“You see a need, and you fill a need.” That’s the philosophy of Wendie Preiss, executive director of Flat River Outreach Ministries. And one of the most pressing needs she currently sees in the community is that of affordable housing.
FROM has already been working to address the need for low-cost shelter through Main Street Housing. That project completely renovated 504 E. Main Street into single bedroom and studio units. However, those small units can’t accommodate families with children. and so the non-profit is launching a new initiative to create an additional 17 units in three new buildings.
The Building Foundations, Building Hope campaign seeks to make this goal a reality. The total project cost is $3.31 million, but a $1.11 million estate gift means FROM is already a third of the way there.
Three Buildings and 17 Units
FROM has partnered with ICCF Community Homes and designed two multi-family buildings and one duplex that will house the following units:
- 7 one-bedroom units
- 8 two-bedroom units
- 2 three-bedroom units
The two multi-family buildings will face Main Street on what is now a vacant lot across from Frosty Boy of Lowell. One will contain eight units, and the other will have seven units plus a laundry facility. A duplex is also planned and that will be located on the south side of the block near Kent Street. A parking lot will be added in the center of the block.
Last month, the Planning Commission approved plans for the three buildings, which will need to be built on elevated land since the property is in the floodplain.
Specific monthly rentals rates have not been announced yet, but a document from FROM states, “Rent will be affordable while still allowing the buildings to be financially sustainable long-term.”
Open Houses Highlight Project
FROM held open house events in August and September to provide information about the housing plans and answer questions. Since the buildings do not exist yet, at the September event, there were artificial flowers placed to mark the four corners of the buildings, and a sample room had been laid out on the lawn so people could see the dimensions of a typical unit.
“They say it takes a village, and I look around and you are my village,” said Annie Link, a former FROM board member, in addressing those who gathered for the September event. She noted the rapidly rising price of homes in Lowell and said that while little could be done about that, “This is something we can do.”
Preiss said in her comments that 43% of renter households in Lowell are cost-burdened. What’s more, nearly one in four of those polled for the FROM Program Impact Survey said they spend more than 50% of their income on housing.
Affordable housing has a generational impact, according to Preiss. She said children who live in stable housing are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to have stable housing themselves as adults.
Stable housing has also been linked to a number of other positive outcomes for children. These include better physical and mental health as well as improved academic performance, studies say.
Including the estate gift, FROM has so far raised $1.9 million of the $3.31 million needed. Donations to the project can be made online or via the mail. Naming opportunities are available for those who would like to make a large gift.
To learn more about the affordable housing project, residents are invited to an Oct. 9 open house at the building site. You can call 616-897-8260 or email [email protected] for more details and to RSVP.
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