The Homeownership Resource Fair, a collaboration between several public, nonprofit and private partners, is coming to Whitman County Oct. 5.
The three-hour event will take place at The Gladish Center from 1–4 p.m. Admissions are free and open to everyone.
Attendees may enjoy free snacks, activities for children and presentations and booths from the fair’s partners.
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are feeling like they are locked out of the housing market,” Pullman City Council member Megan Guido said.
In addition to serving as Pullman City Council’s member from Ward 3, Guido is one of the organizers of the event and chair of Pullman’s Housing Work Group.
“The council has made accessibility to affordable housing a priority,” Guido said. “One of the pieces of the plan is education.”
One of the goals is to provide resources and education to those who may be making good money but qualify as low-income, Guido said.
The event is taking an inclusive approach for everyone, including people who may have disabilities that make owning a home harder, said Elizabeth Perez, deputy director of the Washington Homeownership Resource Center.
Veterans, first-time buyers and people who may have unsuccessfully bought a home before are also encouraged to attend, Perez said.
In Washington, those who have previously but unsuccessfully bought a home in the past are eligible to be reconsidered as first-time homeowners after three years, she said.
Students are also encouraged to attend the fair.
“Students of any age can and should attend this event,” Perez said. “It’s great to begin planning to know what resources are available.”
The resource fair and several of its partners are also committed to providing halal and ITIN financing, Perez said.
Halal financing helps open the market up to those following Islamic law that forbids charging or paying interest. ITIN financing, which uses your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is for those who may not have the traditional documentation, such as a social security number, to obtain mortgage loans.
