At its Nov. 15 meeting, the Bloomington Plan Commission approved the next step in the Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County's Osage Place development. The approval related to 5.34 acres for 30 residential houses and three common areas. The site is located at 650 W. Guy Avenue and is part of a larger 12.5-acre project there.

Construction has already begun and the first houses are expected to be completed by early 2022.

Watch the Plan Commission discussion on CATS here. Read the proposal from the meeting packet here.

The Monroe County Affordable Housing Advisory Commission has three vacancies. The AHAC makes recommendations to the county Board of Commissioners, which appoints the members.

The commission meets on the third Friday of each month from 8-9 a.m. Meetings are currently held via Zoom. 

Learn more about the AHAC here. Find the application form here.

At their July 21 meeting, Bloomington Council heard a request from the administration to spend a portion of the total $22.1 million that the city will be receiving from the federal American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA). The request for a $3.35 million appropriation breaks down as follows:
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• $250,000 grant to the Bloomington Housing Authority to create more affordable housing options.
• $1.2 million grant to support the ongoing work of the Housing Insecurity Group, to be administered through United Way of Monroe County.
• $200,000 to establish or support a new landlord risk mitigation fund.
• $150,000 to accelerate inclusive job training and employment growth.
• $175,000 for grants to local arts and cultural groups.
• $550,000 to fund essential deferred maintenance at the Waldron Arts Center. 
• $50,000 for a consultant to evaluate the potential for a new downtown performing arts facility. 

Watch the presentation at the July 21 council meeting on CATS here. Read the staff memo here. The council will discuss the appropriation at their July 28 Committee of the Whole meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. via this Zoom link.

United Way of Monroe County, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, and the South Central Housing Network (SCHN) have released the “Heading Home 2021: A Regional Plan for Making Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Repeating.” This plan is intended serve as a community guide to support long-term initiatives in reducing and eliminating regional housing insecurity and homelessness in Monroe County.

The plan focuses on the Housing First model, a broad philosophy to house people impacted by homelessness as quickly as possible. Having stable housing creates a foundation that better equips households to address the underlying issues that resulted in housing insecurity and/or homelessness. 

Recommendations include creating two full-time positions, housed initially at the United Way, to help implement the plan. Organizers are seeking funding from the City of Bloomington, Monroe County and other sources.

Read the Heading Home 2021 report here.

At their June 16 meeting, Bloomington City Council unanimously approved a 10-year abatement for the Retreat at Switchyard, a residential development at 1730 S. Walnut St. 

The development involves construction of 64 residential units. Of those, 48 units will be devoted to households with low to moderate-incomes for a period of 99 years.  Ten of those 48 apartments are set aside for clients of StoneBelt.  The five-story building, adjacent to the Switchyard Park east entrance, includes a 3,000-square-foot first-floor retail space. The abatement, which is applicable only to the 48 affordable units, would start at 100% and step down to 5% in year 10.

The developer is Real America. The city's Redevelopment Commission intends to convey the land and structure to Real America for $1. That's a value of about $975,000, according to Alex Crowley, director of the city's Economic & Sustainable Development department.

Watch the council's June 16 deliberations on CATS here. Read abatement-related materials from the council's meeting packet here.

The following press release was issued by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to oppose the proposed Bloomington Council Ordinance 21-06 regarding homeless encampments: 

Based on overwhelming feedback from members, the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce opposes the proposed Bloomington Council Ordinance 21-06 that would allow encampments in public parks for extended periods.
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“Over the past year we’ve heard increasing complaints and deep concerns voiced by members of the business community regarding encampments at Seminary Park and elsewhere,” said Erin Predmore, the Chamber’s president and CEO.  “We must find an alternative way to support the needs of houseless residents that does not negatively impact local businesses, the jobs they provide, and the broader community.”

Three Bloomington councilmembers are proposing an ordinance that would allow homeless residents to camp in public parks, under certain conditions. The proposal will have a 1st reading at the council's Feb. 17 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. here.

Councilmembers Matt Flaherty, Isabel Piedmont-Smith and Kate Rosenbarger are sponsors. 

Click here to read the ordinance.

The City of Bloomington has released a report looking at digital equity among city residents. The report is intended to guide development of the city's digital equity strategic plan.

Among the findings:

• 12% of low-income respondents never interact with the internet.
• The homework gap (problems completing homework due to internet deficiencies) is significant for lower-bandwidth households.
• Existing subsidy programs from internet service providers aren’t fully being used by eligible residents.
• Caregivers are concerned about risks and their ability to protect children from online harms.
• Low-income residents report a lack of desired computing skills and are interested in training to improve their skills.
• The skills gap is pronounced for low-income and older residents:  50% of such respondents think they do not have the skills they need to use the internet effectively and comfortably.
• Fully half of respondents said their job now requires internet access at home.  
• There is broad support for the City doing more to address digital equity issues and to improve broadband in Bloomington.  

Click here to read the report.

An 11-county study of workforce housing needs has been released this week, assessing the regional housing market and proposing strategies for addressing challenges.

The 339-page Indiana Uplands Regional Housing Study includes the Bloomington/Monroe County community. Reports for individual counties also can be downloaded on the housing study's website.

Six main strategies are identified by the report (pp 318-337): 
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1. Elevate the quality of existing housing.
2. Deal with undervaluations.
3. Develop more buildable lots.
4. Create more below-market-rate housing.
5. Work on greater code enforcement and implementation.
6. Invest in quality-of-life features.

ROI is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, and is funded through a $25.87 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The City of Bloomington is developing a five-year plan to identify affordable housing and community development needs. You can give input by taking this survey or attending any of the following stakeholder forums:

• Housing Affordability: Tues. June 11, 1:30 p.m at Bloomington Housing Authority's Community Room, 1007 North Summit St.

• Housing Equity: Tues. June 11, 3 p.m. at Bloomington Housing Authority's Community Room, 1007 North Summit St.

• Asset-building in Lower-income Neighborhoods: Wed. June 12, 9 a.m. at Broadview Learning Center, Room 143, 705 West Coolidge Dr.

• Development Pressures and Challenges: Wed. June 12, 10:30 a.m. at Broadview Learning Center, Room 143, 705 West Coolidge Dr.

• Public and Social Services: Wed. June 12, 1:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 401 N. Morton St.

• Healthy Households: Wed. June 12, 3 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 401 N. Morton St.

There are also two additional public forums at the Utilities Service Building Board Room, 600 E. Miller Dr. on Tuesday June 11 and Wednesday June 12, both starting at 6 p.m.
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Click here for more information about this effort, which is being led by the city's Housing & Neighborhood Development (HAND) unit.