Our Mission
“Many people with intentions of staying in their neighborhood have been priced out. They just couldn’t afford the next rent increase. It’s not enough to offer someone affordable housing they may lose or permanent housing that leads to economic hardship. After talking with different advocacy groups, property managers, and residents themselves it seems that the best way to accomplish this goal is to secure a dedicated building and protect it from egregious profiteering.
The costs of owning and maintaining the building which we are now considering can easily be paid by affordable rents, when operating a non-profit model. Our budgeting shows that with full occupancy below market rents, we can support the building ownership, upkeep, and capital improvements.
When I noticed that this economic model is possible, it made me realize that unaffordable housing in this city is not a natural occurrence but rather due to investors who demand high profits from low-income families.”
CHRIS LAWRENCE, Development Worker
Goal One
Identify suitable apartments in condo buildings, or townhouse with or without conversion to apartments which could be ready for renters to move in.
Goal Two
Find individuals and institutions willing to fund acquisitions. We will apply for grants, appeal for donations, and accept low interest 7 year loans. Residential properties, most likely condo units, are purchased in a cluster in one neighborhood.
Goal Three
Look for beneficiaries who are eligible to receive our help.
Match the apartments (or townhouse) with these people. They must be willing to make an agreement (reviewable every 6 months) which ties their discounted rent to the voluntary or paid employment they are doing with local neighborhood non-profits or churches.
“We are looking for supporters who have a different vision. We are looking for those who want their money used to buy housing for the long-term benefit of these communities.
The people who help us acquire this cluster of condo units, located close together, in a walkable neighborhood, have a big vision. We have come to see that the housing crisis which we are facing is actually manufactured, not normal, and solvable by changing our perspective of housing as a home instead of a portfolio.”
Beneficiaries will be one of the following :
(in priority order)
ordained clergy and church employees
those who are formerly incarcerated and now becoming established in their new neighborhood
those aged 19-35 years who are severely rent burdened and being priced out of the neighborhood in which they have been living.
To be eligible for help, beneficiaries must be volunteers or staff with local non-profits, or faith-based organizations. They are willing to be in an accountable relationship with us where their work with neighbors is valued and is the basis on which they receive the discounted rent.
