Community Engagement Report 2022

Topic: Eligible Investments

Conducted: 2022 Meetings #1 (January–February)

Groups convened: 8	Total participants: 65

Community Priorities Summary

Property acquisition: Keystone of affordability and anti-displacement

Commercial buildings: Investment in local businesses and mixed-use spaces

Housing: Most groups' top priority, covering rent, ownership, and homelessness

Recreation facilities: Strong youth focus and adult education

Arts & culture: Community arts access tied to place and housing

Infrastructure: Equity in implementation and job opportunities

Group-Specific Themes

American Indian/Alaska Native Community

Top priority: Housing for affordability and homelessness

Also valued: Business investment, arts, culture, recreation, and mental health

Black Community

Focus on property acquisition for affordable homeownership

Interest in cooperatives and local wealth-building

Programs to support Black contractors, businesses, and workers

Houseless Community

Services like laundry, warming centers

Low-barrier housing with autonomy

Property acquisition for purpose-built housing

Latinx Community

Housing accessible to non-SSN borrowers, large families

Support for food carts and community ed centers

Property acquisition for long-term affordability

Low-Income Homeowners

Focus on affordable, ADA-accessible housing

Support for recreation and small business development

Land banking emphasized

Mobile Home Park Residents

Support for housing, including cooperatives and repairs

Services access and facilities for houseless neighbors

Recreation and commercial development are lower priorities

Small Business Community

Housing and business mutually reinforcing

Support for mixed-use, gardens, and local programs

Somali Community

Affordable housing and tiny homes

Youth recreation and adult education

Small business and mixed-use support

Quotes

"Housing first; businesses and communities won't mean anything without the people here... What good is a community center if the community is pushed out of the neighborhood?" – Mobile Home Park Residents focus group

"More people living in the area means more businesses, and more businesses means more people." – Small Business Community focus group

"I like the idea of land banking, like buying the Oak Leaf, or like what happened at Normandy. I think we should be able to buy those so we don't lose that affordability." – Latinx Community focus group

"Food carts are a great opportunity to have your own business... they stayed open when many restaurants closed." – Latinx Community focus group