Member Spotlight: Washington Homeownership Resource Center
We are excited to feature Washington Homeownership Resource Center in our latest member spotlight! Working out of our Ballard location, Denise Rodriguez and her team are nothing short of inspiring. Read on to hear more about what they do!
What inspired you to pursue creating WHRC?
I can’t take credit for creating WHRC. WHRC was founded in 1995, way before I got involved! Since about 2005, I’ve worked or volunteered with various organizations that focus on financial empowerment, which is about reducing poverty and increasing financial stability for people and their families. I’ve worked on access to banking and public benefits, building credit and budgeting, and food security. I came to see housing stability as a primary driver of household wellbeing.You can’t think about credit when you don’t know where you will be sleeping that night. And, of all forms of housing, homeownership is the most stable and does the most to build wealth. As I grew more and more passionate about homeownership, I was invited to join the WHRC board in 2013. I stepped away from the board to accept a position as Deputy Director in 2015 and then became Executive Director in 2019.
What would you tell non-homeowners who find themselves too discouraged to pursue homeownership?
It’s hard to look around right now and see how much regular people struggle to access homeownership and even affordable rent! My number one recommendation is to meet with a HUD-certified housing counselor to get some help going over your budget, seeing what kind of payment you might be able to afford, and getting tips on small things you can do to increase your buying power. Personally, I would prefer to KNOW whether I’m better off renting or buying instead of wondering and a HUD-certified housing counselor can help with that. Even if you can’t buy right now, you can take what you learn from the counselor and start working on it so that you’ll be ready to pounce when a rare opportunity pops up or when the market shifts in your favor. Information is power.
What is a common misconception you find prospective homeowners have?
The biggest misconception is that you need to put 20% down to buy a home. We hear it all the time, but it hasn’t been true since the 1950s and wasn’t even totally true back then. Putting 20% down has a couple of benefits, but it’s far from the norm and most definitely NOT a deal breaker. This is especially true when you factor in down payment assistance programs designed to help buyers get into a home.
What is one of your greatest achievements or success stories in your work?
As Executive Director, my day-to-day work rarely involves direct service with clients. One of my most memorable wins was a time I helped a Black, elderly, disabled homeowner in the Central District avoid losing his home to tax foreclosure. The County reached out to WHRC for assistance connecting with him, but he didn’t have a phone, so I went and knocked on his door. While I was there, a predatory developer showed up and was literally trying to swindle this guy’s home away from him right in front of me! The rest of the block had mostly already been redeveloped with lots of tall, skinny, expensive townhomes. Seeing the forces of displacement and gentrification play out at the personal level and in real time was jarring. I was like, “Not today, Satan!” In the end and coordinating with a couple of partner agencies and the County, we got the homeowner connected to free legal help and senior tax programs that helped him stay in his home. Whew!
What is something people may not know about you?
I’m a rock star. Not in reality, but in my heart. Ok, sometimes, I go to karaoke and rock people’s faces off, which is kinda like reality. If you are starting a Black Sabbath/Ozzy cover band, hit me up.
How can people get in touch with you or learn more about your work?
Call our toll-free hotline (877.894.4663), visit our website www.homeownership-wa.org, or swing by our office at 315.
Where is your favorite place to visit and why?
Rialto Beach. I was born and raised in South Florida and have always found the sound of waves to be grounding and calming. My first time seeing the Pacific Ocean was at Rialto Beach. It was s full moon and highest tide of the year. Waves crashing, wind rustling in the trees, sand between my toes, stars shining above. A perfect union of the elements. It’s pretty magical. Being there makes me feel large and small at the same time…like I’m part of the larger whole and my problems are so tiny. I try to go out there a few times a year to recharge.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Hmmm. Probably like a super impressive cheese-cuterie platter with various cheeses and meats, plus olives, veggies and fruit, and some hummus or other dip. Does that count as one food?
What could you talk for hours about?
As a Gemini, I can talk about ANYTHING for hours, but I asked on my socials and the results are:
1) Movies, especially as it relates to the Oscars
2) Angela Lansbury, especially Murder She Wrote. (I find this show soooo comforting to watch.
Reminds me of being home from school and zonked on cold meds when I was in junior high.) Proof! This is only 9 minutes, but I could have gone on WAY longer:
3) DIY home remodeling stuff
4) My cat, Mojo AKA Mr. Mojo Kitten, Kitten of the Universe, Psycho Kitty, The Tiny Tyrant
5) Homeownership, obvi, especially how we can correct for past policies that led to the current
racial gaps in access
6) Astrology/Tarot
