New Roots Oxford creates housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities

New Roots Oxford, a neuro-inclusive affordable housing development planned for the area, met for an informational session open to Oxford residents on July 29.

This is a joint project between Inclusive Housing Resources and EmpowerMe Living. 

Inclusive Housing Resources has a “three county footprint,” which includes Butler County, Hamilton County and Clermont County, with around 131 sites and 181 dwelling units. Its goal is to ensure affordable and accessible quality housing for individuals with disabilities. 

“Our goal is to create a community that has diversity in it,” said Gina Gehm, CEO of Inclusive Housing Resources.

Emily Kendall, co-founder of EmpowerMe Living, spoke about the importance of this project and how her 6-year-old son, who has a disability, makes the project especially special. 

“He will outlive us,” Kendall said, “and one of the questions we asked as soon as he was born was ‘Where is he going to live?’”

Kendall adds that creating housing choices and options for individuals with developmental disabilities is important for the Oxford community. 

Kendall said EmpowerMe Living will serve as a co-developer for the project, while their sister construction company, Kendall Building Group, will be the capital contractor for building the homes. Kendall is a partner and president of the construction company.

Kendall Building Group has a history of building housing and commercial spaces. 

The location of the planned development is along College Corner Pike, just south of the Walmart at 5234 Hester Road.

The current plan calls for 16 detached single-family home units called microhomes. Each unit is stick-built construction with a slab-on-grade foundation. These units will also be universally designed, which are ADA-elevated. 

Kendall adds that each house is designed to be affordable to build and replicate.

“We’ve done some research that shows that people with IDD [Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities] in their families,” Kendall said, “they want more homeownership options because it is a more long-term solution.”

Gehm said there are requirements to be considered for individuals looking at this housing. 

“We do have income restrictions [and] there are some minimum downpayment requirements,” Gehm said. “We do require homeownership counseling, and ultimately, anyone who does move forward will have to have been able to establish a credit score.” 

Gehm added that it is important to open up these housing units to anyone who is at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). Gehm notes this number changes every year, usually going up.

“Currently, if it is a one-person household, the individual would have to make at or below $62,640,” Gehm said, “and [for] a two-person household, under $71,600.”

Gehm believes these housing units are ideal for people who have a fixed income or are starting their careers.

She also noted that a goal for this project is “to make sure we meet these affordability requirements.”

A Homeowners Association (HOA) will be an aspect of this development as well, with the goal of helping individuals maintain the exteriors of their homes and mowing each property’s lawn.

New Roots Oxford is currently working on completing the Planned Unit Development Application for the City of Oxford, with the planned approval being in the fall.

Additionally, they are working on an application that aims to lower the purchase price, which is estimated to be between $126,000 and $180,000, for those in HUD’s very low-income brackets. 

Affordability preservation documents are being drafted and are seeking approval. These documents seek to add restrictions on resale value on the home, in order to continue affordability for future homeowners. 

New Roots Oxford is in the process of accepting pre-applications for units.