Tag: affordable housing
The Plight of Renters in Valparaiso
According to the most recent census, renters have much lower household incomes ($35,4234) than the general population ($56,027) and particularly the homeowner cohort ($84,639). With less income, housing options become fewer and affordability becomes an increasing problem.
The Right Tools for the Job
Over the years Project Neighbors has accumulate a lot of tools. However, we were about to begin a large roofing job, almost 40 square -4000 square feet – of shingling. We could do it the old-fashioned way, with hammer and nails, but an air powered roofing gun would certainly speed things up and be easier on the fingers.
A Victory
Contemporary American cities and towns have laws governing development: what you can build and how you can build it. In Valpo that set of laws is called the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO is a long, complex document informing the builder on a diverse array of specifications: how far the building must be from the front sidewalk, how many bushes must be planted, how many off-street parking spaces must be provided, how many people can live on a certain sized and certain zoned property, the design of the trash dumpster enclosure, and on and on.
How to Create Affordable Housing
All housing, regardless of cost, is affordable to someone. The CEO making $1.5 million a year has many choices. We’ll not worry about the CEO. Likewise, the two-income, families with a combined $100,000 to $150,000 income per year will find something they can afford. But let’s focus on those families earning the median household income in Indiana. Most recent data says that figure is about $56,500. And that means half the families in Indiana earned that amount or less.
“Hey Paul, my door is making noise.”
Some organizations, whether businesses or not-for-profits, would have written up a work order, sent it over to the hired handyman, and hoped for the best. Certainly the Executive Director would not be required to respond.
But Project Neighbors is not that kind of organization. First off, we don’t have a handyman on payroll, but more importantly, the central theme of our mission and activity is being in relationship with our…I want to say tenants, but that I not accurate. They are our neighbors, our partners in community.
Beating a Seemingly Dead Horse
The seemingly dead horse is housing size. In contemporary America, there is broad consensus that a house should be a certain size…say 2000 – 2500 square feet. In fact, according to the U.S. Census, in 2020 the median size of a newly built house was 2,333 square feet and the median selling price was $336,900 (the average price was $391,900).
So, is this reality “settled law?” Is the idea of smaller housing a “dead horse?”
The Plight of Affordability
Five years ago, Project Neighbors could purchase a small, old house in poor condition for $80,000, or an empty buildable lot for $30,000. Today that same house will cost $150,000 or more and that same lot could cost $100,000.
Dare to Furnish the Light
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-54px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ text_text_color=”#4c4c4c” text_font_size=”17px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”28px|||||” custom_padding=”||15px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Fifty-three years ago this month, Valparaiso University was holding its popular WEEK OF CHALLENGE. The inspiring speaker on that particular morning was a well known Black clergyman/activist from the West coast. I…
I’m About to Run Out of Firewood
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-54px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://projectneighbors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Firewood.png” title_text=”Firewood” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.7″ text_text_color=”#4c4c4c” text_font_size=”17px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”28px|||||” custom_padding=”||15px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] I am about to run out of firewood, and it is only mid-January. Not good. So, you might be asking, what does that have to do…
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About Project Neighbors
Project Neighbors is a project of Neighbors Corp., an Indiana not-for-profit corporation, which is recognized as a tax exempt public charity pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to public charities are tax deductible to the extent provided for in law.