Posted
Ahmed still remembers those first weeks in Oregon. He would wake up at 3 a.m., sit on the edge of the bed, and ask, “Why did I do that? Why did I leave everything behind? I had money, authority, fame.” Then he would think of his kids and breathe.
Before coming to the United States, Ahmed lived a life few could imagine. In Baghdad, Iraq, he worked as a senior correspondent for NBC’s satellite channel, embedded with the U.S. Army for eleven years. Before that, he worked behind the scenes and in the field for the BBC, CNN, and Radio Free. In Iraq, journalists were targets. He moved constantly to stay safe and survived three attempts on his life. Arriving in Oregon meant starting over completely: resetting his career, rebuilding trust, and trying to find a sense of home in an unfamiliar place.
“When I weighed it against my family’s safety and kids’ future, of course, I’ll choose my family. That’s what real men do: protect their family and work to make their lives better.”
Help arrived quickly, through a family friend. “I was lucky that I had someone I knew in the state, my brother’s friend. We never met, but it’s part of our culture [to be hospitable] and help our community.” Within days, he had an apartment. Within two weeks, he was volunteering and graduating from a community leadership program. He started building relationships that turned into family. “We come from a background where we like to keep people around us. We count our friends as family. They eat with you; they sit with you.”
During one of these community connections, while translating for a program participant at Washington County’s Department of Housing Services, Ahmed noticed pamphlets about rent assistance. He took copies to halal markets and shared them widely. He applied too.
More than a year later, a letter arrived. He was next on the list. He was not sure anything would actually happen. Then the phone rang. A house was available. “It was like a message from God.” Twenty-eight days later, Ahmed and his family moved in.
That home became their anchor in 2016. Ahmed’s circle grew as he continued serving the community through the Arabic House of Oregon, Beaverton Diversity Advisory Board, Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon, and the Parent Advisory Council at Washington County.
Public housing matters in moments like this. It provides decent, safe rental homes for eligible low‑income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Rent is typically set at about 30 percent of a family’s adjusted monthly income, giving families the stability they need to plan ahead. The Housing Authority shares waitlist openings on its website and newsletter.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved Washington County to sell 60 public homes and use the proceeds to preserve and build more sustainable, higher-quality affordable housing. Sales began in Spring 2025, with the first priority to offer discounted purchase opportunities with homebuyer education through partners like Bienestar to current residents like Ahmed.
Ahmed took the leap when a letter arrived inviting him to buy his home.
“I really adore the County’s work. They do a great job. They make it super smooth,” he shared. He even recalled when sending an inspection list to the maintenance team, “We put five or six important items for them to fix. They did it and went above and beyond.”
Signing day felt like a dream. “We sat and signed it, we even took pictures to show our family, because this is a dream come true. I’m the first person, in my entire family, to own a house in the United States.” He shared with quiet pride. “When you buy a house, you earn a part of that house every day. It’s not just a dream, it’s an investment. It will stay for your kids and your grandkids.” It was a bittersweet moment; however, he wished his mother in Iraq could have been on the phone during the signing.
“Without this program, not only would I have not been able to buy this house in Beaverton, even in my dreams, I would not have been able to think about it.”
April brings Arab American Heritage Month, and Ahmed’s story sits inside a larger tapestry. Almost 7,000 Arab Americans call Washington County home, strengthening local culture, schools, and civic life.
Public housing and affordable homeownership are just some of the Department of Housing Services’ investments in homes for families of all backgrounds serving over 20,000 people annually in Washington County.
One of those families was Ahmed’s, and we’re a stronger community thanks to people like him.