Columbia Community Land Trust outlines budget for housing, will open applications

The ground has been leveled and other preparations are finished, and now the Columbia Community Land Trust expects to start construction on Lynn Street Cottages by August.

Sign-up to get one of the homes will start July 1 for eligible applicants, which must have a certain credit score and gross income level.

“[Applicants] have to be 80 percent of the area median income, and for a household of one right now that’s about $41,000 gross annual income,” Housing Programs Supervisor Randy Cole said, “Households of four is about $58,000.”

The $554,000 budget is made up from funds from City Council and Providence Bank, and that includes the $40,000 from the Community Development Block Grant to install solar panels. R. Anthony Development Groups has the contract to build the homes; no one has the contract for the solar panels.

There will be an orientation meeting for those interested on Aug. 15 and screening will begin afterwards. Selected residents should be able to move in March of 2018.

Information on an open Columbia Community Land Trust meeting Aug. 10: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Midwest-Community-Land-Trust-Regional-Convening.html?soid=1011195522209&aid=n_ZRszfvy2M