ICCF Community Homes - Blueprints - Spring 2023

Spring 2023 Fall 2022

Past Injustice, New Possibilities FROM RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE DEED COVENANTS TO EQUITABLE HOUSING

IN THIS ISSUE: A Message from our CEO Houses to Homes Gala 2023 The Impact of You: Ebenezer Award Winners Meeting the Need Seymour Christian School Reimagined

ICCF COMMUNITY HOMES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Lee Hardy, Chair Calvin University Emeritus

Dear ICCF Community Homes friends and partners,

Eunice Lopez-Martin, Vice-Chair Steelcase Tom Prince, Treasurer Hungerford Nichols Arlen-Dean Gaddy, Secretary Erhardt Construction Jamecia Adams, Past Chair Keller Williams Realty David Contant Build Design Restore (BDR) Mary DeYoung Gray Space Collaborative Marjorie Dood BASIC Benefits LLC William Jackson Corewell Health Teresa Jones Christian Reformed Church in North America Rhoda Kreuzer Partners in Action, Inc. Brianne Pitchford Triangle Associates Inc. Lexi M. Woods Great Lakes Commercial Finance

During the program, I talked about the current realities of the housing market and also introduced a special neighbor. Devetta Blakely, pictured with her family on the cover of this issue, came to ICCF seeking a new home and a new life for herself and her grandkids. It took years and a few setbacks, but she finally completed her homebuyer education and was able to purchase a home in the Community Homes Land Trust.

Devetta now serves on the Land Trust board and hopes to help others find “home” too.

A recent study concluded that Kent County needs nearly 35,000 new housing units to be built between 2022 and 2027, just to meet demand. Within the city of Grand Rapids, the need is estimated at 7,951 rental units and 6,155 homeownership units. In the rest of Kent County, the need is 5,107 rental units and 15,486 homeownership units.

Friends, these are big numbers, bigger than any single company or organization can provide. It would be easy to become paralyzed by the enormity of the need.

But when we step closer, we find ways to fill in our part of the puzzle. For example, in the last 12 months ICCF Community Homes built over 56 new homes and apartments, preserved 650 affordable rentals, and sold 9 houses, and we are not slowing down in the coming years.

35,000 HOUSING UNITS NEEDED BEFORE 2027

SORTED BY INCOME BRACKET

$107,401+ 9,831 UNITS

$107,400

9,792 UNITS

$71,600

MAY 18 open to all

SEP 21 open to all

We know that others in the for-profit and nonprofit 8,676 UNITS housing industry are doing their part as well. Regular economic forces will handle much of the demand at the $44,750 highest price points, but at ICCF Community Homes 4,455 UNITS we also operate with God’s economy in mind. Here, $26,850 Jesus taught us that the last will be first, and needs are 1,945 UNITS addressed from the bottom up instead of top down.

It’s challenging work, it’s not profitable, and it does not always make sense from the world’s point of view. But it is God’s path for us, and for our neighbors like Devetta who have found safety even in the midst of the economic storm.

OCT 26

DEC 7 open to all

Wherever you are, I hope you can experience the safety and peace of home. Thank you for continuing to support housing justice for all.

Cameron Young Behler-Young

UPCOMING LUNCH & LEARNS

church leaders

Learn more about our vision for housing justice and how YOU can make an impact.

RSVP to: Ellen Hekman at ehekman@iccf.org or 616.336.9333 x617 2

On March 16, hundreds of ICCF friends gathered for the 2023 Houses to Homes Gala.

It was truly a blessing to get together once again in person to celebrate the progress made toward housing justice in the last year.

Grace and peace,

P.S. Ryan VerWys President and CEO rverwys@iccf.org

Hear more of Devetta’s story at iccf.org/stories

Blueprints • Spring 2023

Meeting the Need Requires Urgency and Endurance The lack of affordable houses and apartments in our area has become a real ordeal for individuals and families of all income levels. But for those whose incomes are limited, finding something decent and affordable has become a problem of crisis proportions!

Reasonably-priced suitable housing means so much more than a roof for the night, as essential as that is. It is also a key foundation for productive daily lives and a significant stake towards a secure and wholesome future for our families. Especially in today’s super-charged Grand Rapids housing market, ICCF Community Homes’ vision for equitable opportunity, affordable homes and thriving neighborhoods requires BOTH a sense of urgency AND an enduring long-term commitment.

The ICCF Homes & Hope Legacy Society is a group of donors who recognize the vital importance of this long-range timeframe. Most have been faithful ICCF donors for years, if not decades. And now they’ve chosen to extend that support into the future, typically by way of a bequest gift commitment in their will or estate plan.

To learn more about including a gift to ICCF Community Homes in your will in a way that is flexible, versatile and simple to accomplish, visit iccf.org/planned-gifts/gifts-in-a-will or contact Hank Kroondyk, ICCF Planned Giving Specialist, at hkroondyk@iccf.org.

"Safe and affordable housing is indispensable if individuals and families are to flourish. ICCF Community Homes has been a leader in this essential struggle for years, and that’s why we’ve gratefully supported its work and also provided for its future endeavors in our estate plan.”

LARRY & MARY GERBENS

Reaching Homeownership Goals Buying a home is a big deal! ICCF Community Homes works with individuals and families to determine whether or not homeownership is an appropriate next step for them. In an effort to provide accessible education to households, ICCF teaches the Introduction to Homeownership class through Zoom webinars, in-person classes, and self-paced online modules.

This course covers homeownership readiness, credit and budgeting, choosing the right home, fair housing, purchase and closing processes, and more.

Last year, 440 individuals completed a homebuyer education series either online or in-person with ICCF. ICCF Community Homes

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The ballroom was packed with energy and goodwill on March 16 for our annual Houses to Homes Gala. Our emcee, author and speaker Shannon Cohen, led us through an evening of encouragement and challenge. The Ebenezer Award was presented to three outstanding groups of dedicated ICCF supporters. Our CEO Ryan VerWys presented a compelling story of two families that ICCF has helped in the last year, along with the stark view of increased need for affordable housing in Kent County. Throughout the night, we were treated to music by the Edye Evans Hyde Quintet and guests had the chance to win door prizes and enjoy a wonderful meal. We are looking forward to next year’s gala, when ICCF Community Homes will celebrate our 50th anniversary! Thank you to all who attended, sponsored, and made this event so special.

ebenezer award recipients CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR AMAZING SERVICE!

David and Barbara Huyser Kamminga & Roodvoets, Inc. Standale Lumber and Standale Home Studio

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Blueprints • Spring 2023

More pictures from the evening available at iccf.org/gala-2023

GRAND SPONSORS

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS

CHAMPION SPONSORS

Kevin - It was nice talking to you this morning. Let me know of any more changes.ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ -Melissa x.19

Mike Charles

Dave & barb huyser

J&B Cleaning Service

General Superintendent (616) 949-6660 x.17 (616) 949-8168 fax Did Mike have an e-mail he wanted to add??

3060 Breton Road • Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512

Kevinˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ 5.16.03 Velting Contractorsˈ ˈ ˈ verbal-Kevin Velting Business Cards - 2 names 3-1/2" x 2"ˈˈ

ˈ

ˈ

White

Black, PMS 185 Red, Pantone Yellow

PATRON SPONSORS Behler-Young Bill and Annette Byl Bill and Pat Waanders Blu House Properties, LLC ChoiceOne Bank Cinnaire Community Automotive, Inc. Crossroads Bible Church Dehamer Landscaping Duane and Jeannette Kelderman Etna Supply Company Growtrust Partners Helmholdt LLC Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors

ICCF Community Homes

InOnTime Kynda Lumbermen’s, Inc. Marsha and Larry Veenstra Family Mercantile Bank of Michigan Michigan State Housing Development Authority Old National Bank OVD Insurance PNC Bank Ron and Ruth VerWys Summit Point Roofing Triangle Associates VanderLugt, Mulder, DeVries & Elders

FRIEND SPONSORS Ajacs Die Sales Corporation Beene Garter, A Doeren Mayhew Firm Bethany Christian Services Brewery Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits CapTrust Financial Advisors Catalyst Partners Chesapeake Community Advisors, Inc. Corbett Family DeStigter Architecture & Planning DK Security Dominican Sisters – Grand Rapids Eastbrook Homes, Inc. Express Employment Professionals Fence Consultants of West Michigan Grand Rapids Community Foundation Huntington National Bank

Jonathan and Grace Bradford Kuiper Kraemer PC Macatawa Bank Marc and Claudia Beversluis Martin and Melissa Balk Mitchell and Jill DeJonge Monsma Marketing Corporation Overhead Door Co. of Grand Rapids Partners in Action, Inc. Pinnacle Construction Group Rite-Way Plumbing & Heating Riverside Integrated Systems, Inc. Ryan and Rachel VerWys Sable Developing, Inc. Steve and Barb Timmermans The Power Company Urban League of West Michigan

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Past Injustice, New Possibilities Racially restrictive deed covenants are a permanent stain on the record of many Grand Rapids properties, but ICCF is helping change the narrative for future generations.

by Andrew Hakken ICCF General Counsel Soon after the American Civil War ended in 1866, the United States of America ratified the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment provides: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

actors, may freely impose whatever restrictions they like on their private property, whether the restrictions are based on race or otherwise.

Tragically, even in our own backyard, deed restrictions like this increased rapidly for decades after ratification of the 14th Amendment, until the United States Supreme Court unanimously decided the case of Shelley v Kraemer in 1948.

The Shelley court held that although the 14th Amendment does not apply to private deed restrictions themselves, enforcement of the restrictions through a state’s judicial branch clearly involves state action, and states may not do so when a restriction is based on race.

An example of a racially restrictive deed covenant in Grand Rapids’ Alger Heights neighborhood from 1940: (highlighting added)

Even though Shelley eliminated enforcement of racially restrictive deed covenants, their damage had already been done. The housing stock in countless cities across the country was deeply segregated by race, as or more decisively than if the states had directly legislated the result. Racially restrictive covenants were the common and normal practice embedded in the Grand Rapids housing market all the way into the 1960s, and we are still dealing with the aftermath of this ugly chapter in our nation’s history.

Eradicating the effects of generational housing injustice takes time, but ICCF Community Homes is committed to doing so, including in this very same Alger Heights neighborhood, where we are currently planning affordable housing at the Seymour Development (see right).

This text was primarily intended to outlaw statutes and practices in southern (and northern) states that discriminated against their citizenry based on race. Despite the broad application the 14th Amendment was intended to have on racially discriminatory practices of the day, defiant property owners who benefitted from these practices devised a scheme to enable racial discrimination to continue in the housing industry—racially restrictive deed covenants.

The now-debunked theory of how racially restrictive deed covenants are permissible under the 14th Amendment is as follows: the 14th Amendment only applies to a “State” making or enforcing a discriminatory “law.” Accordingly, private citizens, who are not state 6

Blueprints • Spring 2023

Seymour Christian School Reimagined ICCF Community Homes is currently in the planning stages for a redevelopment of the former Seymour Christian School at 2550 Eastern Ave SE in the Alger Heights neighborhood. The proposal would convert the existing, vacant school building into 27 homes in a condominium association. All units would be two stories, contain two or three bedrooms, and include a small, private patio space.

The development would include a beautiful shared common courtyard and gazebo. Inside the building, residents would share a community room, mail room, and extra storage spaces. ICCF’s intent is to make at least half of the units available to households with limited income. The homes would be sold through ICCF’s Community Homes Land Trust model, maintaining the affordability of the homes beyond the first generation of owners. To date, ICCF has sold 15 homes at other locations through the land trust, which was the first of its kind in Grand Rapids.

Our next step is to secure funding for this development in order to ensure that half the units can remain affordable.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Dakota Riehl, Real Estate Development Manager, at driehl@iccf.org.

ICCF Community Homes

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415 Martin Luther King Jr. St. SE, Suite 100 Grand Rapids, MI 49507

It Takes a Team We’re grateful for the passion, expertise, and caring hearts of our team members.

Our Mission Equitable Opportunity. Affordable Homes. Thriving Neighborhoods.

P: (616) 336-9333 | ICCF.org