Great Indy Neighborhoods: Publications


Neighborhood Resource Guide	< Back to Table of Contents

9. Housing
Healthy communities offer attractive housing as a community asset and a wealth building opportunity for local families.

QUESTION - Who can help us promote our neighborhood?
ANSWER - Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (MIBOR) MIBOR has helped a number of neighborhood organizations create informational brochures to attract new residents. Contact 956-1912 or http://www.mibor.com/.
ANSWER – Neighborhood News on Government TV2 (Channel 16) Neighborhood News can help neighborhood organizations produce a video that can be used to promote the neighborhood. Neighborhood organizations write and present the information during a five minute piece that airs on Channel 16. Channel 16 staff provides production support. Sessions are taped Wednesday afternoons and/or evenings. New shows air starting on Fridays and run heavily on Government TV2. Bookings are on a first come, first served basis. Contact 327-2018 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/Cable/Gov_TV/home.htm.
QUESTION - Who can help improve our neighborhood’s housing options and conditions?
ANSWER - Banks Because of federal laws, many banks have increased their efforts to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Contact your local bank and ask for its community reinvestment officer.
ANSWER - Christmas in April, Rebuilding Together Indianapolis Rebuilding Together preserves and revitalizes houses and communities, ensuring that low-income homeowners have safe homes. Its annual Christmas in April is a one-day work blitz on the last Saturday in April. Up to 500 volunteers provide free assistance to low-income elderly or disabled homeowners who need home repairs. A "Neighborhood of the Year" is selected and homeowners are encouraged to apply for inclusion in the program. Contact 767-1177 or http://www.rebuildingtogetherindy.org/.
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, Division of Community Development The Division administers grants made available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Staff manage five main grants: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG); Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME); Continuum of Care (CoC); and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA). Staff also manage the Economic Development Initiative (EDI), Section 108 Loan, Brownfields Ecomonic Redevelopment Initiative (BEDI), the Lead Hazard Grant and Department of Labor/HUD Collaborative Grant. Contact 327-5355 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Community/home.htm.
ANSWER – Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) CHIP, the lead organization for implementing the City’s plan to end homelessness, can assist neighborhoods in ensuring quality housing at an affordable price and provide linkages to services to help prevent homelessness. Contact 630-0853 or www.chipindy.org.
ANSWER - Faith Based Organizations The faith community plays a significant role in the development of many neighborhoods and should be taken into account when dealing with neighborhood issues and planning. Houses of worship meet the community’s spiritual needs and often provide recreational and youth programs, housing assistance, food programs and other efforts that support communities. Some organizations create separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations to conduct community development activities, while others may partner with other community organizations. In some cases, multiple houses of worship located close to one another collaborate to create a community development corporation (CDC) to serve their shared community. For more information, contact: City of Indianapolis Faith-Based Coordinator at 327-3711. Indianapolis Center for Congregations, which helps congregations find solutions to their problems. Visit www.centerforcongregations.org. Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives at http://www.in.gov/ofbci/.
ANSWER - Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis Habitat builds and renovates affordable homes for limited-income families by collaborating with churches, corporations, CDCs, social service agencies, and volunteer groups. To qualify for a Habitat home, applicants must agree to training and work provisions and meet income requirements. Contact 921-2121 or www.indyhabitat.org.
ANSWER - High Schools Some local school districts build or rehab homes as a class project. Contact your local high school vocational department.
ANSWER - Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Historic Landmarks Foundation helps save and restore old buildings. Marion County nonprofit community preservation organizations and historic neighborhood foundations can apply for loans from the Fund for Landmark Indianapolis Properties (FLIP) fund. FLIP loans can be used toward the purchase and/or restoration of endangered historic properties. Groups must attach Historic Landmarks’ preservation covenants to the deeds of properties assisted by the loan funds. FLIP loans have a $50,000 limit and low interest terms for the first three years. Contact 638-5264 or www.historiclandmarks.org.
ANSWER - Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) DNR’s Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology offers programs that might be beneficial in improving older buildings. Visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/. Indiana Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Income tax credits are available for privately owned and funded historic preservation activities. Both the federal government and Indiana offer a Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) equaling 20% of rehabilitation costs for qualified work at income-producing properties that are certified historic buildings. A net subsidy equaling 40% of qualified rehabilitation costs may be yielded by participation in both programs. Eligible properties include commercial buildings, factories, and old houses (which must be income producing, such as rental properties). Owner-occupied private residences are eligible only for the Indiana Residential Historic Rehabilitation Credit. Residential Historic Rehabilitation Credit Available to income taxpayers who undertake certified rehabilitation of historic buildings that are principally used and occupied by a taxpayer as that taxpayer's residence. The State incentive allows a taxpayer to claim a state income tax credit for 20% of the total qualified rehabilitation or preservation cost of a project.
ANSWER - Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (HCDA) Through homeownership, rental housing and community development programs, HCDA administers financial vehicles and incentives to create affordable housing for rent or purchase and supportive facilities. HCDA administers First Home, First Home/Plus, First Home 100, Mortgage Credit Certificate, My Community Mortgage 100%, Community Solutions 100, Community Home Choice, Rental Housing Tax Credits (RHTCs), Indiana Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, and Multifamily Bonds. Visit http://www.in.gov/ihcda/.
ANSWER - Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development (ICND) ICND is an association of Indianapolis neighborhood-based community development corporations (CDCs). ICND promotes communication, collaboration, and cooperation among Indianapolis CDCs and links CDCs with institutional partners. Indianapolis CDCs take a comprehensive approach to restoring neighborhoods by combining housing production and economic development with a variety of social support and community building efforts. Visit www.icndindy.org/.
ANSWER - Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) INHP provides safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities to low-to-moderate income residents. INHP offers educational programs and financial coaching to prepare clients for homeownership, as well as assistance finding and closing a mortgage. Contact 925-1400 or http://www.inhp.org/.
ANSWER - Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) LISC helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods. By providing capital, technical expertise, training and information, LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation of affordable housing, commercial, industrial and community facilities, businesses and jobs. Contact 396-0588 or http://www.lisc.org/indianapolis.
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book", produced by the Information and Referral Network, Inc., has a section devoted to community housing solutions. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
QUESTION – Who can help individuals find affordable housing in our neighborhood?
ANSWER – Indiana Housing Now Indiana Housing Now is a free housing search service that provides information on affordable rentals, Section 8 properties, tax credit properties and special needs housing. Contact 1-877-428-8844 or www.indianahousingnow.org.