Model 9: Property Management

This chapter is introduced by recounting how the story of how the church began. It started in this weight room, where Coach Wayne Gordon led Bible studies. As the kids came to Christ, he sent them out to find a church. Eventually these kids (and God) convinced Wayne to be their pastor. With no pastoral training, but aware that a church is to be a blessing to the community, he sent them out to discover local needs. A place to wash clothes was on the list. So they prayed, and that weekend a suburban church delivered a wash machine. With increased faith, they kept responding to needs. Today, Lawndale Community Church has transformed their community. One of their secrets to success: No one can be a member unless they live in Lawndale. Soon within this target area, there will be “no poor among them.” (Acts 4)

One of the most difficult aspects of church sponsored rental housing is property management. Richard Townsell has figured this out—and tells us his secrets as he unfolds the story of raising the Lazarus Apartments.  He tells of the birth, the biblical underpinnings, policy ramifications, how the project was accomplished, and is now being managed. The project took a total gutting of the existing structures. It  cost over $3.5 million. Financial provision came through low-income housing tax credits, and a second silent mortgage from the city, at zero percent interest. These financial tools provided some of the lowest rents in the city of Chicago. With clear intentionality, Black and Latino contractors, subcontractors, architects, environmental and insurance companies were utilized and paid at the prevailing wages (union scale), modeling the same philosophy as Tabernacle Apartments, which went a step further utilizing a Black-owned bank. The rational for this is explored in this chapter Richard tells of their own theological transformation.  

The church worked with Lou Maldonado’s Pizza to open one of their famous restaurants on the church property. The men in recovery from their Hope House Ministry train to work there.

 Scope of Lawndale’s Housing Ministries

LCDC has developed single-family homes and condos for low-income families, rehabilitated over 130 rental units, and created a $3.1 million child care facility serving 220 children and employing approximately 50 people. LCDC received the SNAPP award from the city of Chicago, generating over $3 million in reinvestment in the community for infrastructure improvements, parks, and business retention programs.

The housing ministry of the Lawndale Community Church and LCDC includes: Samaritan House—transitional housing for homeless families; Hope House—transitional housing for men who have been released from prison and/or have serious drug/alcohol addictions; Nehemiah House—apartments for men successfully completing a nine-month stay in Hope House; Harambee Homes— nine owner-built town homes using a mutual self-help model similar to Habitat for Humanity; Lazarus Apartments; and Tabernacle Apartments—twenty-six units identical to Lazarus’ rental structure. LCDC has acquired sixty vacant and tax-delinquent single-family homes and condominiums from the city, renovated them, and sold them to community residents—often using a lease-to-purchase model, allowing families to fix credit and down payment issues over an eighteen–month to two-year process before they assume the mortgage… read of more: www.lcdc.net One goal of the church is homeownership for it’s members.

·      The church has a clinic of over 40 health professionals that serve the Lawndale community.

Links & other Resources:

www.lcdc.net/consulting.html 

·       Real Hope in Chicago, By Wayne Gordon

·      National Fellowship of Housing Ministries
,www.housingministries.org/indexPMMhome.htm