Program Speaker: Program Chairman for September, Jim Eriksson introduced today’s speaker, Sandi Keller, President of Homeward Bound Villages. Sandi stated that Homeward Bound Villages was started in 2021 to create a community through affordable housing. Many people who work and are making $10-15/hr. cannot afford basic housing in this market, when the cost to rent is anywhere from $700-$1,500/mo. Renters find themselves spending over 50% of their pay on rent and when life happens, hard choices must be made sometimes whether to pay unexpected expenses or to pay the rent. Sandi reported that as of 2019, our local community has a severe shortage of low-income rental units—estimated to be over 1,400 units. Homeward Bound Villages has recently completed plans for its first project to create an affordable housing rental community—Karwick Village. This project will have two phases with phase one being two buildings and phase two being an additional two buildings and a community building. This project was funded by grants and donor donations. Sandi said that many people from the local community have volunteered their time to make this project possible, as well as several businesses that offered gifts in-kind like donating their services or materials.