Once the problem is defined, goals
are set, and there is some familiarity with the concepts, communities are
in a better position to begin choosing tools.
At this point, it may help to revisit
some key questions:
- Does the community have development opportunities, such as vacant
lots or buildings? Real estate development tools are particularly
effective in these circumstances.
- Is there support or opposition to new housing development in
the community? Does that feeling depend on rental vs. ownership?
Low- vs. moderate-income? Some of the most important goals
and tools can be the hardest to
achieve,
particularly when a group does not have a track record to which neighbors
can point and have confidence in. Sometimes compromising on the program
can help a group get started and gain support for future, more controversial
efforts.
- What does the group currently have power over? How much power
can organizing and mobilizing efforts generate? Tools that
aim to control the market are most likely to be achieved by organizations
that already have or can gain power at the citywide level.
- What financial resources can the community/city access?
This is also important for real estate development tools because they
often require substantial funding, especially if a community does not
have a lot of vacant land or buildings.
- Are there different levels of resources available for rental
housing, ownership, or limited-equity ownership? While
commitment to strategy is important, it is also important to know what
types of tools have easier access to funding than others. It is also important
to know what public money is currently being spent on.
- What role does the organization want to play? Are there groups
doing some of the work already? Are there groups in nearby communities
that can provide mentorship? Are there nonprofit housing organizations
that could be partners? In deciding on specific strategies, the
group should discuss what role or roles to play-organizer, developer,
planner, etc. In all likelihood, it will be very hard to know the exact
role at the beginning of the process. In fact, many community groups
begin a process playing one type of role and then over time shift and
adjust according to community conditions and need.
In some cases, neighborhood groups decide to play an organizing or planning
role-creating "rules of the game" for development in their community.
In other cases, groups partner with existing nonprofit or for-profit housing
organizations who are already developing or renovating housing around
their city or region. Some groups may also decide to create their
own nonprofit development organizations to focus on their community.
Sometimes, tenant organizations organize to purchase their own building,
but don't want to pursue development tools elsewhere.
In the end, there is no mathematical
formula for choosing a housing strategy for a particular neighborhood. Being
familiar with the pros and cons of each strategy and asking lots of questions
about the community and the organizations involved will help. Evaluate periodically;
sometimes conditions will change and new strategies will be called for.
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page... (Financing)
