Community Leaders, Faith Communities Explore Local Housing Challenges, Role in Expanding Opportunities During Affordable Housing Workshop

​Like many communities across the nation, Lexington is facing housing challenges as its population continues to grow. Innovative solutions are needed to maintain a balance between growth in expansion areas and adding more density to existing areas.
 
Woodland Christian Church recently provided an inspiring local example of how a congregation can expand its ministry and address our community housing needs. Through a thoughtful partnership with Winterwood Inc., the church transformed a portion of its property (classroom building) at the corner of East High Street and Kentucky Avenue into affordable housing while continuing to serve as a vibrant place of worship and community.

On August 19, Commerce Lexington partnered with Mayor Linda Gorton and other community organizations for a special engagement event entitled Faith in Action: Affordable Housing Workshop to highlight our community's housing needs and the unique role faith communities can play in making a lasting impact.  Held at Woodland Christian Church, the workshop provided practical information, real-world examples and an opportunity to connect with others engaged in this important work.
 
Featured speakers were Mayor Gorton, Reverend Christy Jo Harber (Woodland Christian Church), Ed Holmes (EHI Consultants), and Pastor Ron Edmondson (Immanuel Baptist Church). Some of the topics included: Understanding Lexington’s affordable housing challenges; How and why faith communities are engaging in housing solutions; Lessons learned from existing projects; Leveraging properties for community good; and Local and state policies supporting faith-based housing.
 
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said, “Construction of affordable housing almost always involves a partnership. Today’s meeting explored the possibility of establishing new partnerships between developers and the faith community to build affordable housing, an important idea that we hope will lead to more affordable housing construction in our community.”

Since 2014, the government’s Affordable Housing Fund has allocated over $60 million to leverage a $490 million investment by the private sector for the development and preservation of 3,925 housing units. “We hope to top 4,100 by the end of the year,” Gorton said.
 
Commerce Lexington Board Chair and Stoll Keenon Ogden attorney, Nick Nicholson, said, “Housing is one of the most significant challenges facing our community. Access to affordable housing helps improve the economic situation for families across our community and strengthens our future workforce by enabling those who work here to also live here. We must work together to find innovative solutions to our housing needs. This event is a great step forward.”
 
Reverend Christy Jo Harber of Woodland Christian Church said, “Providing a safe and affordable place to call home is one of the most meaningful ways we can serve our neighbors. Faith communities have a unique role to play because our mission calls us to care for people and strengthen our communities. At Woodland, we have seen how churches can use their property and partnerships to expand that mission in a tangible way. My hope is that this workshop inspires other congregations to look at their own properties with fresh eyes and ask, ‘How can we use what we have to help meet this need?’”
 
Find out more about this important topic and learn how you and your congregation can be part of the solution ON-LINE HERE.