Carbondale Homeownership Project
Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council (WEEOC)
Project Name: Carbondale Homeownership Project
Location: Carbondale, Illinois
Total Cost: $1.3 million
Number of Units: 5 single family homes
Estimated Completion Date: 2008
Number of Jobs Created: 15
Download the Carbondale brochure.
About the Community
Rental housing is less burdensome than homeownership for seniors, however many seniors residing in small rural communities do not have this option. Developing smaller and structurally conducive housing for older persons’ lifestyles in rural communities is needed. The Carbondale Home Ownership Project targets very low-income seniors, many of whom are women, living solely on social security and small pensions. The project includes the development of one-story, spacious homes with ample off-street parking.
WEEOC collaborated with the Southern Illinois Center for Independent Living to ensure three (3) of the homes were accessible to physically disabled individuals earning less than fifty (50) percent of the area median income. For most people with disabilities, finding a suitable place to live in the community is difficult, if not impossible. Lack of accessible, affordable housing is a major obstacle to independent living, one that persists for disabled people of all ages.
Low-income individuals with disabilities were identified by the Governor’s Executive Order 2003-18 as an underserved population in need of specialized affordable housing. The census altered its definition of disability to mirror the Executive Order and as a consequence, it was reported in 2000 that a staggering 3,538,783 Illinois residents are living with disabilities.
About the Project
The Carbondale Home Ownership Project is being co-developed by WEEOC and Attucks Community Services, Inc. The project involves the development of (5) five 1,240 square foot, single family homeownership units. The proposed site is approximately 1.3 acres on the north side of the City of Carbondale. The total development costs are approximately 1.3 million.
Financing senior and/or physically disabled housing, in small rural communities is a major challenge because of the multi-layered financing requirements. The project financing includes a grant from the City of Carbondale, HOME funds, and Affordable Housing Program Funds. It is the co-developers intent to obtain sufficient subsidies enabling each of the units to sell for approximately $85,000.
The project has broad community support, including: Southern Illinois University, Jackson County Housing Authority, Lutheran Social Services, various community leaders and property owners. The community supporters have assembled into an ad hoc committee that meets on a regular basis to oversee the development of the project. The City of Carbondale has extended its support for the project because it has recognized the need to increase homeownership within the community. Currently, renters (mainly Southern Illinois University students) occupy over seventy (70) percent of the available housing stock in Carbondale.
Status
Phase 1 currently has five completed homes; three of the five homes are sold and two are vacant. Recent marketing efforts including televised commercials, distribution of brochures, and newspaper ads have generated additional interest in the property. In addition, WEEOC continues to call past applicants who were not credit eligible when they applied to see if they have improved credit and could possibly now qualify.
However, despite marketing efforts, the Western Egyptian Board of Directors has decided to sell the land that was intended for Phase II. Furthermore, due to the pace of the home sales of the first phase, consideration is now being made to make the two unsold homes of Phase I lease to purchase units. Jackson County Housing Authority is looking into the possibility of a homeownership program in which vouchers could be used leading up to the purchase of the home.
This project is considered a success as five of the homes have been completed and three have sold to eligible families. ICADC will continue to offer technical assistance to WEEOC through the completion of the entire project. Although, rural challenges and obstacles often slowed this project, the continued collaboration of service providers working with the WEEOC staff brought this property to fruition.