Promote Oxford Now focuses on affordable housing for the community
New windows replace the old cracked windows which once let the cold in and the heat out. Promote Oxford Now President Sarah Smith and Vice President Jessica Henninge have applied for grants and received anonymous donations in hopes to move forward with the PON purchase, which will bring affordable housing back to the Oxford area. (Photo by Kelli Miller)
OXFORD — The Oxford Revitalization Project was established in 1979, and about ten years later, became Promote Oxford Now.
Since that time, Promote Oxford Now has sponsored many events in the area, but it wasn’t until organization President Sarah Smith and Vice President Jessica Henninge were reorganizing during the Oxtober Festival, that Smith sensed a real need for affordable housing in the area.
“While we were re-organizing, I realized there is a real need for affordable housing in the community, more affordable, not low income, but affordable,” said Smith. “People want to move to our village, but at this time, there is only one move in ready house available in Oxford and its price range is for a mid level income family.”
Smith said she looked at the number of new student enrollments in the district, where both of her children attend, and noticed enrollments were down. Although she's not sure why, she feels the low numbers may be due to a lack of affordable housing.
“There's a real desire for people to move to the area, but there's not a lot of housing,” she said.
“So, Jess and I put our heads together and through Promote Oxford Now, started working on finding a house to renovate to bring affordable housing to the Oxford area,” said Smith.
“We did find a house in need of a lot of repairs and are working through the contract,” she added.
She said they have applied for grants and have bids from multiple contractors and should know by the end of the month if they will receive the first round of funding.
“We’re pretty much ready to go,” said Smith.
“We're really excited, it's been a long process with finding contractors and waiting on funding,” said Smith. “We hope after the renovation and sale of the property, we can take those funds and either apply them to purchase another affordable home or use the funds to help others maintain or fix up their homes.”
She said the Palmers, realtors at United Country Real Estate, helped her out by answering my many calls and questions and is very thankful for them.
“They helped us figure out where the affordable housing price point should be and how we can cut costs while renovating to keep overhead as low as possible,” said Smith.
“We've found that a lot of housing issues in our community are with the big beautiful houses owned by the elderly, she added. “They just can't take care of them anymore but stay in them for a period of time, and the house begins deteriorating, it may need a roof, or windows, etc., and some houses can't come back from it.”
“Then their families don't know what to do with the house, or they don’t have the funds to fix them up, or some just don't want it,” she said. “Either the house sits empty, slowly deteriorating or goes to auction and sometimes that's not the best situation either,” she said.
Henninge said “So far, we've received anonymous donations totaling $12,500 and we're still submitting grant requests.”
“We're pretty excited about this project,” said Henninge.
Promote Oxford now is a not-for-profit organization that has sponsored many events and projects in and around the area since its establishment in 1989.
For further information, email promoteoxfordnow@gmail.com or visit Promote Oxford Now Facebook page.
Since that time, Promote Oxford Now has sponsored many events in the area, but it wasn’t until organization President Sarah Smith and Vice President Jessica Henninge were reorganizing during the Oxtober Festival, that Smith sensed a real need for affordable housing in the area.
“While we were re-organizing, I realized there is a real need for affordable housing in the community, more affordable, not low income, but affordable,” said Smith. “People want to move to our village, but at this time, there is only one move in ready house available in Oxford and its price range is for a mid level income family.”
Smith said she looked at the number of new student enrollments in the district, where both of her children attend, and noticed enrollments were down. Although she's not sure why, she feels the low numbers may be due to a lack of affordable housing.
“There's a real desire for people to move to the area, but there's not a lot of housing,” she said.
“So, Jess and I put our heads together and through Promote Oxford Now, started working on finding a house to renovate to bring affordable housing to the Oxford area,” said Smith.
“We did find a house in need of a lot of repairs and are working through the contract,” she added.
She said they have applied for grants and have bids from multiple contractors and should know by the end of the month if they will receive the first round of funding.
“We’re pretty much ready to go,” said Smith.
“We're really excited, it's been a long process with finding contractors and waiting on funding,” said Smith. “We hope after the renovation and sale of the property, we can take those funds and either apply them to purchase another affordable home or use the funds to help others maintain or fix up their homes.”
She said the Palmers, realtors at United Country Real Estate, helped her out by answering my many calls and questions and is very thankful for them.
“They helped us figure out where the affordable housing price point should be and how we can cut costs while renovating to keep overhead as low as possible,” said Smith.
“We've found that a lot of housing issues in our community are with the big beautiful houses owned by the elderly, she added. “They just can't take care of them anymore but stay in them for a period of time, and the house begins deteriorating, it may need a roof, or windows, etc., and some houses can't come back from it.”
“Then their families don't know what to do with the house, or they don’t have the funds to fix them up, or some just don't want it,” she said. “Either the house sits empty, slowly deteriorating or goes to auction and sometimes that's not the best situation either,” she said.
Henninge said “So far, we've received anonymous donations totaling $12,500 and we're still submitting grant requests.”
“We're pretty excited about this project,” said Henninge.
Promote Oxford now is a not-for-profit organization that has sponsored many events and projects in and around the area since its establishment in 1989.
For further information, email promoteoxfordnow@gmail.com or visit Promote Oxford Now Facebook page.
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