Volume 9 , Issue 38

Freedom West CDC, 501(c)(3)

"I serve as a volunteer executive director for Freedom West Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit development entity which serves five counties in Northwest Oklahoma, and Sherrill is the Housing Development Manager for Freedom West CDC. I also serve as the Social Sciences Department Chair at NWOSU and have a lifelong interest in the progress and vitality of our region of the state.

We have been and continue to work with the City of Alva and the Alva Chamber of Commerce in its Revitalization Strategy, which is in its infancy but is gaining ground rapidly. Freedom West CDC is the only non-profit development entity which has the legal ability to develop affordable housing in this region of the state and is recognized by HUD and by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency as a Community Housing Development Organization. As such, both the City and the Chamber have asked us to help them work toward in-fill housing development which is needed in the City of Alva. When the McGill properties on 12th street were condemned by the City, we were asked by the City to be present at the City Council meeting last week to explain how we can and are functioning to assist property owners with this type of issue. Sherrill was present at that meeting--at the City manager's request.

In short, here is what she explained as one example to the Council about our in-fill affordable housing development plan for Alva. The example she gave is as follows: Freedom West CDC has been given one property on Sherman Street whose absentee owners were not able to maintain the property, nor were they able to demolish it. Once we received clear title to the property, we began demolition and removal of the existing structure, which was beyond repair. We were able to issue a market rate letter of acceptance to the owners of the Sherman property which is a recognized tax deduction since we are an exempt organization. In summary, this scenario has become a "win-win" situation for all involved parties. The owners received a qualified deduction, we have a lot in an established neighborhood on which we can build a new affordable home, and the City will eventually receive utility receipts from the unit once it is purchased and occupied. The neighborhood realizes an increase in property values and everyone goes home happy.

I hope that you have learned alittle more about what Freedom West CDC is and why we do what we do. If you would like to check us out on the web, go to www.freedomwestcdc.org. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Thank you for your time, and I do like to read your enews when I have the time! Kay Decker, lifelong Woods County resident, and Freedom resident for the last 20 years." -- Kay Decker - Email: KLDecker@nwosu.edu
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