Infill housing projects leverage factory-built homes to bring affordable homeownership to communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grant Beck, Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: (202) 851-7550
Email: g.beck@nextstepus.org
LOUISVILLE, KY – August 5, 2020 – Next Step has entered into housing development partnerships with the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), a California-based nonprofit housing agency, and West Indianapolis Development Corporation (WIDC), a nonprofit CDC serving neighborhoods in West Indianapolis.
“We have a critically low supply of housing in this country, and affordable housing in particular,” said Stacey Epperson, president and founder of Next Step Network. “These processes used in constructing factory-built homes allow for faster home placements in neighborhoods at reduced development costs, ultimately meaning more affordable prices for future homeowners.”
CHIP serves low-income and disadvantaged residents in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties. The organization has built more than 2,700 housing units in their service area and is an innovator and leader in rural housing issues.
“The destruction of over 19,000 housing units in the Camp Fire greatly exacerbated our region’s affordable housing crisis,” said Seana O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of CHIP. “After nearly two years, we are still seeking solutions to house displaced residents. We believe that by partnering with Next Step we can quickly bring back quality housing and provide a model for other communities rebuilding in the wake of disasters.”
Formed in 1992, WIDC seeks to serve West Indianapolis communities through programs that improve housing, business, and the environment. WIDC has dedicated affordable rental, home repair and homeownership programs.
“West Indianapolis Development Corporation is well aware of the shortage of affordable housing in our city and in our country,” said Lisa Laflin, executive director of West Indy Development Corp. “Working with Next Step we hope to start to chipping away at that deficit a little at a time. While building two new homes in 2020 might not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, for the new homeowners that we will be bringing to our community this is everything.”
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About Next Step® Network, Inc.
Next Step® Network, Inc. is a national, nonprofit housing intermediary that works to promote expanded use of factory-built housing as a viable solution to address housing affordability. Our organization mobilizes a national network of mission-driven nonprofits, leaders in the manufactured housing industry and lending institutions serving home buyers and homeowners in their communities. Next Step’s system – Manufactured Housing Done Right® – connects responsible financing, comprehensive homebuyer education and delivery of high-quality, ENERGY STAR® manufactured homes at scale, creating a model that brings more value to the homeowners and communities. Learn more at www.nextstepus.org.
About West Indianapolis Development Corporation
Neighborhood residents formed the West Indianapolis Development Corporation (WIDC) in 1992. Guided by a belief that, after 130 years, West Indianapolis remains viable, WIDC seeks to serve the community through programs that improve housing, business, and the environment. WIDC is one of 1,600 Community Development Corporations (CDCs) nationwide. CDCs are not-for-profit companies established to operate in the interests of neighborhoods. While their missions vary widely, all CDCs share in the belief that a neighborhood’s future is best determined by community involvement and neighborhood action.
About Community Housing Improvement Program
Since 1973, CHIP has developed more than 2,700 affordable housing units in its seven-county service area, which includes Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Colusa, Shasta, Yuba and Sutter Counties. CHIP also partners with other agencies to provide on-site resident social and educational services to those who live in CHIP’s rental housing. CHIP is a network member of NeighborWorks America. www.chiphousing.org.