United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s Post

Good housing is essential for personal stability and community well-being. Our latest article explores the social impact of quality housing on families, highlighting the importance of stable homes for financial stability, health, and education. Our latest article highlights two innovative UK projects, Goldsmith Street in Norwich, and Hackney New Primary School & 333 Kingsland Road, which set new standards for affordable housing and community integration. These projects highlight the significant social return on investment (SROI) and their potential to uplift communities. Read the full article below to learn how these housing initiatives are transforming the lives of families and how we can create a more equitable society through quality housing. The Positive Social Impact of Quality Housing for Families: https://bit.ly/4f869Fi #QualityHousing #SocialImpact #CommunityDevelopment #AffordableHousing #HousingInnovation #UKHousing #HealthAndEducation #FinancialStability #BetterLiving

Congratulations to Tisbury MA and the Barrett Planning Group LLC for putting front and center the capacity and ability of the current structure and make-up of the Town Government in its new Town Plan! When working on the 2024 Jericho (VT) Town Plan, Sterling Mountain Community Planning & Design, LLC and Resilience Planning & Design LLC were asked if it was common for a Town Plan to speak to the need to change the community's governmental structure in a Town Plan. Our response was "typically no" but given the rapid and complex changes so many small town governments that needs to change. Many small and rural governments across New England are facing vast and complex challenges - the need for more housing and jobs and the infrastructure to support them at the top of the list. However their capacity and expertise to tackle them effectively is limited by volunteer government supported by only a few (but incredibly hard-working) paid staff. Local community governance and staffing is going to need to evolve and mature in order to actually get things done! https://lnkd.in/eTQqaYFG

🏡 Housing Solutions Showcase Innovative Housing Solutions in Humbermede. ✅ A Milestone in Affordable Housing: Weston Road Project. Looking back at a significant achievement in affordable housing, let's revisit the Weston Road project. Completed in 2016, this development provided 336 new rental units for seniors, recent immigrants, and people with low income. ☑ Historical Impact: This project was a crucial step in addressing Toronto's housing affordability crisis at the time. ☑ Diverse Housing Options: The development offered a mix of bachelor, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments to meet various needs. ☑ Community Benefit 👨👩👦👦 : The project provided much-needed housing stability for vulnerable populations. 📣 🚀 Let's continue to advocate for affordable housing initiatives and celebrate the positive impact of projects like these. This campaign is part of the pilot Policy Fellowship program Newcomer Women's Services Toronto.  #CommunityVoices #HousingAffordability #CommunityDevelopment #PublicPolicies Source: https://lnkd.in/gcn2HA4s

❗ Now available: Preservation Toolkits for all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas! 🏠 PAHRC and the National Low Income Housing Coalition collaborated with mySidewalk to create an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit. This resource helps local affordable housing advocates understand their housing stock and assess community preservation risks. It also equips them with ideas to shore up their local housing preservation efforts. Whether you're an organization, developer, or housing professional, this adaptable toolkit is designed to enhance your research and knowledge about affordable housing preservation at all geographic levels. Providing locally specific data from the National Housing Preservation Database, the Preservation Toolkit helps examine opportunities for community partners to consider when creating an affordable housing preservation plan. 📈 These include: ✔️ Assessing local affordable housing stock ✔️ Recruiting partners to support affordable housing ✔️ Encouraging property owners with expiring rent restrictions to retain affordability commitmentsInvesting in preserving high-quality affordable housing ✔️ Adopting policies that promote long-term affordability 🔍 Ready to turn your preservation hopes into a plan for action? Request an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit: https://lnkd.in/e-fgukzm #AffordableHousing #HousingPreservation #CommunityDevelopment #HousingAdvocacy #HousingEquity #SustainableCommunities #NLIHC #PAHRC #HAIGroup

In our communities, the conversation around affordable housing has never been more critical. At Tapestry Development Group, we're actively engaged in the fight for accessible housing solutions and advocating for policies that address the pressing need for affordable homes. From zoning regulations to funding allocations, every decision made by local policymakers directly impacts the availability and accessibility of housing for individuals and families. That's why we're committed to collaborating with community leaders and policymakers to ensure that affordable housing remains a top priority. Together, we're working to break down barriers and create pathways to affordable homeownership and rental options. Our efforts extend beyond just constructing buildings; they're about fostering inclusive, vibrant neighborhoods where everyone has a place to call home. Join us in this important conversation as we continue to advocate for policies that promote equitable access to housing for all members of our community. Together, we can enact real change and make affordable housing a reality for everyone. Comment below your thoughts on how we can continue to serve our communities. #TapestryDevelopmentGroup #AffordableHousingGA #CommunityDevelopmentGA #HelpingBuildCommunities #GeorgiaHousingInitiative #HousingEqualityGA

"... a person's zip code can significantly shape the trajectory, quality and length of their lives," ... as "neighbourhoods determine people's access to education, jobs, clean air, ..."   This very interesting Report outlines lessons and recommendations for community-centred economic inclusion strategies. Here below my takeaways:   - Identify neighbourhood needs based on technical and quantitative analysis;   - Secure civic engagement and political buy-in from community, city and regional stakeholders;   - Ensure that priorities are achievable, fundable and sustainable (do not try to achieve everything);   - Establish and maintain strong governance structures that ensure collaboration between stakeholders during the implementation period.   - Identify and acknowledge the root causes of current neighbourhood conditions;   - Ensure the basic functioning of the city as this is a necessary condition for building community trust;   - Institutionalise the practice of co-designing place-based policies with communities;   - Increase capacity building support for community-based organisations to manage and steer, not just implement;   - Build in the time flexibility needed to recognise the different starting points of different regions and the time needed to build trust;   - Base fund evaluations not just on metrics and data, but also on holistic outcomes at the neighbourhood level. #urbanregeneration #urbandevelopment #urbanplanning #communities #sustainablity #neighbourhood #city #stakeholderengagement The Brookings Institution Hanna Love Bethany Krupicka

BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY Innovative Approaches for Faith-based affordable housing community : Shepard's, that offers housing, job training to the congregation "family", sharing while providing solutions to their needs. Faith-based organizations have developed innovative approaches to overcome these challenges and effectively contribute to the affordable housing sector. One such approach is the formation of housing cooperatives. These cooperatives allow community members to purchase shares in a housing project, giving them a stake in its success and ensuring long-term affordability. Another innovative strategy involves the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Many faith-based organizations are converting unused or underutilized buildings, such as old schools, convents, or even portions of their own worship centers, into affordable housing units. This not only preserves community assets but also minimizes costs associated with new construction. Partnering with for-profit developers is another strategy gaining traction. These partnerships leverage the strengths of both entities, combining the community trust and mission-driven focus of faith-based organizations with the financial resources and expertise of private developers. Such collaborations can lead to the creation of mixed-income housing, blending market-rate and affordable units within the same development. #housing #community #FBDI #innovativefunding #homeless #singleparents #elderly #care #mission #sustainable #land #development #LISC #CBCO #interfaith #catholiccharities #veterans #affordablehousing #workforcehousing #faithbasedhousing #innovativesolutions #realestate #development #communitytrust #financialresources #taxoffsets #skilledjobtraining #501C3 #stewardship #shepherd #CORE #social #healthcare #familypractice #contribution #society #congegation #foundations

Community leaders, housing advocates, developers, government officials, and concerned citizens all have a role to play in shaping the future of housing in the Poconos. Join us for More Front Doors: The Pocono Housing Summit on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions from 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm. More Front Doors is intended to align regional views on what housing solutions should look like and to empower the partners and processes the region needs to manifest those solutions. The summit will include... Keynote Speaker – Ira Goldstein: Senior Advisor of Policy Solutions at Reinvestment Fund, a results-oriented, socially responsible community investment group. Dr. Goldstein will share insights to inspire innovative approaches to solving housing challenges by recognizing the interconnectedness of housing with education, health, economy, workforce, and criminal justice systems. Governor Shapiro’s Housing Plan Directive – Rick Siger: Secretary of Dept of Economic and Community Development will share information about Governor Shapiro’s housing plan and how local input is critical to developing the state-wide plan. Panel Discussions: Engaging panels with local and regional experts that delve into critical topics such as sustainable housing development, policy reform, affordability strategies, and the impact of housing on community well-being. Interactive Workshops: Hands-on sessions dig more deeply into the topics that surfaced in the panel discussions. They provide attendees the opportunity to collaborate on real-world solutions, learn best practices, and develop actionable plans to address local housing issues. Networking Opportunities: Dedicated time and space for attendees to connect, share ideas, and build partnerships that can lead to meaningful change. View the full agenda and register now on MoreFrontDoors.com to help us tackle critical housing challenges in the region! #PoconoMtns #PoconoMountains

❗ Now available: Preservation Toolkits for all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas! 🏠 PAHRC and the National Low Income Housing Coalition collaborated with mySidewalk to create an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit. This resource helps local affordable housing advocates understand their housing stock and assess community preservation risks. It also equips them with ideas to shore up their local housing preservation efforts. Whether you're an organization, developer, or housing professional, this adaptable toolkit is designed to enhance your research and knowledge about affordable housing preservation at all geographic levels. Providing locally specific data from the National Housing Preservation Database, the Preservation Toolkit helps examine opportunities for community partners to consider when creating an affordable housing preservation plan. 📈 These include: ✔️ Assessing local affordable housing stock ✔️ Recruiting partners to support affordable housing ✔️ Encouraging property owners with expiring rent restrictions to retain affordability commitmentsInvesting in preserving high-quality affordable housing ✔️ Adopting policies that promote long-term affordability 🔍 Ready to turn your preservation hopes into a plan for action? Request an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit: https://lnkd.in/e-fgukzm #AffordableHousing #HousingPreservation #CommunityDevelopment #HousingAdvocacy #HousingEquity #SustainableCommunities #NLIHC #PAHRC #HAIGroup

The Rise of Affordable Housing 🏘️ Is affordable housing becoming a pressing concern for developers? With the rising cost of living, affordable housing has become a hot topic in the UK. Reports from Shelter reveal that many families are struggling to find suitable housing within their budget. 🏢 Increased Demand - The demand for affordable housing is on the rise, prompting developers to explore new funding models and partnerships with local authorities. The National Housing Federation emphasizes that collaboration is crucial to addressing this urgent need. 📊 Long-term Solutions - Innovations like community land trusts and co-housing initiatives are gaining popularity as alternative solutions. According to The Guardian, these models can provide more stable, long-term housing options for those in need. Developers who respond to this growing demand can not only contribute positively to their communities but also tap into a vital segment of the housing market. By focusing on enhancing communication, streamlining processes, promoting community engagement, supporting policy advocacy, and providing educational resources, platforms like Spaciable Living can play a significant role in supporting affordable housing initiatives. How is your organization addressing the need for affordable housing? #affordablehousing #housingUK #community