Lacasa Of Goshen Inc

LACASA WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT, FAMILY STABILITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY. THIS MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, ASSET AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, IMMIGRATION SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT.

ASSET AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: MANAGES LEASING AND MAINTENANCE FOR ALL LACASA-OWNED RENTAL PROPERTY AND PROVIDES SAFE, ATTRACTIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES. AS OF THE END OF 2021, LACASA OWNED AND MANAGED 347 RENTAL UNITS LOCATED IN THE CITIES OF GOSHEN AND ELKHART, INDIANA. DURING 2021, LACASA COMPLETED AN 8-UNIT, NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN GOSHEN WHICH WAS A COLLABORATION WITH OAKLAWN TO SERVE THEIR INDEPENDENT CLIENTS WITH HOUSING VOUCHERS.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT: MANAGES THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, REHABILITATION AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING FOR RE-SALE TO HOMEBUYERS OR FOR LONG TERM RENTAL MANAGEMENT. DURING 2021, LACASA CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION ON 4 DUPLEXES (ONE HISTORIC REHAB AND THREE NEW CONSTRUCTION) IN A HISTORIC ARTS DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR DOWNTOWN ELKHART. LACASA REHABILITATED ITS EXISTING 10-UNIT PROPERTY IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A COMPLETE HVAC AND PLUMBING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. LACASA COMPLETED AND SOLD ITS SECOND NEW CONSTRUCTION, FOR-SALE HOME IN A PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSESS THE USE OF MODULAR HOUSING TO REVITALIZE AGING AND UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NEW OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING. FINALLY, AS PART OF LACASA'S HELP-A-HOUSE PROGRAM, 7 OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES WERE REHABILITATED.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER: WORKS WITH LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PREPARE FOR, PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HOMEOWNERSHIP. IN 2020, LACASA REDESIGNED AND REPACKAGED ITS FINANCIAL TRAINING CURRICULUM UNDER THE "MASTER IT" UMBRELLA WITH MASTER YOUR MONEY, MASTER HOMEOWNERSHIP, MASTER YOUR DEBT, AND MASTER YOUR CREDIT. THESE CLASSES WERE ALSO REFORMATTED FOR DELIVERY IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN 2021, THESE CLASSES GRADUATED 95, 71, 4, AND 34, RESPECTIVELY. LACASA OFFERS INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS USED FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP, SECONDARY EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OR TO START A BUSINESS. IN 2021, 22 HOMEOWNERSHIP CLASS GRADUATES PURCHASED HOMES. LACASA ALSO OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR PRE- AND POST-PURCHASE.

RESIDENT SERVICES: LACASA'S IMMIGRATION PROGRAM IS ONE OF THREE ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIANA THAT IS ACCREDITED BY U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS). THIS ACCREDITATION ENABLES OUR COUNSELORS TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION ON OUR CLIENTS' BEHALF AND ALSO REPRESENT THEM TO USCIS. IN 2021, OUR IMMIGRATION COUNSELORS FILED 256 DOCUMENTS WITH THE USCIS ASSISTING IMMIGRANTS TO RENEW RESIDENCY STATUS, APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP AND PETITION FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENTER THE U.S. LACASA ALSO SAW 364 IMMIGRANTS WITH GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION POLICY, PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY. LACASA HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO USCIS OFFICIALS IN INDIANAPOLIS. OUR COUNSELORS REPRESENT CLIENTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS TO ENSURE SUCCESS. COMMUNITY BUILDING & ENGAGEMENT: EMPOWERS NEIGHBORS TO ORGANIZE AND REVERSE TRENDS THAT CAUSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DETERIORATE AND EXPERIENCE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL DISINVESTMENT. COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND ENCOURAGES NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO COLLABORATE WITH LACASA AND CITY/COUNTY OFFICIALS IN MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. LACASA'S GOAL IS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS SELECTED FOR DEVELOPMENT BECOME SAFE AND ATTRACTIVE PLACES WHERE FAMILIES CHOOSE TO INVEST THEIR TIME, MONEY AND OTHER RESOURCES. IN 2021, LACASA CONTINUED ITS HISTORICAL WORK WITH MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN GOSHEN, WITH THE PRAIRIE CREEK RUN NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH-EAST ELKHART, AND WITH THE TOLSON NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ELKHART.