable homeownership.”
The kickoff program will trace the story behind the development — from the history of North and Northeast Portland to the advocacy of Black Portlanders who called for a different approach to public investment and greater opportunities for people with historic connections to the community.
Funding for the development includes support from the voter-approved Metro Affordable Housing Bond allocated by the Portland Housing Bureau, Interstate Corridor Tax Increment Financing, LIFT for Homeownership, and Congressional Community Project Funding. The property moved from the Portland Water Bureau to the Portland Housing Bureau to Habitat for Humanity and will become affordable homes.
“Today is a step toward housing justice in North Portland,” Metro Council President Juan Carlos González said. “Solving our region’s housing crisis requires a variety of investments. Thanks to voters who passed the Metro Affordable Housing Bond, we’ve been able to build a wide range of affordable homes, from housing for residents with the very lowest of incomes to affordable homeownership opportunities like True North, where families can achieve the dream of owning a home.”
True North is just blocks away from Willamette Cove, where Metro is currently working to design and build a nature park.
Habitat for Humanity Portland Region will lead construction with support from donors, volunteers and community partners. True North is expected to receive Earth Advantage Platinum energy efficiency certification on all homes, a regional green building certifier that goes beyond energy performance to include health, land, materials and water.
The development is being built in partnership with Proud Ground Community Land Trust, which will help ensure the homes remain affordable for future generations of homebuyers. Prospective True North homebuyers will also work with Arrive, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, to receive individualized financial counseling and support as they prepare for mortgage readiness and homeownership.
A legacy of community advocacy
For generations, Black Portlanders and other communities of color faced discriminatory housing policies and practices. Redlining, urban renewal and other forces contributed to the displacement of thousands of residents in North and Northeast Portland and the loss of community homes and wealth. The True North kickoff event will recognize the advocates whose work helped shape investment in North and Northeast Portland for those who have historic ties to the area.
“For years, current and former residents of North and Northeast Portland have stressed to us the paramount importance of affordable homeownership opportunities in the neighborhoods their families have been pushed out of,” said Portland Housing Bureau Equity & Business Operations Manager Leslie Goodlow, who manages the North/Northeast Neighborhood Housing Strategy. “As a brand-new community of permanently affordable homes for purchase by N/NE Preference Policy households, True North represents a meaningful investment in the vision that these families deserve a permanent place in these neighborhoods, where they can grow and thrive for generations without fear of displacement.”
For Habitat, the project is part of its longstanding commitment to creating affordable pathways to homeownership throughout the Portland region.
“Affordable homeownership is a game changer,” said Messinetti. “It gives people the opportunity to build equity, create stability, experience better health and education outcomes, and build a future on their own terms.”
True North site development is now underway. Phase one of vertical construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027, with the first homes completed in 2028.
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About Habitat for Humanity Portland Region: Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is a movement of people in our local area and around the world, working together to build more vibrant communities by making sure everyone has a decent, affordable place to call home. Since 1981, Habitat has partnered with thousands of people across the Portland region helping them build their lives on their own terms through affordable homeownership and home repair. Learn more at habitatportlandregion.org.
About Metro Housing Department: The Metro Housing Department exists to align systems, secure resources and promote innovation as we work toward a region where everyone has a safe, affordable and stable home. The department oversees two regional initiatives that voters passed to address the housing and homelessness crisis. The 2018 Metro Affordable Housing Bond and the 2020 Supportive Housing Services measure work together to provide homes for households with low incomes, along with programs and services to prevent or end episodes of homelessness.
About Portland Housing Bureau: Guided by a vision that all Portlanders should have equitable access to affordable housing and to the opportunities that a safe, stable home can deliver, the Portland Housing Bureau leads housing policy for the City of Portland and administrates programs to produce affordable rental housing, expand homeownership and stabilize homeowners, and regulate and assist tenants and landlords in the rental housing market. The Portland Housing Bureau is one of several bureaus and programs in the Community and Economic Development service area. This service area aligns City programs focused on building prosperity for all Portlanders. We aim to create and deliver efficient, transparent, and equitable solutions for a resilient built environment – as well as services, resources, and experiences for our community.
