At United Way, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live in an affordable, safe, stable home, and for homeownership to be an achievable goal for every family.
Every year, 211 – the 24/7 resource in 99% of the U.S. and Canada that’s supported by United Way – receives more requests for help finding housing and financial assistance for housing expenses than anything else. We know that housing insecurity and limited affordable housing has reached crisis proportions.
Through community partnerships with nonprofit organizations and local elected officials, we are working to improve access to affordable, safe, quality housing in Marshall County.
United Way of Marshall County engaged Michael Fortunato of Creative Insight Community Development to facilitate our “2024 Housing Matters” series designed to collect information across our local communities to develop quick action steps to address accessibility across the housing spectrum.
Part of this engagement included a Housing Gap Analysis to consider the impacts of COVID-19 on housing stability, accessibility to existing resources, and identification of barriers preventing access to suitable housing options. The Housing Matters series and the Housing Gap Analysis were made possible through a grant from the Indiana Department of Health.
“Having accurate data at the community level helps us better understand the specific housing needs across Marshall County and how we can work together on both short and long term solutions,” said UWMC Executive Director Linda Yoder.
To access the Housing Gap Analysis, click the "Housing Matters Marshall County" button below.
Homeownership is one of the most important vehicles for building generational wealth. However, the credit needed to purchase a home remains out of reach for many due to entrenched inequities including racial segregation, income inequality, and unfair lending practices. Additionally, we know from the Housing Gap Analysis, we need approximately 1,300 more housing units to keep up with needs.
Addressing housing needs in Marshall County is complex, but United Way is actively collaborating with community partners to come up with long term solutions to making affordable, safe housing accessible to all and to open the door to homeownership for more families in Marshall County.