South Central Indiana Housing Opportunity —a local nonprofit dedicated to expanding housing options for low- and moderate-income households — shut down operations Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic where officials estimate eviction threatens 720,0000 Hoosier renters.
Deborah Myerson is the Executive Director of SCIHO and has served on the board since the Bloomington Housing Authority founded the organization in 2015.
“SCIHO isn’t ceasing operations because our mission is no longer relevant because it still is. It’s just finding a sustainable business model,” Myerson said.
Over the past four years, SCIHO created Housing4Hoosiers.org, which Meyerson said provides educational materials and face-to-face advice to renters and landlords. The organization also spearheaded the new Switchyard Apartments that in Phase 1 will provide eight units to low-income tenants. A proposed Phase 2 would create eight more units once funding is found.
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Prosperity Indiana will acquire the Housing4Hoosiers website, and South Central Community Action Plan will accept ownership of Switchyard Apartments, according to Myerson.
“People who are housed but experiencing housing instability need support to stay housed,” Myerson said.
A 2020 housing assessment commissioned by the City of Bloomington found that more than 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, classifying them as “cost-burdened.”
Myerson encourages the community to create a housing trust fund that could provide sustainable housing options for years to come.
