Mountainlands Community Housing Association

Last year, Mountainlands continued work the parkview place subdivision in heber city, a 49-lot subdivision. The subdivision constists of 13 single family, 30 townhomes and 6 duplex units. All of which will be sold as affordable Housing. We continue to make progress as we completed and sold a duplex unit subject to deed restrictions. Work has begun on finishing the common space landscaping as well as the next 6 townhomes.

The mutual self-help Housing program is a usda/rural development program sponsored by Mountainlands for low-income to very low-income families to achieve the dream of home ownership through "sweat equity". During the fiscal year 4 homes were completed in francis but the self help program saw funding at the federal level cut, which caused delays in closing the next group of participants. That group of participants closed on their loans at the beginning of july and work has begun on 6 townhomes in the parkview place development in heber city. These are scheduled to be completed next summer. The next group of self-help participants have submitted their applications. Due to the funding cuts, we do not expect these homes to be funded until next spring

Since august 2022, Mountainlands launched its community-based Housing resource center (hrc) with a twofold purpose: (1) to coordinate and focus Community support for affordable Housing; and (2) to serve as a one-stop-shop to assist people in identifying and obtaining Housing. The center was staffed initially by two full-time positions: a Housing advocate with a focus on Community organizing and advocacy work; and a bilingual Housing navigator with an aim of connecting residents, particularly underserved lower-income latinx households, to affordable Housing opportunities. The hrc continues to help the workforce navigate Housing options, increasing the count on the pcmc waitlist by 36. Helped 12 families apply to habitat for humanity ownership program and 6 families apply for crown rent to own. The current hike in interest rates has become a barrier to firs time homebuyers causing a noticeable decrease in applicants. The hrc provided 6 individuals and 18 families with education on debt to income, credit - how to start growing and maintaining a good credit score, budgeting to prepare for home ownership understanding how interest rates affect buying power, credit card usage and how to reduce debt and repair credit. The hrc has assisted with 7 resales of affordable units in summit county. Six out of the seven units were sold to non-white households. The hrc also assisted in the sale of 18 new affordable units in wasatch county, of which 50% of the buyers were non-white households.