Rep Barton Carries Housing Opportunity Legislation
Bill will help rural families increase access to affordable housing
SALEM – Representative Brent Barton today carried a bill expanding housing opportunity in Oregon. The bill passed 59-0 and will help rural families increase access to affordable housing. Housing opportunity is a Democratic priority for session, and is part of House Democrats’ 2009 Roadmap for Oregon’s Future.
HB 2258 helps rural families build wealth through an Individual Development Account (IDA) by using additional sources of data when determining the eligibility of low income households, alleviating the “urban bias” found in the current rules.
Representative Barton explained IDAs as he introduced the bill, “[The IDA program] is designed to grow Oregon’s middle class by helping people buy their first home, start a business, or pursue their education by creating a matched savings account.”
Rep Barton represents Oregon House District 51, which contains Estacada, Damascus, and parts of Oregon City, Happy Valley, and Boring. He is a third-generation Oregonian.
