May 2024 update: To learn more about our first project in Hebron, click the link – Church Street Commons

The Commons Community Development Corporation was created to address need for affordable housing beginning in Hebron and eventually expanding to other communities within Connecticut. Currently, too many individuals and families, including those who work in high income towns with little affordable housing, cannot afford to live there. This includes young professionals, families and seniors. In Hebron, for example, 93% of the town’s housing stock is single family homes, only 2.9 percent of its housing is deemed affordable (with a considerable amount of that for seniors only), and 26 percent of residents are cost-burdened, meaning they spend over 30 percent of their income on housing). In addition, the creation of affordable housing will build diversity in communities that sorely lack it (e.g., Hebron is 97 percent White).

Commons CDC will create affordable housing options for low- and moderate- income individuals and families, including rental, rent-to-own and home ownership options, enabling them to live in high-opportunity communities like Hebron. The CDC will use public and private financing programs to achieve permanent affordability goals. Resources will include sources such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the HOME Program, Small Cities Grants, CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions), Public Bond Funds, FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loans, Community Foundations, and CHFA (Connecticut Housing Finance Authority) Loans.

Initially, the creation of affordable housing will be led by the volunteers on the Board of Directors. The Board will not receive any financial compensation for their work for Commons CDC. Contracted services will include architectural, legal, engineering, energy consulting, property management, and affordable real estate development, etc. We also anticipate receiving technical assistance from national and state intermediaries such as LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative, Open Communities Alliance, and the Partnership for Strong Communities.