As an inspired group, Higher Ground Abodes journeys together with people who live at 30% of the area median income to acquire and cultivate ownership through shared housing - housing cooperatives, community land trusts, intentional communities, or co-habilitative - to maintain and preserve affordable housing where young adults can build their social and financial capital.
Our Housing Approach Explained…
Beyond just another housing program, Higher Ground Abodes aims to provide housing that allows residents to thrive! Our approach keeps costs as low as possible at every step, from buying and renovating homes to operating them. This enables people with extremely low incomes, like most youth aging out of foster care, to access a decent home, save, and gain the stability needed to work toward a higher education or entrepreneurship.
Unlike typical developers, we focus on people, not profit. We use two grassroot models—community ownership and cooperative housing—to provide affordable housing:
1) Community Ownership: The community owns the housing, keeping it affordable long-term by preventing it from being sold for high profit.
2) Cooperative Living: Residents share resources and manage the home together, which lowers everyone's living costs.
We find and fix up homes with no debt, establish a reserves account for repairs, and makes sure they're legal and maintained. We get volunteers to help. Then, we teach residents how to manage the home together. This saves money for everyone and helps residents succeed.
Through debt-free operations, a dedicated reserve fund for unforeseen expenses, resident collaboration in efficient home management, and volunteer support, we ensure long-term sustainability based on resident-members contributions. This allows resident-members to retain sufficient funds for essential goods and services, fostering their personal and professional growth.
“Will your housing be like an adult foster home or semi-independent living?”
Higher Ground Abodes will be about more than just housing; our aim is to invest in futures. We will do things differently by prioritizing resident voices and sharing resources. We will hold regular meetings where residents collaborate with us on important decisions about their homes, ensuring their needs are met and they develop valuable life skills. And because we will share cost savings with residents, they will have more financial stability to pursue education, careers, and their dreams.
This video offers a glimpse inside our first home—a 97-year-old, 1,848 sq. ft. brick house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Higher Ground Abodes purchased it outright from the previous owners and is now raising funds to renovate it, debt-free.
Our First Home - Coming 2025!
Higher Ground Abodes’ first home will be for young adults aging out of foster care.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
✅ A Stake in the Home – Instead of just renting, residents gain part ownership in the home. That means they have a say in decisions and can build financial equity over time.
✅ Shared Costs, Lower Expenses – Residents split housing costs like utilities, maintenance, and repairs, making it more affordable for everyone.
✅ Building Savings & Wealth – When they save money by managing expenses wisely, part of those savings go back into their pockets and future financial goals.
✅ A Path to Owning a Home – This isn’t just temporary housing—it’s a stepping stone. Residents learn how to manage a home, budget, and make smart financial choices to prepare for homeownership.
✅ Keeping Wealth in the Community – Instead of paying rent to an outside landlord, the money stays with the residents and supports their neighborhood, creating long-term financial security.
By giving former foster youth the skills to manage life, we help them break the cycle of government dependence that affects 50% of those who age out of foster care.
Annual Impact Reports
-
![2023-2024 Report (p. 1 of 4)]()
2023-2024 Report (p. 1 of 4)
-
![2023-2024 Report (p. 2 of 4)]()
2023-2024 Report (p. 2 of 4)
