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During the recent LaGrange City Council work session, City Councilman Nathan Gaskin unveiled his “Building Forward” housing initiative to help address housing challenges for first-time home buyers, current homeowners, local contractors, landlords and small affordable housing developers.

Gaskin said the idea started years ago, but when he received complaints about people being called into court for code enforcement, it further spurred him on.

“I felt there was a void of engagement with the community. So with the help of Communities Tomorrow, we put together an initiative:  ‘We cleaned it up. Now we’re going to build it up,’” Gaskin said.

“It’s a way to try to help the community fix some of their homes, to keep them from winding up going into court cases,” Gaskin said.

Gaskin said they want to try to target 25 new homeowners, to help people buying homes, and target 50 critical home repairs to revitalize some of the older homes in District 2.

The housing initiative is more than homes; it’s about creating opportunity, he said.

 “I want to help first-time buyers become homeowners, provide critical home repairs for existing homeowners, assist landlords with upgrades to improve rental housing, and empower our local contractors to grow and expand their businesses. Together, we’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more vibrant District 2 that will thrive for generations to come,” Gaskin said.

Gaskin said in his and Councilman Quay Boddie’s trip to Washington, DC, Vice President J.D. Vance acknowledged the need for housing but put the onus on communities to provide assistance that may be needed.

The initiative will focus on:

• Helping first-time homebuyers by partnering with local organizations to help connect community members with opportunities for down payment assistance and credit counseling.
• Providing critical home repairs and upgrades by connecting homeowners to resources that will help with home repairs and upgrades, including grants and low-cost loans.
• Creating opportunities for local contractors by connecting local contractors with free financing options to help local contractors finance their home improvement projects.
• Providing loans for landlords by connecting landlords to resources that will ensure their tenants have a safe place to live with reduced energy burdens.
• Encouraging affordable housing from developers by introducing below market-rate, flexible loans for small to mid-size affordable and workforce housing developments.

The initiative also has a sustainable energy component. Gaskins is working with the non-profit Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) to help offer unsecured Green Home Loans, which are approved based on ability to pay, not credit scores. SELF also has additional financing programs for landlords and small affordable housing developers.

Several non-profits and businesses are partnering with the initiative, including Communities of Tomorrow, SELF, Creating Sustainable Communities, Truist Bank, Griffin Modern, Housing & Economic Redevelopment (HER), The Rail District, and local realtor Deena Simmons from EXP Realty.

Gaskin will host an informational meeting on the initiative on Saturday, April 19, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 134 Main Street in LaGrange. This event is free and open to the public.