All over the country this month, NeighborWorks network organizations snipped ribbons to open completed projects and broke ground on new ones as NeighborWorks America and the network celebrated both NeighborWorks Week and National Homeownership Month.
National Homeownership Month spotlights the benefits of homeownership and the initiatives that make buying a home possible. NeighborWorks Week, meanwhile, is a time to spotlight how the Congressionally chartered nonprofit, together with its network of nearly 250 local organizations, make a collective impact on communities across the country.
This year, the organizations showed their strength in tackling the affordable housing crisis by demonstrating how they create homes and build America.
The ribbon-cuttings and ground breakings, which began during NeighborWorks Week, will continue later this month.
Events held last week include a ribbon-cutting for the last seven homes of a 19-home in-fill development in Springfield, Ohio, a city challenged by the lack of affordable places to live.
Like many other NeighborWorks organizations, Springfield Neighborhood Housing Partnership (NHP), directs its housing efforts toward building and revitalizing communities. One-off homebuilding is an aspect of its work, but to have the greatest impact, the organization aims to transform swaths of land, bringing new vitality to an area.
“This full-block effort has been a long-term project of ours, going back several years,” explained Kerri Brammer, manager of the organization’s Home Ownership Center. “Last year we built three homes and this year we completed seven, rounding out an effort that has been a goal of ours.”
Springfield’s development efforts along the Clifton Avenue block of the town were catalyzed by the donation of vacant lots from the city, a multi-year partner in the plan to bring affordable homeownership to the community.
“We were able to construct so many homes in this phase because of HOME funds provided by city that helped reduce the final costs for the homebuyers,” said Brammer. “The homes cost roughly $200,000 to build and they’re selling for $165,000. With a down payment assistance grant in the form of a second mortgage, the sales price to buyer is $140,000.”
Four of the seven homes are under contract to qualifying first-time homebuyers.
“This project has been a way to show other developers that the Clifton Avenue community is a great community, a place where people care about their homes and their neighbors,” Brammer said. “In fact, since our first home was built here more than 15 years ago, only two have been resold.”
In Rhode Island, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley develops and manages affordable homes. But the organization’s ribbon cutting this month was for something that builds community: An outdoor stage that
will be used for summer concerts where neighbors can meet neighbors. The stage will be part of this year’s Levitt AMP Woonsocket Music Series, a summer music series that began in June 2018. The series brings families together for 10 weeks of free, live music in River Island Art Park, transforming the park into a cultural hub and enriching community life.
Emily Rosenbaum, NeighborWorks America’s relationship manager for the organization, spoke at the event, which also saw attendance from local officials, including city council members and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
“NeighborWorks America believes that every person deserves a safe and affordable place to live in a healthy, thriving community – a place where they can live, work, learn and play, including sing and dance,” she said. “That is the opportunity that NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley has created and we are very proud to help support them.”
Isaac Igbonagwam, NeighborWorks America’s senior relationship manager for nine of Florida’s 12 affiliated network organizations, attended events that included four ribbon cuttings, a homeownership workshop, community resource fair and a property inheritance panel discussion during his first NeighborWorks Week with the organization.
“The NeighborWorks network organizations are building more than buildings; they’re building homes, thriving communities and amplifying community engagement,” he said. “And that for me is what true impact is.”
In Texas, NeighborWorks Laredo broke ground on the first five homes of a 24 home residential development project that is moving forward with financing from several government sources. The development is part of an unflagging commitment to build the kind of homes that ordinary working Americans – educators, retail workers, first responders and small business owners -- can afford. The path to developing homes within financial reach is only possible with creativity and partnerships.
“Three Points Village is an important part of our work bringing affordable housing to our community,” said Elizabeth Alonzo-Villarreal, CEO and spokesperson for NeighborWorks Laredo. “The predevelopment work necessary to begin construction of the homes was financed with $240,000 from the federal government Community Development Block Grant program administered by the city of Laredo, and $500,000 from Webb County, where Laredo is located. Because of this subsidized investment from both City of Laredo and Webb County, these homes are affordable.
“We’re developing 2.5 acres and this funding was essential to getting the land ready for the homes to be constructed,” she added.
The Three Points Village development name comes from its location close to where three major highway intersections join and the neighborhood has traditionally been known as Three Points. Manuel de Jesus Osorio, board treasurer and former board president, made a recommendation to name the project Three Points Village. He grew up in the neighborhood and still lives there.
The development has already exceeded expectations, with purchase contracts already in place for the first five homes. Some of the homes NeighborWorks Laredo are building come with additional subsidy enabling the areas relatively low-income population afford new, quality construction.
“The sales price for two of the five homes, which are three bedroom/two bath homes, is $180,000, but with the additional support from the City of Laredo CHDO funding of $50,000 each, homebuyers can purchase the homes for $130,000.”
To qualify for homes in Three Point Village, buyers have to fall within 80% area median income; for example, a family of four can’t exceed $63,500. Buyers must also complete the homebuyer guidance and education program managed by NeighborWorks Laredo to apply for the assistance.
The average cost of a similar new home built for sale in the area is between $250,000-$300,000. “It’ s extremely difficult for families to find homeownership they can afford,” added Alonzo-Villarreal.
But network organizations are working to provide homes that people can afford, and they are continuing to find innovative ways to make it happen.
