Rising Evolution Affordable Housing Development
Rising Evolution (RE) addresses social economics, redlining, social equality, community advocacy, housing assistance development, and, most importantly, translating these resources to cultivate self-sustainability. In the past, we served as a concierge of resources to the community to inspire less violence and develop a healthier community. However, Circle Up Indy has grown and adapted its mission to a broader initiative in response to an ever-changing status quo to adequately address the needs of the population it serves. CUI will be outlining our RE housing development in the following phases:
Impact/Outcomes
Circle Up Indy conducts exit interviews with all our clients, including homeowners who receive needed repairs through Rising Evolution. The Community Conductor interviews the client, ensures all their needs have been met, and obtains information on how this program has helped them. We also evaluate all projects through satisfaction surveys with our clients and community partners. These surveys provide the necessary feedback to improve our processes and measure change.
CUI defines success by analyzing the breadth and depth of engagement with residents and community partners. We work with a disenfranchised community with historical mistrust in community anchor organizations and government entities. CUI employs a holistic and progressive approach to community engagement which is rooted in accessibility and mutual trust, and has established a feedback framework that is crucial to informing successful CUI efforts in the Martindale Brightwood community. Additionally, CUI measures success by quantifying connectivity and retention with partners that provide youth mentorship and educational and employment programs, Tracking, maintaining data, continual relations with residents we serve, and measuring levels of success by using our tipping point software which will allow our organization to monitor levels of development and engagement we can share with our funders and collective partners.
Community benefits imparted include:
Our Ask
Over the last few years, it has become clear that housing is a public health crisis in Indianapolis and across the state. Because of this, Circle Up Indy is more determined than ever to implement the next phase of Rising Evolution by purchasing a 3-D printer. We are working with existing partners and potential funders on top of our online fundraiser to raise a total of $2,600,000 towards our capital stack. Building upon our existing partnership with Community Health Network (CHN), we seek your support by making a $50,000 investment in the purchase of the 3-D printer along with public support for Rising Evolution as part of your work to address the social determinants of health. Additionally, we will continue to refer community members to CHN services such as physical and mental wellness.
- Home Repair: CUI housing remodeling is our first step to becoming developers. Residents in our community face ongoing challenges with little to no money for housing repair/maintenance. In this phase, we recently remodeled homes in despair. Upon completing our community conductor's (one-on-one case managers) resident needs assessment, our contractors will go to the resident's home to meet with them to take an additional housing repair assessment for both outside & inside home repair to gain a greater understanding of the damages to the property (Home repair assessments are different from our evaluation of the needs as our resident needs assessment is geared towards additional levels of financial support ranging from rent, utility, transportation, food, and education. The home repair assessment focuses on the remodeling/repairs of the homes of residents). Upon completing our home repair assessment and walk-through, our contractors (most, if not all, contractors are residents of the area we serve. Our focus is to keep funding within the communities we look to build and develop within.) then begin the planning phases for remodeling, expenses for repairs, a timeline for completion, and finally, execution of the home repair assessment. We have recently completed housing remodeling in the Martindale-Brightwood area and are looking to expand our services to additional homeowners whose homes need remodeling/repairs.
- Housing Rehabilitation: As a grassroots organization, it has been challenging to venture into new construction/housing development. CUI Housing Rehabilitation Home Development focuses on implementing authentic, affordable living opportunities in various developments with a focus on stability. With years of data, financial analysis, and research, Housing rehabilitation is among many affordable housing opportunities. See CUI timeline for Housing Rehabilitation development for year-end 2023 or early 2024. We will train residents in the areas we serve in construction certification as they will build a home from beginning to end. We must not only offer homes for residents in the areas we do but also educate and develop our residents and employ them at livable wages that will support the residents we seek to serve and the communities we are revitalizing. With the cost of materials from housing development, C.U.I. will focus on building practical and cost-effective relationships with supply manufacturers. Housing Rehabilitation is one of many economic factors of housing affordability. Housing Rehabilitation Development will be available in two phases renters working with unconventional residents that have been redlined for various reasons (lack of three times the income, that credit, justice-involved, homeless residents, disabled individuals, and veterans). CUI focuses on working with residents to move them to be homeowners with our various partners (community organizations we worked with, thanks, and additional supporting partners.).
- 3D-Printed Home Construction: This innovative construction method allows homes to be built faster, more affordable, and with less environmental impact. Traditional construction can be expensive, trending, and lacks Labor, and it is a crucial leading polluter compared to 3D-printed homes. We build homes and businesses and train, certify, and educate individuals/residents on 3D-printed housing development. We are believed to be the only organization in Indiana to train, certify, and build 3D-printed homes presenting historical opportunities to our communities. 3D-printed homes are made with a fast, automated operating machine. Traditional construction is still needed for finishing work. Traditional construction can be expensive, trending, and lacks Labor, and it is a crucial leading polluter compared to 3D-printed homes. 3D printed homes are the latest affordable phase of housing stability/availability, community wealth opportunities, homeowner equity, and faster development time (able to print/build a home within 24 to 48 hours based on square footage, dimensions, and materials), cost-effective, and eco-friendly.
Impact/Outcomes
Circle Up Indy conducts exit interviews with all our clients, including homeowners who receive needed repairs through Rising Evolution. The Community Conductor interviews the client, ensures all their needs have been met, and obtains information on how this program has helped them. We also evaluate all projects through satisfaction surveys with our clients and community partners. These surveys provide the necessary feedback to improve our processes and measure change.
CUI defines success by analyzing the breadth and depth of engagement with residents and community partners. We work with a disenfranchised community with historical mistrust in community anchor organizations and government entities. CUI employs a holistic and progressive approach to community engagement which is rooted in accessibility and mutual trust, and has established a feedback framework that is crucial to informing successful CUI efforts in the Martindale Brightwood community. Additionally, CUI measures success by quantifying connectivity and retention with partners that provide youth mentorship and educational and employment programs, Tracking, maintaining data, continual relations with residents we serve, and measuring levels of success by using our tipping point software which will allow our organization to monitor levels of development and engagement we can share with our funders and collective partners.
Community benefits imparted include:
- Investment in a black-led community-based organization and a black-owned builder
- Encouragement of entrepreneurship
- Expansion of business opportunities
- Generational wealth building via home ownership (Housing Rehabilitation Development & 3D Homes) at affordable rates
- Housing for residents from all walks of life
- Affordable custom-built homes
- Moving residents from renters to homeowners
- 3D housing construction training, and certification
- Welcomes individuals as young as 15 years old, those with a criminal record, individuals with disabilities, and Veterans
- Promotes inclusivity and enhances the well-being and growth of our community
- Offers a highly competitive starting pay rate of $25 - $40 an hour, depending on experience
Our Ask
Over the last few years, it has become clear that housing is a public health crisis in Indianapolis and across the state. Because of this, Circle Up Indy is more determined than ever to implement the next phase of Rising Evolution by purchasing a 3-D printer. We are working with existing partners and potential funders on top of our online fundraiser to raise a total of $2,600,000 towards our capital stack. Building upon our existing partnership with Community Health Network (CHN), we seek your support by making a $50,000 investment in the purchase of the 3-D printer along with public support for Rising Evolution as part of your work to address the social determinants of health. Additionally, we will continue to refer community members to CHN services such as physical and mental wellness.
