CommunityScale

CommunityScale helps region win $20M grant for affordable housing

A new chapter for affordable housing in the South Bend–Elkhart, IN region

Our recently completed Regional Housing Study for the three-county South Bend–Elkhart region has contributed to a transformative outcome: a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through its Community Leadership Implementation Grants initiative, including $20M dedicated to establishing and operating a regional housing land trust and investment fund.

This award represents a major milestone in addressing the region’s acute housing challenges. The Regional Housing Collaborative made possible by the grant will tackle two critical goals: expanding affordable housing and revitalizing blighted properties across the region.

Turning data into action

The grant builds on the foundation of the Regional Housing Study, which CommunityScale developed in collaboration with MACOG and other regional partners and which itself was funded by an earlier round of support from the Lilly Foundation. This study provided a clear, data-backed understanding of the region’s housing needs, from identifying the growing affordability gap to highlighting the specific challenges faced by low-income households and essential workers.

Key findings included:

  • A 13,440-16,800 home deficit over the next decade to keep up with demand.
  • A median affordability gap of $88,000, making homeownership unattainable for many households.
  • A need to shift focus from single-family homes to diverse housing types, such as duplexes, townhomes, and mid-sized multifamily buildings.
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County’s photo of a ride with St. Joseph County Parks supporters during Sugar Camp Days at Bendix Woods.

Leveraging community partnerships

The Regional Housing Study emphasized that solving the housing crisis requires both local and regional collaboration. With partners such as the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the Marshall County Community Foundation, and MACOG, the South Bend–Elkhart Regional Housing Collaborative is uniquely positioned to drive change.

The initiative will use tools like:

  • Land banks to transform vacant lots into affordable homes.
  • Revolving investment funds to finance affordable housing projects.
  • Zoning reforms and streamlined regulations to encourage diverse and accessible housing development.

A vision for transformation

The grant is just the beginning. It aligns with the region’s long-term goals, including South Bend Vision 2045, which envisions vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods that offer housing options for residents across income levels.

By connecting housing policy with broader economic and community development goals, this initiative will:

  • Provide new attainable housing options for middle- and low-income families.
  • Support aging-in-place solutions for a growing senior population.
  • Foster mixed-use, walkable communities that align with shifting housing preferences.

CommunityScale created social media assets to help the client communicate the most important issues with the public

A shared success

CommunityScale is proud to have played a pivotal role in securing this funding by delivering actionable insights through the Regional Housing Study. This grant award showcases what’s possible when regions prioritize collaboration, strategic planning, and equitable solutions.

Explore the Regional Housing Study
Discover more about the data and strategies behind this initiative at housingstudy.macog.com.

Jeff Sauser

Jeff Sauser, co-founding Principal at CommunityScale, has over 10 years experience leading urban design and planning projects for public and private sector clients in complex urban contexts across the country. His work emphasizes the role of housing policy and production in driving economic development progress and creating opportunities for socioeconomic mobility across the community. He is particularly interested in applying emerging big data resources and AI tools to help clients and communities plan smarter and more proactively.