Page 26 - New Allen Alliance Digital Book

Project Activities: Housing and Community Health; Infrastructure & Governmental Facilities

Housing Community Health
As our population grows, so must the housing stock. As part of the NewAllen The health and wellness of residents is an important aspect of community quality
Strategic Investment Plan, 2016 data from the American Community Survey 2010 of life, and in East Allen County we chose to focus our community health efforts
– 2014 showed that of the seven communities, six had housing vacancy at 4% or on obesity. In the process of identifying a community health focus, the Parkview
less. Monroeville was the only community with a higher vacancy at 11%. Each Community Health Needs Assessment, 2016 was reviewed. According to the
community has its reasons for this, including a moratorium on sewer taps in Leo- assessment, “Obesity (having a body mass index greater than 30.0) affects all
Cedarville recently lifted due to capacity increases, and difficulty in obtaining land age groups and disproportionately affects people of lower socioeconomic statuses
in the Amish communities of Grabill and Harlan. There has also been a wariness for and racial/ethnic groups. There are often many complications that can occur as a
new construction after the 2008 recession. direct or indirect result of obesity. In the Parkview region (seven Northeast Indiana
counties), nearly a third of adults and more than one in ten low-income, preschool-
East Allen communities desire to engage with developers to ensure their individual aged children are obese . . . However, obesity is a treatable and preventable health
identities are intact. Other areas in Allen County to the west and north appear to concern with a variety of public health intervention strategies recommended by
have been absorbed by Fort Wayne. The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership is healthcare providers and professionals.” Allen County’s obesity was at 30.1% for
currently conducting a regional housing plan that looks at the high-level needs of adults and 13.6% for low-income preschool children. Obesity was identified as
Northeast Indiana. Additional county-level plans are to follow. the top health concern for Allen County. It is also a contributor to other health
concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Part of East Allen’s sustainable housing strategy is to promote infill development
and focus on providing housing for senior citizens in their communities. In the The Healthy Eating Active Living Cooking Classes Project is listed in the portfolio for
NewAllen Strategic Investment Plan, 2016, each of the communities identified proposed Stellar funding. As part of this project, the St. Joseph Community Health
a need and desire for more senior housing. Within Allen County, projections are Foundation and Parkview Health, through an expansion of their highly successful
that the senior population will increase from 11% to 18% by 2030. New senior Our HEALing Kitchen (OHK) Program, will provide sub-grants for kitchen classes
housing will enable seniors to continue to live close to their family and friends, at 15 locations throughout the East Allen Region. The OHK curriculum consists
and it will free up larger housing stock for new families. The Kady Gene Cove of more than 16 lessons that can be taught in eight sessions. The curriculum
Senior Housing Development is a proposed Stellar funded project in New Haven. covers preparing low cost, healthy food, as well as planning, buying, storing, and
The development will provide 50 two-bedroom duplex units unlike any other in the preserving fresh foods for a family. This project is complemented by many of the
City near the New Haven Community Center Park and Meadowbrook Trail. Keller other investments in parks, trails, and walkways that provide more opportunities
Development is also proposing an additional 66 units of market-rate senior housing for physical activity and healthy living.
at the site. The Town of Monroeville is also working with Brightpoint and Niemeyer
Builders to build a complementary eight-unit senior housing development next to Supportive Infrastructure and Essential Government Facilities
the Adams Heritage Nursing Home. Each community has identified additional complementary projects in regard to
infrastructure improvements or essential government facilities that are within or
The average year homes were built in Allen County is 1972. Within the areas
targeted for revitalization, homes are largely in areas of original plats. In addition, serve Rural Revival target areas. Some of these projects include the Woodburn
the Meadowbrook area in New Haven was developed in the 1950s. There are Wastewater Treatment Plant, Monroeville and Grabill Water System Upgrades, and
property owners, often senior citizens, in each of East Allen’s communities who the Leo-Cedarville government center, among numerous other projects.
struggle with maintaining their homes. The East Allen Region Owner Occupied
Housing Rehabilitation Project is proposed for Stellar funding. This project
will aid approximately 22 homeowners with needed improvements including
accessibility, weatherization and functionality such as HVAC, roofing, electrical, and
plumbing upgrades.
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