Common Roots

Goal: $50,000.00

Specific Need

This year, Common Roots is raising funds to launch our homeownership programs. Meadville's homeownership rate is only 35%, while the statewide average is 65%. Common Roots is committed to increasing our community's homeownership rate through innovative approaches to building equity.

Our Shared Equity Homeownership Program is designed to make the American Dream of homeownership available to low-income families. Through the program, Common Roots acquires and rehabilitates a home, and sells it to a qualified, low-income buyer at an affordable price. The sale price is affordable because Common Roots retains ownership of the land. The homebuyer and Common Roots enter into a cooperative agreement, known as a ground lease, that spells out how we will work together to maintain the home and ensure affordability for future generations. We're launching the program this year with three houses on Prospect Street in Meadville in partnership with Allegheny College.

Our Do-it-Together Homeownership Program enables low-income families to achieve homeownership through sweat equity, either by constructing a new home or rehabilitating an existing property. Program participants complete 65% of the labor with training and assistance from Common Roots. We are in the early stages of developing this program as part of USDA Rural Development's Mutual Self-Help Housing Program and plan to launch the program in 2025 with new construction at 434 Poplar Street.

Mission

Common Roots is a community land trust dedicated to creating quality homes that build wealth and security for low-income residents. We believe that everyone, regardless of how much money you have, should be able to access and benefit from forever homes that they can actually afford.

Profile

Common Roots is working hard and growing fast to meet our community's housing needs.

THE COMMON ROOTS RENTING COOPERATIVE

Last July, we launched our Renting Cooperative at 1189-91 South Main Street, our first housing development. Through the program, residents work together to manage and maintain their homes and, in exchange for taking on these responsibilities, build financial assets. Residents also build social trust and connection through making decisions and caring for the property cooperatively. Last month, we expanded the program to 306 Poplar Street, a formerly blighted duplex that we rehabiltated in partnership with the City of Meadville Redevelopment Authority. We are currently rehabilitating 662 William Street which will create three more beautiful, wealth-building homes for low-income residents. To learn more, check out our documentary about the program.

STURDY BOOTS CONSTRUCTION

Common Roots is parterning with the leaders in the local recovery community to operate Sturdy Boots Construction, a public benefit company dedicated to providing quality, affordable home renovation and maintenance services to the community and creating meaningful careers in the building trades. Sturdy Boots provides a stigma-free, recovery-focused work environment for people in recovery, while furthering the mission of Common Roots and growing our community's capacity to rehabilitate our housing aging stock.

CHRIS BELL'S FURNITURE CLOSET

On July 16th of this year, Common Roots opened Chris Bell's Furniture Closet thanks to the support and commitment of Crawford County Human Services and Commissioners Eric Henry, Scott Schell, and Chris Seeley. The Furniture Closet provides gently used furniture to neighbors who are existing homelessness and/or struggling with mental health issues. The effort is named in honor of Chris Bell, who was an early investor in Common Roots who was a fierce advocate for community cooperation and affordable housing.

UPPER WATER STREET REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Common Roots is partnering with the City of Meadville Redevelopment Authority to create fourteen new affordable homes on upper Water Street, an area that has been targeted for reinvestment by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. The project will expand Common Roots' Renting Cooperative and homeownership programs while advancing the goals of the city's Housing Action Plan, which include creating new affordable housing options and increasing Meadville's homeownership rate.