New Faith-Based Development Initiative Comes to Pierce County

A new program that empowers faith-based organizations to craft a vision to develop underutilized real estate assets into affordable homes and community facilities is coming to Pierce County.

The high cost and scarcity of land in many cities is a barrier to the production of affordable homes, leaving many families overburdened by increasing rents and facing housing insecurity. Currently, many faith-based organizations are struggling with underutilized and aging facilities, declining memberships, changing neighborhood demographics and changing priorities. Affordable housing development can help faith-based organizations to grow their mission, capacity and financial health while serving their congregations and communities in new, expanded ways.

While land owned by faith-based organizations is a powerful community development tool, faith leaders typically do not have experience in developing affordable housing. Those organizations with a desire to transform their unused or underutilized property need partners with expertise in affordable housing to make that process less complex and the results more powerful. Through this program led by Enterprise Community Partners in Seattle, local faith-based organizations can access the resources and tools to navigate the development process, including:

–          Grants and capital

–          Training

–          Technical assistance and tools

–          Peer-to-Peer Learning

–          Access to Vetted Partners

Faith-based organizations will have the opportunity to join with aligned organizations to begin or continue their affordable housing development. Training sessions will be conducted monthly, with supplemental discussion meetings for the entire cohort to digest the information and ask questions. Additionally, monthly one-on-one meetings with each faith organization will allow for tailored support and technical assistance.

Learn more or apply to participate at this link.