Stories

Central Appalachia had an estimated 100,000 units of substandard or overcrowded housing. Fahe's network of nonprofits was challenged to increase its production of affordable housing, enabled by increased collaboration and more efficient systems. 

After the 1980s farm crisis agricultural communities in Minnesota sought investment of state and local resources to diversify their economy. Now job growth has outstripped the local workforce and available housing. Communities struggle to provide services and homes for new residents from elsewhere in the state and around the world.

For more than three decades, NeighborWorks Boise has painted thousands of houses owned by low-income, senior or disabled residents. But when new EPA lead regulations prohibited the organization from painting pre-1978 homes, it need a new approach to safely revitalize homes.

For more than 20 years, NeighborWorks Pocatello successfully revitalized communities, but without support from local residents it could never fulfill its goals. It sought a way to demonstrate its commitment to the community and raise awareness about the organization as it marked a significant milestone.

Many small-scale fishers suffered severe financial losses after BP’s 2010 oil spill. As top contributors to Louisiana’s economy and culture, they needed all the financial support they could get. Southern Mutual Help Association responded with an honor loan program.

Community development practitioners often wrestle with complexity and look for solutions rooted in their practice habits and noble intentions. Sometimes this can lead to programmatic silos which actually impede their work. How can organizations break through these silos to make a lasting impact in their communities?

Rural communities face a variety of obstacles exacerbated by environmental crises like drought, flood, wildfires and hurricanes. Here is a story about what one organization is doing to help residents overcome disruptions in their lives and prevent future crises.

To rehabilitate a dilapidated former camper park in the California beach town of Carpinteria, which became housing of last resort for low-income households living under conditions of extreme poverty.

The merger of two housing agencies into Arbor Housing and Development in 2011 created several challenges including finding a new location for the agency, tailoring that location to their specific needs, transitioning the staff and securing funding to pay for the building and its rehabilitation.

Creating sustainable change in a neighborhood requires an understanding of residents' needs beginning with housing and running the gamut of services that may be taken for granted by those outside the realm of poverty. Addressing these needs can make change a reality for individual residents and an entire community.