Collaboration benefits Homeowners
Homeownership has become increasingly expensive for families as housing costs have outpaced household income over the past decade.
For older homeowners on fixed incomes, these rising costs can make it difficult to keep up with necessary home repairs. Putting off minor repairs can lead to devastating consequences later on and put in jeopardy the home security of seniors. As part of the University District Organization’s mission to improve the quality of life for residents in the University District, it sought to make an impact for older and low-income families in the neighborhood.
Homes in the Weinland Park neighborhood of the University District.
The collaboration began with the establishment of the Looman Fund at the University District Organization (UDO). Jan Looman was a former executive director of UDO and a prominent neighborhood activist. The fund was used to promote home ownership grants in the neighborhood. Shifts in the housing market and other home ownership incentive programs in the University District altered how funds were spent, UDO wanted to create a greater impact with the remaining money.
“As the housing market changed in the University District, it became apparent that the money could be used in a different manner that still supported homeownership but provide a greater impact,” said Matthew Hansen, Executive Director of UDO.
Recognizing that many seniors in the neighborhood are struggling with home repairs, Mr. Hansen contacted Susan Colbert, Program Director of the Ohio State University’s extension office in Weinland Park to discuss how the Looman Fund could help.
Susan Colbert, Community Development Program Director at the OSU Extension.
With twenty years of experience at OSU’s Extension offices, Ms. Colbert has established deep roots in the Weinland Park community. With her assistance, ten families in need of home repairs were identified.
“Initiatives like this are very important” said Colbert, “because they address the immediate needs of community members. Elderly and disabled individuals often don’t have the ability to make necessary home repairs on their own. This leaves them more likely to face loss of value in their property and even zoning code violations. Providing assistance for basic repairs can help to improve their living situation and economic well-being.”
With the ten families identified, there needed to be another partner who could make the home repairs. That’s where Modcon Living came into the picture. Modcon is a Central Ohio nonprofit committed to, “providing reliable, affordable home repair and modification services, while serving vulnerable homeowners.” To do this, Modcon offers an array of services, including their Safe at Home Program, which specializes home repairs to elderly and disabled individuals. Modcon provided the perfect solution for helping the ten families. Through their own donor network, the money provided by the Looman Fund could be leveraged with other grants to provide additional repairs for the families.
Modcon volunteers work on a home repair project.
The Executive Director of Modcon, Amy Flynn, stated,
“Seniors and folks with disabilities aren’t always able to make home repairs on their own. We’re glad that UDO and OSU Extension helped coordinate this because it allows us to fill that gap and help these families who would otherwise just see their homes deteriorate.”
Matt Hansen, Executive Director of UDO, noted that, “UDO has a long history of collaborating with other organizations throughout the district. Separately, we’re all in our own silos, which can really limit the capabilities of your organization. In community development work, and the nonprofit world in general, partnerships and collaboration are essential, because they open up resources and possibilities that you never would have had otherwise. That’s why UDO has been making partnerships since day one. It’s the best way to create real change in the community.”
Modcon will be providing these repairs in the coming weeks. “For these ten families” said Colbert, “their home is one less thing they have to worry about.”
To learn more about OSU Extension or Modcon Living, check out the links provided.