Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Hacienda

Patch talks to Hacienda about the work it does to increase the standard of living among predominately Hispanic communities in Oregon.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Hacienda: Since 1992, Hacienda CDC has been helping Latinos and other diverse populations in Portland build assets and create paths to healthy, productive lives. We manage nearly 400 units (2,000 residents) of affordable housing complexes in Portland and surrounding areas. In these developments, we offer our residents access to home ownership support, financial management, educational support and business development services. Our most recent development, Portland Mercado in Southeast Portland, is our flagship economic development project serving over 50 businesses with affordable retail space in our public market and kitchen, and has become a local establishment for connecting with Latin American heritage through food, art and entertainment.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Hacienda: Currently Portland is undergoing a lot of changes -- rising cost of living and doing business, shortage of housing for all income levels, cultural shifts, and market forces that Cities and non-profits across the nation often fail to keep up with. Our mission to uplift communities and create opportunities for Latinos and other diverse populations must be met with strategic partnerships that leverage resources in order to better maintain and acquire properties that prioritize basic needs and pathways for mobility for all residents. Our ability to be part of the change in a role that creates development without displacing vulnerable residents is key to overcoming a struggle that is a local, state and national issue.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Hacienda: We strive to be a leader in housing, cultural and economic development in Oregon by investing in the future of local Latino leaders and places that support diverse communities. We also hope to be an advocate at the local and state levels for all minorities, providing a voice for bridging equity and opportunity for immigrants, refugees and low-income communities.

Image via Pete Eckert; Hacienda