Noemi Cagatin-Porter: Paying it forward through housing advocacy
By Rachel Friederich, Serve Washington Communications
TACOMA--Noemi Cagatin-Porter knows firsthand what it's like to struggle with housing insecurity. As an immigrant from the Philippines who once faced homelessness as a mother of three, she understands the barriers many low-income families encounter when searching for safe, affordable housing. That lived experience is what drives her service today.
In 2020, Cagatin-Porter founded CJK Community Homes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable rental housing and supportive case management services to families in need across Pierce County. Today, CJK serves 135 individuals, including 25 families and 30 single adults.
Beyond providing safe, affordable living spaces, CJK Community Homes offers mental health support, financial literacy programs, and rental reporting services to help tenants build credit. But for Cagatin-Porter, housing is about more than just shelter; it's about building a foundation for long-term financial stability.
"I've lived that life, and I understand the many barriers people have gone through," Cagatin-Porter said. "I want to be that support system for them to pay it forward."
She volunteers countless hours teaching financial literacy classes, advocating for affordable housing at the state and local levels, and working with policymakers to push for systemic change. In 2024, she spearheaded a proposal to support CJK with buying a 17-micro-unit permit-ready project to offer long-term affordable housing. She is also working to build nine townhouses to help low- and middle-income families buy their own homes and build generational wealth. The units will not be put on the market but will be sold to individuals in first-time homeownership programs, giving them the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. In the coming months, CJK will be closing on this acquisition.
"For me, volunteering is about building capacity, building awareness, and making a bigger impact," she said.
Through her leadership, advocacy, and hands-on service, Noemi Cagatin-Porter is transforming lives one home, one family, and one opportunity at a time.
