Affordable Housing
Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Over 48 million people live in poverty and an estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more than 50% of their annual income for housing. Providing decent stable housing creates stability for children and families. Not only does stable housing promote better health and provide physical safety and security, but it creates a sense of dignity and pride.
Due to the impact this has on families and the community at large, We Are Communities Foundation promotes the development of affordable housing communities and supports organizations with similar missions, such as Habitat for Humanity. WACF actively pursues the purchase of homes that have fallen victim to foreclosure. WACF will rehabilitate these properties and then resell or rent the revitalized property to a person in need. WACF will also provide funding to homeowners in risk of losing their home if they meet our qualifications. We provide this service because we want to do everything possible to help keep a family in their home.
If you are facing foreclosure and need help or want to report a home that is impacting the quality of the community, please complete the following information form.
Senior Housing
Based on a study conducted by the Federal Center for Housing Policy, by 2050, the population of individuals aged 65 and older in the U.S. will increase 120 percent from 40 million to more than 88 million. Put in another way, one in every five Americans will be 65+ in age. In terms of housing, this translates into a deficit of over 18 million homes suitable for seniors that will be needed by 2050. It is our goal to acquire and up-grade real estate properties in key retirement locations throughout the country.
Our projects include the purchase of traditional multi-family communities, apartments, or hotels and converting them to suitable senior care facilities. Integrating technology into these properties allows us to provide a safe environment which supports to connection of the senior homeowner to healthcare professionals and family members.
In terms of philanthropists and donors, our model creates retirement communities that are affordable to the senior homeowner, but generates a sustainable reoccurring revenue stream to support our further growth, as well as leveraging a business model that’s attractive to social community investors looking for a risk aversive method for positively impacting a community and the lives of people.
Community Development
Many people don’t realize the value of local parks and recreational facilities to the ecosystem of a community. Parks are a tangible reflection of the quality of life in a community. They provide identity for citizens and are a major factor in the perception of quality of life in a given community. Parks and recreation services are often cited in surveys as one of the most important factors of how livable communities are.
A study by Penn State University showed significant correlations to reductions in stress, lowered blood pressure, and perceived physical health to the length of stay in visits to parks. Parks and protected public lands are proven to improve water quality, protect groundwater, prevent flooding, improve the quality of the air we breathe, provide vegetative buffers to development, produce habitat for wildlife, and provide a place for children and families to connect with nature and recreate outdoors together.
In terms of economic value, parks improve the local tax base and increase property values. American Forests, a national conservation organization that promotes forestry, estimates that trees in cities save $400 billion in storm water retention facility costs. Quality parks and recreation are cited as one of the top three reasons that business cite in support of their relocation decisions in a number of studies.
Due to the overwhelming reasons for the development of parks and recreation facilities in support of community development, WACF is driven to develop and rehabilitate parks for the greater good of communities.
School & Education
Education is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future. Education gives people critical skills and tools to help them better provide for themselves and their children. Education is great for promoting participation in the community at large as well as enabling life-long learning and personal development.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
-Nelson Mandela
Due to the significant impact education has on the positive outcome of a community, as well as a nation, We Are Communities Foundation actively supports the development of educational systems focuses on young children (Pre-K through 12th graders) to prepare them for employment and create our next generation of leaders. WACF also supports other foundations with similar goals as us.
Environmental
While the focus of our foundation is based around community development, we understand the importance of the environment and humbly respect the delicate balance to be maintained. Since a vast majority of our projects involve construction, we want to insure our activities promote the betterment of the environment versus add additional strain on an already threatened environment.
The deterioration of the environment threatens the earth’s natural resources, such as our food & water supply and fossil fuels for energy. Many of these resources are nonrenewable. For this reason, We Are Communities Foundation supports green building practices in excess of standards published by the U.S. Green Building Council. We apply a discipline for using eco friendly building materials and we actively participate in tree planting programs, deployment of clean water technologies, and sustainable organic farming.
Health & Wellness
Death due to infectious diseases, heart disease, high blood glucose, and obesity are increasing globally at an alarming rate. One out of five children lives in poverty, while 8.3% of the U.S. population has diabetes. One third of all children’s deaths are due to malnutrition. We have incorporated into our social technology a means of supporting a health community. Our health community platform provides education, access to healthful food choices and providers, an incentive to change eating habits, with a means of measuring results. This platform is designed to address, support, and promote a healthful lifestyle.
We are committed to support continued developments in advanced health technology, research, education and crucial health support programmes to increase the quality of life, not only for the privileged and select but also for all of mankind. Our technology will revolutionise the way healthcare education and practices are delivered to people today and into the future.