Last week, Unity Foundation partnered with Health Foundation of La Porte to bring our community together for two days focused on expanding access to attainable housing in La Porte County.

Between Tuesday’s bus tour and Wednesday’s Attainable Housing Convening, we explored local housing projects, learned from one another, and discussed ways to help people at all income levels find a place to call home.

The bus tour included stops at several area housing developments, including Homeward Bound’s Karwick Village, CoAction’s Ivy Flats, Habitat for Humanity’s Woodward Block, and Tryon Meadow. Attendees learned about area median income (AMI) as it applies to each development and what constitutes workforce, supportive, and affordable housing.

At Wednesday’s Housing Convening, attendees were offered several sessions, covering topics like pre-approved housing plans, how housing & social services work together, why building design, neighborhoods, & community building matter, and how to advocate for attainable housing.

A healthy housing ecosystem takes serious, sustained collaboration, and it was inspiring to see leaders in attendance from across the spectrum, including local government, construction, nonprofits, and beyond. Their diverse perspectives and experiences sparked invaluable discussion about the challenges ahead and the opportunities to make progress together.

There’s more work to be done, and we’re excited to continue building on these conversations. Thank you to everyone who played a part!