Affordable Housing…
Shelter is a primary human need. It is one of the basic needs listed in Maslow’s hierarchy. It is one of the needs that has always been there and will continue to be there for all humanity. Yet, for many, housing is not secure. Housing can be one sick day, one argument, or one complaint from falling through. When we feel insecure in any of our primary needs being met, tensions will rise. When these tensions rise together in neighborhoods, it does nothing but create problems. From the beginning of Love City, Shawn and Inga were able to see this issue and the need for affordable housing. Over the years Love City has been able to acquire properties that have allowed us to rent to people who just need a little help as well as people who want to live in the community and help us.
Affordable housing is supposed to help people, and in order to help people, the housing has to be actually affordable. With rent rising so much in the past few years, it seems like affordable housing has almost totally disappeared without families finding the help of outside assistance through local or federal programs. However, we have seen the benefits of making sure our rent is affordable. By working with families and setting rent based on their income, we have set rent as low as what others charge to rent a boarding room. This allows our families who rent to actually catch their breath and get some financial stability back. Shortly after Love City acquired a new home across the street, Shawn struck up a conversation with a family of Congolese refugees. This large family ended up moving into that house and staying there for years. Their family became part of our community, working at Porkland, playing a weekly soccer game with us, coming to after school clubs. We got to see the kids grow up, the oldest get into college, and then we got to celebrate with them when they had saved up enough to secure financing on a new home. As much as affordable housing can help with financial stability over a long period of time, it can also provide a temporary place for people who are just sojourning through.
Love City has been a place of healing and growth for many people over the years. Especially in the earlier years, people would get involved with Love City as they healed from addictions, “church hurt”, and old forgotten wounds. These people would typically only stay for 6 months to a year, but many didn’t have a ton of resources or support. Our properties were able to provide them a place while they went through whatever journey God wanted them to at Love City. These sojourners would always volunteer and come to community events in the evening. It was a way for them to come into a community for a period of time not for long term financial stability, but for spiritual and mental healing. No matter who we are renting to or for how long they plan to stay, one thing we always make sure of is that they will help support us and encourage us as well.
While we are proud that offering affordable housing can help individuals and families on various levels, we also know that it plays an important part in community building. While revitalization projects are great, it is pointless if affordable housing is not kept; otherwise, this neighborhood is just going to get priced out of our own homes and have to move somewhere else. If people constantly feel insecure about whether they are going to make rent each month or have to move, it is hard for them to put down roots, and to care about a community. Without buy-in from neighbors who have roots and have a stake in this community, change and transformation will not happen. With affordable housing, community building is possible.
Ethan
Glassworks Field Trip
This week our Willows (K-2) got the chance to go on a field trip to the Glassworks factory. They got to see different glass art pieces and learn about the process of glass blowing.
Open Enrollment!!!
Mighty Oak has opened our enrollment for the year. If you or someone you know has a student in grades K-9 you can apply from now until May 10th. Remember, applicants must live in the West End. All grade levels of students will be evaluated but there will not be space for every student that applies. APPLY NOW!!!
Fish Fry!
Come stop in to get your Pork or Fish Fix. We will be closed next Friday for Derby.
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.