CommonBond Communities (CommonBond) is one of the largest non-profit providers of affordable housing with services in the Midwest United States. Advantage Services is a division within CommonBond’s integrated Housing and Services model focused on supporting residents of all ages to achieve long-term stability and independence. Advantage Services provides on-site programs and services, and partners with other organizations to support residents in the areas of education and personal advancement, health and wellness, and community-building and engagement. Some of these activities are directly related to supporting residents at risk of eviction whose objective is to stay housed in a CommonBond property.
CommonBond identified its eviction prevention program (EPP) activities as playing a key role in providing benefits to society at large. Decent and affordable housing has a demonstrable impact on family stability, the life outcomes of children and community development. Stable housing is the foundation upon which people build their lives— absent a safe, decent, affordable place to live, it is next to impossible to achieve good health, positive educational outcomes, or to reach one’s overall potential.
As research related to the impact and importance of affordable housing and community development continues to evolve, CommonBond sees an opportunity to better understand and communicate the impact of its eviction prevention activities with both residents and the wider community. Based on this, CommonBond engaged EY to perform a Social Return on Investment analysis (SROI) of its eviction prevention activities in the three states in which it operates.
When it comes to the impacts of a stable home, the SROI analysis estimates that for every $1 invested in our eviction prevention work, $4 in social benefit is generated.
VISIT:
Social Impact Measurement of CommonBond's Eviction Prevention Activities