To inform the local community about the proposed projects the city has in mind as part of the Stellar Communities Program, and to gather input, Warsaw has created a Facebook page under “Warsaw + Winona Lake A Stellar Connection.”

Each week, the Facebook page will detail two of the proposals, which also will be published in the Times-Union. Two proposals ran last week.
Home rehabilitation is a part of the City of Warsaw’s application to be a 2016 Stellar Communities designee.

The third highlight of projects involved in the application is an expansion of the housing rehab that Housing Opportunities of Warsaw is doing, according to information provided by the Planning Department.

The city wants to encourage investment in affordable housing within the target area and make the neighborhood a vibrant and attractive place to live and play. This program for low- to moderate-income homeowners, led by Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, will offer an affordable option for neighbors to make their homes safe and secure, the information provided states.

The goals are to improve the quality of housing in the neighborhood while helping homeowners remain in their homes, serve any families who ask for help that are low to moderate income, provide an opportunity to upgrade and make homes safe for families and seniors, aging in place features for seniors in the neighborhood, opportunity to install features for persons with disabilities, remediate lead-based paint hazards in homes, improve the relevancy of the neighborhood by improving the housing stock, build community pride, restore the neighborhood and create desirability and vitality.

Indiana will designate its 2016 Stellar Communities Aug. 18 at the state fair, and the City of Warsaw is one of three finalists vying for the honor in its category.