TELL US YOUR HOUSING STORY: Partner Thistle & Nest is Empowering Women Homeowners

At Partners for Affordable Housing, we hear stories every day of people struggling to find and afford housing in Central Oregon. Did you know that 62% of women are homeowners? And that 78% of single-female households in Oregon have difficulty meeting basic needs?

Read more below from our coalition partner, Thistle & Nest, an organization creating attainable housing using a community land trust model as a bridge to stability between renting and conventional homeownership.

From Thistle & Nest:

It wasn’t long ago that women faced significant barriers to financial independence. Until the 1970s, women in the U.S. could not apply for a credit card on their own, making financial autonomy nearly impossible. Historically, women have been excluded from wealth-building opportunities like homeownership, with discriminatory policies and wage gaps limiting their ability to invest in their futures.

Today, progress has been made, but challenges remain. Women-led households often face economic instability due to lower wages and a lack of generational wealth. In Oregon, women continue to struggle with homeownership accessibility. A 2023 report by United for ALICE highlighted that 78% of single-female households in the state have difficulty meeting basic needs, indicating a high level of financial insecurity. Limited access to affordable housing and difficulties securing loans further hinder their ability to build long-term stability.

At Thistle & Nest, we recognize these challenges and enjoy working to empower women in their professional careers or their path to homeownership. Women-led households are one of our key focus areas, and currently, 62% of our homeowners are women, and many of our subcontractors and service providers are Women- or Minority-Owned businesses. We are committed to breaking down barriers, providing resources, and ensuring that more women have the opportunity to own a home and build generational wealth.

To the women in our team, the subcontractors building our homes, and the homeowners shaping their futures—we see you, we celebrate you, and we stand with you! Keep striving, keep building, and keep fighting for your dreams. Together, we are creating a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.

Do you have a story of trying to find available and affordable housing in Central Oregon? Tell us your housing story here!