Our History
Salem Housing was created in 1984 by five
neighborhood organizations and a church on Flint's north side. These
six groups were brought together by common concerns about the
deteriorating housing stock in their shared neighborhood: vacant and
deteriorating houses, a declining homeownership base, and
low-quality rental housing with high rents.
They also shared concerns for those
families who had to live in these deteriorated housing structures
due to lack of financial resources or unavailability of other
housing options. So... they created Salem Housing Task Force whose
mission is to improve family living conditions by providing safe,
decent, and affordable housing for families of limited income and to
act as a catalyst to restore the neighborhoods within its service
area, a 132-block area bounded by Pasadena Avenue on the orth,
Saginaw Street on the east, Wood/Begole on the south, and Dupont on
the west.
Salem Housing has
evolved into a community development organization. During 2001, as
we clarified our governance processes, we prepared to become
publicly recognized as a Community Development Corporation. Late
in 2001, the Salem Housing Task Force Corp. Board of Directors
officially adopted bylaw amendments to become Salem Housing
Community Development Corporation.
Salem
Housing has retained a central mission of affordable home ownership,
created with families...
and continues to grow to meet larger
community needs.
Mission
The Mission of Salem Housing is to improve family living
conditions by providing safe, decent, and affordable housing for
families of limited income and to act as a catalyst to
restore the neighborhoods within our target area.
Salem Housing will provide the support and encouragement necessary
to increase, through self sufficiency and independence, the
stability of families as they move toward the goal of homeownership.
Core Beliefs
Salem Housing believes that a strong and healthy
community will have a majority of its households living in
homes that they own.
Salem Housing believes that to obtain and maintain
a community of homeowners, we must add new and well-prepared
homeowners and retain those who own homes in our community
now.
Salem Housing believes that education is the most
essential ingredient for successful homeownership and a
healthy community and therefore has a foundation of classes
and experiences for maintaining and managing both home and
community. Salem Housing believes that sweat equity is an
integral tool in involving families in the decisions,
management, and manual labor of the development and
maintenance of their homes and their community.
Salem Housing believes in a large and involved
community and as such encourages and implements effective
volunteerism in all aspects of community life.
Salem Housing believes than an over-riding
community goal is that every suitable house should be
continuously occupied and that Salem Housing must play an
active role in facilitating that condition.
Salem Housing believes that all residents of our
community must have quality housing and that the services and
guidelines necessary for code enforcement, effective city
services, quality rental housing, and access to home repairs
are components.
Salem Housing believes that a healthy and viable
community includes not only housing but strong community
involvement, recreational programs, quality education,
effective infrastructure, and access to city and financial
resources.
Location
We are located at 3216 M. L. King Avenue
on the corner of M. L. King Ave. & E. Dewey
(Between Pasadena &
McClellan)
Boundaries
Salem Housing's service area is a 132-block area bounded by:
- Pasadena Avenue on the North
- Saginaw Street on the East
- Wood/Begole on the South
- Dupont on the West.
In addition, Salem Housing CDC will work in partnership
with
groups throughout the county to develop affordable housing.
Contact Us
3216 M. L. King Avenue | Flint, Michigan 48505
Phone (810) 785-5340
Fax (810) 785-5366
Email
jpontin@salemhousing.org
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