Sunday, August 30, 2009

Results from the HOME Project Meeting

I attended the HOME Project meeting on Thursday, along with about 10 other residents that was held at the Boys & Girls Club Teen Center, just before the Safety Committee. Alan Jennings from CACLV (Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley--umbrella nonprofit to the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership) presented. Though I had to duck out early to make the Safety Committee meeting across the street at the Salvation Army, this is what I learned:

  • The project will identify 5 empty West Ward homes for sale that are in extensive need of rehabilitation.
  • CACLV will purchase and rehabilitate the homes to green and historic standards
  • CACLV will sell them to families with incomes at 80% of median ($38,704) or below
  • The Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust will acquire ownership of the land that the house sits on, which means that the price of the house for the buyer will be more affordable, as it will be for the house only, not the land.  The program is structured this way to make sure that if the house is ever sold, it will only be sold to another similar family in the program, and that the condition of the house will be restored each time, preserving the quality and appearance of the housing stock for the West Ward.
They are specifically looking for renters, who are interested in becoming homeowners. There will be financial counseling provided prior to purchase of the house to help people know how to budget properly to cover payments, bills and maintenance for their new home.

If you, or any neighbors that you know of are interested in applying to buy a home through this program, please call Sophia at the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership at 610.217.6510.

This is a great opportunity for good renters in the West Ward to become first time home buyers, so don't be shy about calling to find out how to apply!

3 comments:

Lighthouse said...

Reminds me of a scene in my favorite movie. I wish them the best.

" But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter. And what's wrong with that? Why...Here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You...you said...What'd you say just a minute ago?...They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait! Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken-down that they...Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you'll ever be!"

Dennis R. Lieb said...

Quote is by George Bailey (as played by James Stewart) from "It's A Wonderful Life" if anyone could possibly be wondering.

Noel, where did you get the dollar figure for 80% of median income? Is that for a single person household? Family of four has to be in the $50k range.

DRL

noel jones said...

"...incomes at 80% of median or below" ~ from Page 9 of the Pennsylvania HOME Program Draft for Public Review. i hope i'm not missing something and giving out wrong information. please correct me here, if so, so that everybody knows. i'm assuming they mean 80% of Easton's median, not West Ward's median, which is about $6K lower than Easton's median of $38,704, according to the same draft.