The Building a Better Community discussion hosted by the Lowell United Methodist Church continued with housing and schools. What challenges face the community now and in coming years? Are there solutions for the issues? Part one of the event was published yesterday.
Housing
There are a variety of topics within the subject of housing which were touched upon. The Lowell Area Schools (LAS) definition for homeless students comes from the federal definition of the Department of Education, in which students lack a fixed, adequate home. However, Kent County does not consider a person or family homeless if temporary housing, if even for a night, is available.
Students who are homeless number around 45 this year in the district. There have been up to as many as 70 in past years. The goal of the school district is to provide a stable, safe environment while kids are in school. Families are referred to FROM for help with clothing, food, and other essentials.
The impact of new housing developments in the community was also discussed. Todd Pearson mentioned new developments are charging in the high $200,000 range for the homes being built. It is still unclear what demographic will be attracted to these homes. Will established families with kids in middle school or higher move in? Will empty nesters seek out these developments looking for a residence with no updating needed? What is clear is the cost of the homes in these new developments are not considered “starter homes”. They are not considered affordable for the average family.
The lack of affordable housing for those living on a lower-income is an issue not only in the Lowell community but much of West Michigan. Spending 40% of income on housing and utility costs is considered affordable. There are no programs or locations offering low-cost housing. Organizations which have an interest in building homes to be used for affordable housing find it difficult to offer their services, especially within city limits. They typically look for land which already has water and sewer established. There is also a lack of land available outside the 100 year floodplain. Landlords also have long waiting lists on rental properties in the community.
Temporary housing is also an issue. Those who fall on hard times due to medical bills or job loss are often faced with losing their home. It is much harder to become established again once a primary residence is lost. When already facing financial difficulties, it’s that much harder to find a down payment on a less expensive home or advanced payment when looking to rent a home or an apartment.
FROM has been involved in an effort to help with affordable and temporary housing. They purchased two multi-occupancy homes just over a year ago. Since taking ownership, they have been working on making units in one building safe and livable. It is their hope over time to be able to offer temporary and/or affordable living, but the need will likely outnumber what they can offer. And they are some time away from being able to offer such support within the community.
What can be done in the community? Todd Pearson suggests the three local governments (City of Lowell, Lowell Township, and Vergennes Township) work together. While these entities govern themselves, what one does can have impact on another. Perhaps working together an affordable housing development could be established. Residents in the community need to speak out as well in support of creating affordable housing. There is no perfect answer, nor one which will fix the issue quickly. But by continuing to have conversations and move toward solutions can only benefit the community and those in need of an affordable home.
School
A strong school district is often a big draw for a community. Lowell Area Schools is a district which is respected in the education community. Families in surrounding communities seek Lowell schools as school of choice because of a good reputation. LAS has taken proactive steps in helping students achieve and exceed expectations, especially when it comes to reading at the lower elementary level.
However, economic hardships faced by those living in the school district can be seen in each building. Approximately 25% of the students in the district receive free or reduced lunch. Bushnell and Cherry Creek see the highest number of students needing assistance at 40%.
A slow, steady rise in enrollment has been seen in the district over the last 10-15 years. So far current schools have been able to handle the increase. But because numbers do continue to rise, at some point the district will have to discuss the need for additional school buildings or adding space to current locations. In upcoming years, some debt will be fulfilled and it’s anticipated some of the freed up funds will be used to renovate current facilities. There is still a strong possibility the district will look to voters to pass a millage in about five years to be used on infrastructure.
According to Nate Fowler, the district continues to review what skills students will need when they enter college or the workforce. Skills taught and used decades ago may not be relevant. And new skills have been developed as technology has grown. Fowler also stressed the importance of students learning reading skills at an early stage, continuing on with writing and communication in later grade levels, saying these are skills needed for any occupation and level of education.
The school board and administration plan on analyzing shifts in how students are taught and what they are taught throughout their education in the district. They want to continue to ask questions and have a plan to be able to produce the best possible students in the community.
What Now?
Education was the key word from each member of the panel when asked what could be done within the community. There are already resources available for those in need, but not everyone has knowledge of the organizations which offer services and what help can be received. Education on what issues face the community is also important. If more people realize affordable housing is an issue, more ideas and solutions could be suggested.
The thought is, a community working together will be stronger. Stronger and better for all of those living, learning, and working in the Lowell area. A solid foundation of organizations offering help, a school district providing quality education, and an area continuing to add new businesses and residents has been established. Working together, residents, businesses, organizations, and schools will be able to give everyone an opportunity to succeed in the community.
Mulligan anticipates having discussions about the Lowell community 3 or 4 times a year. She looks at the first event as a success after seeing from Lowell Methodist Church in addition to others from the community in attendance. The “Building a Better Community” events will continue to look at ways for members of the community to come together to make it an even better place to live and attractive for those looking to move to the area.
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