Thank you for supporting our work. I am reaching out today to ask for your help again because the need for affordable housing in the Lakes Region is so great. The Lakes Region Housing Needs Assessment, which was just finalized by the Lakes Region Planning Commission a few weeks ago, estimates that we need more than 3,000 additional units of affordable housing in the Lakes Region by 2040 to achieve a balanced housing market. We all seem to know someone, personally, who struggles to find suitable housing they can afford. There have been so many news stories this year about the crisis of housing and homelessness. Despite this increased awareness, we encounter more challenges than ever in creating affordable housing opportunities in the Lakes Region. Your contribution will help us overcome barriers and create housing for many people. For essential workers who are so critical to economic development in our region. For seniors who deserve to age in place with dignity. For adults with developmental disabilities who deserve the opportunity to be independent. And for people who face complex challenges, such as mental illness or substance use disorder, who need a stable home in order to recover and move forward in their lives. In the face of the housing crisis, your support is critical. Your contribution ensures we have the financial resources necessary to grow our pipeline of housing developments. "It’s been…helpful to me, to live somewhere that I’m not just my rent check…LRCD cares about…me and my family," says Carrie in Wolfeboro (pictured above). Right now, we have 131 rental units in our pipeline. Current projects in pre-development include 30 workforce apartments in Wolfeboro, 60 workforce units and 26 senior apartments in Ashland, and 15 units of supportive housing in Laconia. We are excited about all of these projects, but we need to increase our pipeline to meet the overwhelming need. To do this, we need more financial resources to pay for all the work necessary to get a project permitted, funded, and under construction. Surveying, engineering, architecture, environmental studies, legal services, and staff time to assemble financing all add up quickly. We may spend $300,000 on a project before we can close on our financing, get reimbursed for all those expenses, and put that money into the next project. The permitting process in recent years has proven more challenging than ever. Ironically, the housing crisis seems to have generated more “not in my back yard” opposition. This makes our work riskier, from a financial perspective. Your contribution today helps us forge ahead, despite the challenges and risks. Your support also enables us to offer programs that empower our tenants and improve their health and well-being. This year, our dental program provided matching payments totaling over $10,000 on behalf of 26 tenants. This is critical because most of our tenants do not have dental insurance. While Medicaid does include an adult dental benefit now, there are very few local dentists who accept it. Our fund is needed to fill the gap Over the past 12 months, our eviction prevention program distributed over $38,000 to help 64 of our tenants get caught up on rent. Our goal is to prevent eviction in all cases where the tenant engages with our resident services team. Illness, transportation costs, and lack of quality child care are common reasons why tenants experience job loss. Illness and inflation compound financial pressures faced by many families. Our fund is there to help keep people housed through difficult times. There is so much work to be done to ensure that everyone in the Lakes Region lives in a healthy home and is empowered to succeed. Your support makes it possible for us to continue pursuing this ambitious vision. To make a donation, visit our DONATE page. Thank you! Warm regards, Carmen R. Lorentz Executive Director Comments are closed.
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