Supporting Homeownership through Community Learning Centers

Spring 2023

In Spring 2023, I was a research assistant for Dr. Hayden Shelby from the UC School of Planning. The project consists of interviews with staff from the Community Learning Center Institute as well as community members who have achieved homeownership through non-traditional methods. CLCI works to develop community learning centers at Cincinnati Public Schools that help address students’ and families’ needs in and out of the classroom. This can take the form of walking alongside parents through the process of acquiring a driver’s license, opening a bank account, enrolling in higher education courses or technical programs, and more.

Community members began approaching CLCI staff with questions about how to go about buying a home. Each situation is different due to income levels, citizenship status, etc. Therefore, staff members have tapped into a wide range of nonprofit and governmental programs that help low-income people achieve and maintain homeownership.

Interviews are still actively being conducted to gain an understanding of these alternative pathways to homeownership from multiple perspectives. The final product of this research will hopefully be a handbook that will guide CLCI staff, community members, and other cities that would like to develop strong, streamlined programs to help families with unique circumstances achieve homeownership.