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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – With support from Lampco Federal Credit Union, Prosperity Indiana has been awarded a $27,500 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis's new Community Multiplier Grant Program This funding will support Prosperity Indiana’s ongoing work to expand access to affordable housing across the state.
“We are thrilled to partner with Lampco Federal Credit Union to deepen our support for Indiana’s community economic development sector and those on the front lines of tackling our state’s affordable housing crisis”, said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director at Prosperity Indiana. “The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Community Multiplier Grant program is a best-in-class example of the power of collaboration for collective impact”.
The Community Multiplier Member Match program provides matching funds to Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis members to support nonprofits meeting critical local housing needs. Prosperity Indiana will apply the funds to support the work of Indiana’s community economic development network to address Indiana’s affordable housing challenges.
“Lampco is proud to support Prosperity Indiana through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Community Multiplier Grant Program. We are committed to supporting our local nonprofits and increasing access to affordable housing throughout our footprint and throughout Indiana”, stated Migual Patterson, President and CEO of Lampco Federal Credit Union.
Prosperity Indiana looks forward to working with Lampco and other partners to turn this investment into lasting impact for Indiana communities.
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About Prosperity Indiana
The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
About Lampco Federal Credit Union
Founded in 1962, Lampco Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution based in Anderson, Indiana, dedicated to providing affordable, accessible, and
personalized financial services to the communities it serves. Lampco offers a full range of banking products, including savings, checking, loans, and mortgages, with a focus on member satisfaction and financial education.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce the renewal of its grant to participate in the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, a program of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). This grant will further support Prosperity Indiana’s efforts to build multi-sector partnerships and advocate for stable, affordable housing solutions, particularly focusing on faith-based and veterans-serving organizations.
As a recognized affiliate of the OSAH national campaign, Prosperity Indiana will continue to collaborate with other state-based organizations, participate in cohort learning experiences, and receive access to valuable technical assistance and networks. The new grant will allow Prosperity Indiana to recruit and assemble an Engagement Team of faith-based and veterans-serving organizations and leaders, emphasized on educating the public about OSAH priorities, curating projects that express public support for OSAH-endorsed federal policies, and advocating for policies that advance housing justice and racial equity. "Organizations from all sectors have good reasons to care about Indiana's affordable housing crisis, and we've had great success building multisector partnerships to address it--especially in healthcare and among faith-based partners. We're very fortunate to receive continued support from the Opportunity Starts At Home campaign to continue this important work," said Prosperity Indiana Policy Manager Hale Crumley. The renewed OSAH grant will support customized advocacy plans for Engagement Team members, including outreach to the congressional delegation, op-eds, and social media promotion. Prosperity Indiana will continue to work with faith-based partners while expanding its efforts to include veterans-serving organizations.
Prosperity Indiana looks forward to continuing our critical work of advocating for housing policies that reflect the needs of our communities.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A new tool is available for Hoosiers seeking housing resources. Prosperity Indiana has released a new statewide map of available housing counseling resources. Households in need of information and guidance on how to rent or own a home can find U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) housing counseling services near them.
HUD Housing Counseling Agencies (HCAs) provide information, advice, and guidance for people who are seeking to finance, maintain, rent, or own a home. Housing counselors also assist those facing homelessness and homeowners in need of foreclosure assistance. HCAs and housing counselors can assist with educating clients on best rental practices, how to maintain a safe and healthy home, and how to prepare for future homeownership. HUD explains that HCAs and housing counselors play a critical role in serving cost-burdened renter households or households that may be facing an eviction by, “helping clients identify an affordable unit, providing information to renters on tenant rights and fair housing issues, counseling on household budgeting,” and more.
“The core mission of the map is to contribute information about HCAs in Indiana and the unique and critical housing counseling services they provide to households across the state. With this resource, we hope to increase awareness of HUD-HCAs in Indiana and to provide an interactive tool for residents to explore and access information about HUD housing counseling services near them”, said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. You can access the map by clicking here or on Housing4Hoosiers. To learn more about an agency or organization, please click on a pinned point on the map, and expand the pop-up feature to access the following information: address, services and/or coverage area(s) (i.e. what county/counties or city/cities the agency or organization serves), website, and phone number.
Credits: (1) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development & Research, Single Family Housing Counseling Agencies, HUD open data ArcGIS dataset & (2) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling, HUD Housing Counseling locations map.
Recap: 2024 Regional Meeting Tour
Prosperity Indiana’s 2024 Regional Meeting Tour provided a unique opportunity to bring together community economic development stakeholders from across Indiana to strategize, connect, and learn. This year, the Prosperity Indiana team visited Fort Wayne, Gary, South Bend, Lafayette, Evansville, Jeffersonville, and Indianapolis. Our goal was to better understand local needs of our members and partners and to explore together how emerging trends are impacting communities throughout Indiana.
What We Learned
During our tour, we focused on fostering intimate conversations regarding trends in the Community Economic Development (CED) field and their effects on Hoosiers. We revamped our meeting format to give attendees more influence over the topics discussed. The three topics that resonated most with participants were:
Increasing Affordable Housing Supply or Developers: Addressing the needs for more affordable housing and engaging developers.
Changing the Narrative: Redefining Housing Affordability for Everyone
Strategies to Support Housing Stability: Developing practical approaches to ensure housing stability.
Key Insights and Engagement
Our tour highlighted a strong commitment from communities across Indiana. Participants shared updates on new and ongoing projects, addressed local challenges, and forged new relationships for partnership. Notably, we experienced a significant increase in engagement this year, with a 14% rise in registration.
Acknowledgments
We want to extend a special thank you to our 2024 Regional Meeting Tour co-hosts. Their dedication ensured that key players were present at each event, contributing greatly to the Tour’s success:
Bedford Collab
Brightpoint
City of Gary
City of Jeffersonville
Homestead Resources
HOUSE
Near Northwest Neighborhood Inc.
United Way Central Indiana & Indiana United Ways
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up this year’s tour, we’re excited to begin thinking about next year’s lineup of cities and potential emerging topics. Thank you to everyone who attended, our co-hosts, and host sites for their support. We look forward to continuing our work together and addressing the evolving needs of Hoosier communities!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Top community development leaders and programs across Indiana have been nominated for the prestigious Prosperity Indiana Awards. Winners will be announced at the annual Prosperity Indiana Summit on April 10th, 2024.
The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank, and co-presented by Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry.
The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, presented by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.
The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, presented by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.
The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, presented by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence, and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative.
The Inaugural Policy & Advocacy Award
The Policy & Advocacy Award will be presented for the first time at the 2024 Summit. The award recognizes a member who works closely with Prosperity Indiana staff and policymakers, building relationships with legislators, local governments, and organizations serving their community.
Nominees:
The 2024 Prosperity Indiana Summit is open to the public and centered on building relationships and an equitable economy through policy, programs, performance, and philanthropic investments. Tickets to the awards luncheon on April 10, 2024, are available by registering at prosperityindiana.org/summit2024.
The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing more than 1,000 practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Prosperity Indiana Selected for Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February 16, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana announces its selection as one of seven new State Grantees for the national Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, marking a significant milestone in advancing the organization's commitment to affordable housing.
The OSAH campaign has awarded Prosperity Indiana a capacity-building grant to enhance its ongoing efforts in the state's housing coalition. The grant will be utilized to expand partnerships with stakeholders from various non-housing sectors, including health, education, racial equity, labor, food security, climate, faith, and anti-poverty sectors.
"Prosperity Indiana is grateful for the continued support of the National Low Income Housing Coalition through its Opportunity Starts At Home campaign. We are thrilled to have the chance to continue developing our multi-sector partnerships, including our pioneering work with Indiana faith-based leaders, who have been incredible champions for good housing affordability & stability policy in Indiana and nationwide," said Hale Crumley, Prosperity Indiana Policy Manager, who manages the OSAH campaign.
The new grantees were chosen through a competitive proposal process, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing federal affordable housing solutions, amplifying racial equity, and expanding partnerships. By becoming state affiliates of the OSAH campaign, Prosperity Indiana and other grantees gain access to resources, multi-sector networks, and technical assistance.
“Today, the campaign celebrates nearly six years of working towards our shared vision of having a multi-sector movement in every state,” said Chantelle Wilkinson, national director of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. “As state partners continue to join our efforts, new coalitions of doctors, teachers, environmentalists, social workers, faith leaders, housing advocates, and many others are working together to urge policymakers to address a basic need – housing. This work is critical. It is powerful for Congress to hear from national advocates, but it’s especially powerful for them to hear from their own constituents in the states they represent.”
In addition to welcoming Prosperity Indiana, the OSAH campaign has extended grants to the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, North Carolina Housing Coalition, South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, and Virginia Housing Alliance. As Prosperity Indiana continues this partnership, the organization encourages the community to follow their housing initiatives, including OSAH, through Prosperity Indiana's website, ProsperityIndiana.org/OSAH and on social media platforms.
Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.
Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February 7, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), announces the release of the latest version of Renting in Indiana, a handbook for tenants that is currently available online at Housing4Hoosiers.com. The updated handbook contains a step-by-step guide and informational how-to manual for renting in Indiana.
“Many individuals and organizations across the state work with Hoosiers to find suitable housing that will meet their immediate and long-term needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The updated Indiana Tenant Handbook is a resource not only for renters and landlords, but for those that work daily to facilitate that crucial relationship.”
The new handbook, the first update since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, walks Hoosier tenants through every step of the rental process; from looking for the right rental property to managing a potential eviction.
There are 774,845 renter households in Indiana. “We frequently get calls from tenants throughout the state regarding their rental and/or landlord relationship. Many renters are unsure of what their lease states, what their landlord can legally do, or what their legal rights as tenants are. This has highlighted a need for additional resources and education not just for Hoosier renters, but also for landlords, service providers, and lawmakers,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana.
Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants is a general guide to help Hoosier renters make smart choices and make renting in Indiana a positive experience. The handbook walks a tenant through the entire rental process beginning with how to budget and determine how much monthly rent you can afford, how to make a list of needs for your rental property, and what to look for when viewing potential properties. The handbook reviews several types of leases; common leasing clauses, what to look for, and how to negotiate lease terms with a landlord. The handbook also outlines tenant responsibilities, best practices for good landlord-tenant relationships, how to communicate issues with your landlord, and what resources are available for a tenant when an issue arises. The newest addition to the handbook also includes a section focused on handling eviction. In the past year, there have been 74,727 eviction filings in Indiana.
Renting in Indiana includes additional resources such as worksheets as well as provides information on organizations that offer assistance on issues ranging from discrimination to domestic violence support.
“This was truly a collaborative effort, bringing together legal aid partners, service providers, and housing advocates to provide our Hoosier renters with the most comprehensive guide on how to be a successful tenant in Indiana,” said Marie Beason, Capacity Building Director, Prosperity Indiana.
Renters can access the Renting in Indiana handbook either here on the Housing4Hoosiers website or on Prosperity Indiana's website.
To support the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition’s efforts to increase housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. November 20, 2023 — Prosperity Indiana has received an inaugural grant totaling $375,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to support housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers.
“Prosperity Indiana is proud to serve as the state’s premier convener and advocate for community economic development, including affordable housing issues,” Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Aspen Clemons said. “We are honored to partner with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to affordable and stable housing. This grant will allow us the opportunity to expand the role of the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition in educating Hoosiers and stakeholders statewide about solutions to address Indiana’s housing affordability and stability crisis. The grant will provide Prosperity Indiana with additional data capacity and educational resources to improve pathways to safe, stable, and affordable housing, and eliminate barriers to homeownership and long-term rental housing solutions. In addition, the grant will allow Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition to continue serving as a premier convener to lift up the voices of the community economic development sector on housing issues, including those of the most vulnerable Hoosiers affected by housing policy decisions.”
“Over the years, Prosperity Indiana has built a strong statewide network of organizations devoted to helping Hoosiers find and stay in housing,” said Gene D’Adamo, CEO and president of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. “We are honored to support their efforts to improve the conditions of low-income renter households and long-term housing outcomes in Indiana.”
The Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition [HHNC] was formed by members of Indiana’s housing security advocacy community in April 2020 to support advocacy and education related to housing and homelessness prevention. Staffed by Prosperity Indiana, HHNC convenes partners from across Indiana to provide education and advocacy to achieve equitable federal, state, and local policies for housing stability and affordability solutions. HHNC is guided by a Steering Committee composed of a diverse group of Indiana housing advocacy and education leaders. Click here to subscribe to Prosperity Indiana’s mailing list and join the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition.
About the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life, primarily in Phoenix and Indianapolis. The Trust has awarded nearly $375 million in grants and student scholarships since its inception in 1997. For more information, visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.
June 1, 2023
Media Inquiries: Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President |smeyer@IntendIndiana.org |317-417-7976
Prosperity Indiana Welcomes Aspen Clemons as its next Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana today announced that its Board of Directors has selected Aspen Clemons as the organization’s next Executive Director. She will begin her new role on June 15, 2023.
Clemons’ background uniquely positions her to assume the Executive Director role, bringing with her more than 10 years of professional experience in policy, strategy, evaluation, and programs in the areas of affordable housing, social justice, poverty, and diversity. Clemons is well-suited to strategically guide the organization forward into this next phase.
“Prosperity Indiana serves as a critical engine for increasing equity, economic mobility, and access to opportunity,” said Ms. Clemons. “I am humbled to partner with our staff, members, and Board of Directors to support community and economic development efforts throughout Indiana. I am excited about returning home to help make Indiana a place where everyone who calls it home is afforded an opportunity to thrive.”
“Ms. Clemons’ vision, passion, and approach impressed the search committee,” said Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President. “The Board is confident that Aspen will be an inspiring leader for Prosperity Indiana members and our community partners across the state.”
Ms. Clemons holds a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.S. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has an Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Chicago. Clemons’ resume includes administrative posts working for several universities, Indiana United Ways, and the Indiana Commission for Women.
The announcement follows a search and selection process undertaken after the previous Executive Director, Jessica Love, stepped down after five years in the position.
ABOUT PROSPERITY INDIANA
Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @INCommDev on Twitter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2023
CONTACT: Rita O'Donohue| (317) 222-1221 x405| rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org
INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that Maya Painter has joined the team as the new Communications & Fundraising Coordinator. In this role, Painter will strategically message Prosperity Indiana’s mission, vision, values, programs, and benefits of membership. She will help tell the story of impact for PI and its member organizations, as well as critically support the fundraising infrastructure and delivery of convening events that marry knowledge sharing and relationship building.
Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Painter served as the Development Coordinator to the American Lung Association in Indiana where she crafted strategic messaging for two annual fundraising events. In this role, she worked to deepen relationships and secure investment with both corporate sponsors and the community. Painter has additionally spent time with the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ Marketing Office; Representative Sean Casten in Washington, D.C.; the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s Community Transitions program; and more.
Originally from Lafayette, Painter traded her black and gold for cream and crimson. She earned her Bachelor of Public Affairs with a major of Nonprofit Management and Leadership and a minor of Law & Public Policy from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington.
Painter said, “I am passionate about strengthening Indiana’s communities and improving the lives of those around us. I eagerly look forward to assisting PI in building an Indiana where there is equitable access to social and economic opportunity for all.”
Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Painter as a “Piece of the PI.”
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