Frequently Asked Questions
How is this affordable to the residents?
- Housing will be affordable – all residents will pay rent, but rent will be no more than 30% of income.
- Residents must have a source of income – either fixed (SSI, SSDI, retirement) or from a job
- Residents will pay, on average, between $250-$350 per month and it will cover utility expenses, maintenance, and all other operating costs. Residents will be members of a housing cooperative and will have a share in the village.
- Fifty dollars of the monthly rent will be held in a savings account, and when the total in that account reaches $2000, the $50 will be dropped from the monthly rent. That $2000 will be held until the resident decides to move out of the villages, giving the resident a deposit or down payment on other housing.
How will you choose who lives in the village?
- This will be a multi-organizational effort. We’ll work with the Adult Services Team to identify candidates. The Adult Services Team is comprised of a number of service organizations in Linn County.
Can you get evicted?
- Yes, if the resident breaks the lease. This will be decided by the village board members, although CHC board members will have final authority.
Who will pay for the Village?
- CHC hopes to have at least half the cost to build donated by using in-kind donations from area contractors and tradespeople. The rest will come from fundraising efforts.
Is this Transitional Housing?
- The homes are permanent housing. They’re built on a foundation and have heat, hot water, electricity, a bathroom, kitchenette, and a bedroom/living area.
- The village will be centered around a community building, which will house washers and dryers, and a large kitchen and dining area that the residents can use when they need more space. Classes and events will also be held there.
- There will be a community garden so residents can grow their own food.
- The village will be solar-powered to reduce costs.
- Wifi will also be available.
Who will live in the Village?
- We are still working on program development, but the first residents of the village will be chosen with the help of the Adult Services Team.
- Everyone who will live in the village will be carefully screened to ensure they’ll be appropriate and compatible with the community.
- The village will be self-governed. The residents will be responsible for making and enforcing the rules and dealing with behavioral issues. They’ll use restorative justice, which emphasizes accountability, making amends, and — if they are interested — facilitated meetings between victims, offenders, and other persons. The board members of the co-op will be specially trained in the facilitation of restorative justice and de-escalation strategies.
- A broad range of people – veterans, seniors, disabled, youth aging out of foster care, people with chronic but manageable health issues, individuals, or small families who have lost housing due to affordability issues.
- There will also be a specially trained peer support coordinator living on-site to connect residents with needed services.
How much does it cost to build a tiny home?
- The average cost to build a home is approximately $50,000.
Who will manage the Village?
- The village will be managed by the residents and will use a cooperative model. It will be a democratic community in which each person has a voice in shaping how the community is operated and managed — creating a foundational sense of ownership on which the village thrives
- A community agreement will outline a basic code of conduct that all residents must abide by, and requires that each resident participates in helping to manage the village.
- The community will have a board of directors made up of residents of the village. They will set up and enforce rules and bylaws.
- The board of directors will be trained in restorative justice, which is a method of conflict resolution.
How will this help Albany?
- By reducing homelessness, the village will save the city money by reducing costs for needed services. Some examples of this are:
- Lower cost to the healthcare system by reducing the use of emergency rooms. Studies show that having stable housing is a predictor of fewer trips to the emergency room. Also, stable housing assists in helping residents manage chronic health conditions before it becomes an emergency.
- Fewer complaints about loitering and other misdemeanors made to the police department.
- Fewer calls to the fire department and ambulance.
- Residents will become contributing members of the Albany community.
- Albany residents can feel satisfaction in becoming part of the solution by spreading compassion and hope to those in the community who are less fortunate.