Meet the Hills Family
Candia Hills represented homeowners on CCLT board

Candia and Aaron Hills were the second family to purchase a CCLT home. Homeownership for the Hills family, which includes sons Gabriel and Hunter and a newborn daughter, took the fast track after Aaron’s parents saw a flyer about the land trust.

The couple had been exploring options for buying a house, and attended a CCLT informational session to learn more. After they knew CCLT was the right fit, the family opted to take advantage of the buyer-initiated program, which provides a subsidy to qualified homebuyers, who then go out and find a home within the price they can finance. The family found the home they were looking for in an established Milwaukie neighborhood.

"At the time we were paying more for rent than we do now for our mortgage payment," Candia says. "Our boys were never allowed to go outside to play because we never had a backyard, and the parking lot wasn’t safe."

To the Hills, homeownership represents stability and a wise investment in the future. "Homeownership to us reflects the hard work my husband and I do," Candia says. "Our children are now able to grow up in a safe neighborhood where they have room to run and a decent park nearby." Oscar the German Shepherd rounds out the family.

Candia’s positive experience with the land trust was what prompted her to give back by serving as a leaseholder representative on the 9-member board of directors. "Candia's insights as a homeowner really contributed to our discussions," says CCLT Program Director Nancy Yuill. "She helped us broaden our deliberations and make better quality decisions. As CCLT grows, the involvement of homeowners becomes ever more crucial. I hope all homeowners will consider serving on the board at some point in time."

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