Proud Ground

PROVIDE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES USING THE LAND TRUST MODEL, UNDER WHICH PROUD GROUND ADMINISTERS SUBSIDY FUNDS TO BUY DOWN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF HOMES. RESALE PROVISIONS ENSURE HOMES' PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY.

HOMEBUYER, HOMEOWNER & OUTREACH SERVICESCOMMUNITY OUTREACH DELIBERATE RESEARCH AND DIALOGUE RESULTED IN AN OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT HAS INCREASED THE ORGANIZATIONS SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND STRENGTHENED ITS ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR THESE HOUSEHOLDS. THE ORGANIZATION USES A COMBINATION OF GRASS ROOTS ACTIVITIES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES TO REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND HOME BUYING OPPORTUNITIES. ALL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCORPORATE CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE MATERIALS AND METHODS, WITH TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETERS PROVIDED TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS.HOME BUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING A KEY COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS ITS HUD-APPROVED, EDUCATION AND COUNSELING PROVIDED TO PROSPECTIVE AND ACTIVE HOME BUYERS. HUD AND NEIGHBORWORKS CERTIFIED COUNSELORS ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS WORKING TOWARDS MORTGAGE READINESS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COACHING AND REFERRAL TOPICS THAT INCLUDE DEBT REDUCTION; IMPROVING CREDIT SCORES; BUDGETING; AND CREATING A SAVINGS PLAN. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS AND WORKSHOPS.HOMEBUYER CRITERIA ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HOMEBUYERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND:(1) THE ORGANIZATIONS FREE HOMEOWNERSHIP ORIENTATION CLASS;(2) HOMEBUYING 101 CLASS, AN 8-HOUR EDUCATION CLASS PROVIDED BY A SEPARATE, APPROVED ORGANIZATION.THESE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HOMEBUYERS MEET INCOME AND OTHER FUNDER-REQUIRED CRITERIA (E.G., FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER STATUS).POST-PURCHASE, HOMEOWNER SUPPORT TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNER STABILITY AND SUCCESS, THE ORGANIZATIONS HOMEOWNERS HAVE ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF RESOURCES. POST-SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE THE OFFER OF HOME INSPECTIONS BY PROJECT MANAGEMENT STAFF, TOWARD HOME MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS; IDA MATCHING GRANTS FOR APPROVED HOME REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES; HOMEOWNER NEWSLETTERS, SURVEYS, AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; ASSISTANCE WITH HOME LOAN REFINANCING AND OTHER LENDER-RELATION ISSUES.MEMBERSHIP THE ORGANIZATION IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO LIVES OR WORKS IN PROUD GROUNDS SERVICE AREA AND DONATES AT LEAST $25 A YEAR; ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS HOMEOWNERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION ISSUES FOUR NEWSLETTERS PER YEAR AND ONE ANNUAL REPORT TO ALL MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS, DONORS, AND FUNDERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOLDS AN ANNUAL MEETING AT WHICH MEMBERS AND OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE RECEIVE AN ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE AND ELECT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UNLESS THE ELECTION IS CONDUCTED BY MAIL.RESALE OF HOMES THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATES THE RESALE OF HOMES ON LAND HELD IN TRUST TO NEW ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS. FROM 1999 TO 2021, THERE HAVE BEEN NINETY-EIGHT (98) SUCH SALES.

ACQUISITION AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENTNEW CONSTRUCTION THE ORGANIZATION HAS PARTNERED WITH COMMERCIAL AND NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS TO DESIGN, FINANCE, AND CONSTRUCT HOMES TO SELL TO INCOME-QUALIFIED BUYERS. THE ORGANIZATION EITHER OWNS THE LAND OR WILL RECEIVE THE TITLE TO THE LAND WHEN THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE SOLD TO A NEW HOMEOWNER. IN 2010, CONDOMINIUMS FIRST ENTERED THE ORGANIZATIONS PORTFOLIO. WITH CONDOMINIUMS, THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS A DEED COVENANT. FROM 1999 THROUGH THE END OF 2021, PROUD GROUND AND ITS PARTNERS BUILT 40 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND 123 RESIDENCES IN MULTI-FAMILY SETTINGS THAT ARE NOW OCCUPIED BY NEW OWNERS, IN ADDITION TO ROSEMONT COURT SENIOR HOUSING (100 RENTAL APARTMENTS FOR SENIORS WITH LOW INCOME), AND THE ROSEMONT TOWNHOMES (18 FAMILY RENTALS).PROUD GROUND IS PURSUING THE ROLE OF LEAD DEVELOPER IN NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS DUE TO OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD MORE INVENTORY TO MEET THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION. EACH OPPORTUNITY FOR PROUD GROUND TO SERVE AS LEAD DEVELOPER IN NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL BE THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY BOARD AND STAFF TO DETERMINE PROJECT FEASIBILITY.BUYER-INITIATED GRANTS OFTEN FUNDS ARE PROVIDED FROM EXTERNAL SOURCE/SOURCES TO OFFER HOME BUYERS GRANTS WITH WHICH TO PURCHASE HOMES ON THE OPEN MARKET; THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT BUYS DOWN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE HOME, MAKING IT AFFORDABLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. OFTEN THE GRANTS COME WITH GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS AND/OR REQUIRE THAT A PORTION OF THE GRANT BE USED TOWARD NECESSARY REPAIRS AND/OR ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES. ALL HOMES PURCHASED WITH SUCH GRANTS BECOME PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PORTFOLIO OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES, WITH PROUD GROUND RECEIVING TITLE TO THE LAND. FROM 1999 TO DECEMBER 31, 2021, 177 BUYER-INITIATED GRANTS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.ACQUISITION REHAB OFTEN FUNDS ARE PROVIDED TO THE LLC TO PURCHASE AND RENOVATE DISTRESSED HOMES. AFTER FULL RENOVATION, THE HOMES ARE OFFERED FOR SALE TO INCOME-QUALIFIED BUYERS. SINCE 1999, FIFTY-SEVEN (57) HOMES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED, RENOVATED AND SOLD THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.OTHER OCCASIONALLY EQUITY IN A HOUSE OR CONDOMINIUM IS DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION WHEN SOLD TO A QUALIFIED HOMEBUYER. BETWEEN 1999 AND DECEMBER 31, 2021, 8 (EIGHT) HOMES ENTERED PROUD GROUNDS PORTFOLIO THIS WAY.