How partners can bring housing developments to life
Working collaboratively with local governments, municipalities, nonprofits, and surrounding communities has always been at the forefront of TWG’s process for creating housing for all. TWG has built lasting partnerships with organizations across the country in its mission to bring high-quality, affordable housing options to life.
Partnering with local governments Developing a new community is a complex process that takes time. It’s imperative to work hand-in-hand with the local government or municipality throughout the entire process so that everyone is on the same page. This streamlines processes, and can help identify any potential zoning challenges or roadblocks early on. Push back from local governments can massively hinder potential housing opportunities, therefore it’s crucial to work together and ensure all parties are aligned on project goals and priorities.
TWG also relies on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to fund many of its affordable housing communities, which is the largest federal program encouraging the creation of affordable rental housing for low-income households. The federal government issues tax credits to state and territorial governments, and then state housing agencies award these credits to developers, such as TWG, to complete housing projects through a competitive process.
Giving back by working with local nonprofits TWG has also worked with countless local nonprofits to cater to disadvantaged and underserved populations by providing resources and housing to better serve its communities. TWG has 100+ housing communities across the United States, most of which have partnerships with local non-profit agencies.
For example, TWG’s Line Lofts Apartments is a senior living development on the eastside of Indianapolis. The community prioritizes senior residents with visual impairments as part of a partnership between TWG and local nonprofit Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS). The development has specific features that aid visually impaired residents, including oversized elevator buttons, tactile markings and dedicated ride sharing pickup spots, as well as a park area and washing station for service animals.
Line Lofts is the home of the VIPS Simon and Estelle Knoble Family Resource Center, an over 6,000 square-foot center that allows VIPS to provide for Indiana’s youngest children who are blind or visually impaired and their families, and offers services such as early intervention, orientation and mobility, preschool transition assistance, advocacy training and parent events.
Another example is Residences at Fireclay in Utah, where TWG partnered with First Step House to support its veterans and reserve units specifically for disabled seniors and seniors who have experienced homelessness. First Step House, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit, serves over 1,200 individuals each year within the community to address challenges of addiction, mental health, homelessness and criminal justice involvement. This partnership will ensure that residents with disabilities receive the supportive services they need to build productive, meaningful and healthy lives long-term.
Serving the needs of its communities Across the country in Seattle, TWG is currently working with the Watershed Community Development (WCD), a non-profit organization based in the neighborhood that employs long-term local staff agents leading the technical development process. WCD’s mission is to create homes and workspaces for artists, artisans, local workers and strengthen existing community bonds. The upcoming affordable housing community has dozens of local artists working on it, as well as a long list of community supporters. WCD will remain the land owner, be the non-profit sponsor, and continue community engagement work once completed, with plans to host 1,000 events in the district.
Every development is a huge undertaking that requires a network of organizations and partnerships to make it possible. TWG is grateful for all of the talented architects, designers, engineers, contractors and more that have dedicated their time to making these projects a reality.
TWG is continuing to foster partnerships and announce new developments nationwide. For more information on our latest communities, click here.