| Lack of affordable housing and the abandonment of historic neighborhoods have been ongoing problems for many metropolitan areas. In the past several decades there has been a movement to address both issues with the same solution: rehabilitation and revitalization of the historic urban buildings for use as affordable housing. Providence Revolving Fund in Providence, Rhode Island; Heritage Housing Partners in Pasadena, California; and Project Row Houses/Row Houses Community Development Corporation in Houston, Texas have had a significant effect on the communities they serve by restoring buildings that would have otherwise been demolished, providing much needed affordable housing, and helping rebuild a sense of community. This thesis examines these nonprofits; reviewing the organizations' background, focus, funding, and projects, as well as innovative solutions for addressing and mitigating these issues. These organizations were selected and analyzed as model programs whose common characteristics and practices reveal a pattern of similarities that can serve as a framework for others in addressing the need for affordable housing, the preservation of our built environment and cultural histories, and an ongoing community revitalization. |
