Housing Equity Initiative | Sunshine Gospel

Housing Equity Initiative Empowers Woodlawn Families To Build Generational Wealth

Our History

In Fall of 2021, Sunshine launched a new program to address these disparities within our Woodlawn community. The Housing Equity Initiative focuses on 3 areas of emphasis - retention, ownership, and revitalization aimed at supporting our neighbors in building assets for their families and investments in their community.

"We recognize that housing insecurity, high rents, and outstanding tax bills strain the quality of life for many African American homeowners. Homeownership is fundamental to family stability, health, and legacy/generational wealth creation, and we are striving, with collaborative efforts, to make this a reality." - Kimberly Salley, Executive Director

Sustaining & Creating Truly Affordable Housing

HEI is working with community partners to holistically impact our community by increasing and sustaining homeownership. Our program sustains homeownership by assisting families who are at risk of losing their homes through a tax sale. Sunshine increases awareness around tax sales and provides benevolence funds to ensure families keep their homes.

HEI is purchasing abandoned properties and rehabbing them. These properties are then sold at an affordable cost, allowing families to own a home and build generational assets for their families. Families who take part in our program are trained in financial literacy and homeownership essentials.

What We Offer

Retention

For families that own their homes but owe back taxes, Sunshine is able to help pay so they don't lose their homes. In November of 2021, we were able to assist 12 families with paying their property taxes that were in arrears from 2018. We are continuing this effort in 2022.

Ownership

Working with community partners, we offer mortgage and financial literacy building classes that flow into a down payment assistance program for individuals and families throughout Woodlawn who seek to own a home in our community and build their generational wealth.

Revitalization

There are currently many vacant properties in the Woodlawn community. Through our efforts to rehabilitate existing homes as well as build truly affordable housing on current land, we are investing in the long-term viability of the neighborhood.