ORFH was founded on the belief that affordable housing is one important means of making a positive impact on rural communities, particularly for those households who have lacked equal access to homes, work, services and more. ORFH acknowledges that persistent racism continues to negatively impact our society, communities and residents in profound ways, and we need to do more to address these significant issues.
ORFH joins our partners and concerned citizens in condemning racism and injustice in America. Further, we dedicate ourselves to examining our own actions and the efforts in which we are involved to ensure they are inclusive, culturally relevant and empowering to those households we endeavor to serve. Examples of these efforts will include:
Continue building an inclusive, diverse Board and staff that is representative of the communities in which we work; and
Collaborate with our partners (local housing providers, members of the development team, public funders, private entities) to address equity and diversity through affordable housing, capacity building and improved diversity and inclusion among their Board(s) and staff.
Actively reach out to organizations and community groups not currently involved in affordable housing efforts to help build capacity and diversify affordable housing offerings in rural Washington State.
Explore the creation of a fund to support organizations “on the ground” that are attempting to address racism and injustice, particularly as in occurs in rural areas. Said fund would be established by the Board of Directors with parameters that assure ORFH’s fiduciary responsibilities are being met.
Through these actions, ORFH will endeavor to educate ourselves and take action to address racism and support communities of color in our collective efforts “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” (Preamble to the United States Constitution)
