Historical Highlights
Westside Community Development Corporation was organized by the Christamore House in 1985 to help improve the Westside neighborhood in a variety of ways, with housing being the focus of its efforts.

WCDC merged with another sister housing organization in 1993 that brought clarity and unification to the process of addressing housing needs. Since then housing has been the main mission of WCDC. During the past six years, WCDC has completed over 170 units of housing development, and 250 units of homeowner assistance.

The WCDC corporate vision is to assist residents of the Near Westside to build a safe, livable community with affordable housing and economic development suited to the needs and resources of the community.

Accomplishments and activities
Westside Community Development Corporation accomplishes its mission through a set of core activities:

• Homeownership development
• Home repair assistance
• Rental housing development
• Special needs housing
• Commercial/business development
• Construction trade skills training programs
• Beautification and enhancement of public areas and facilities
• Program rehab housing

The Ladder of Housing Opportunity is the strategic effort of WCDC to provide housing opportunities for west side residents. The organization offers transitional housing, rental housing, homeownership development, and homeowner assistance. A family can climb into the latter wherever it best fits their current heeds and future hopes, with the top rung of the ladder being home ownership.

WCDC has successfully procured a $1.6 million HUD McKinney grant to provide transitional housing and services to homeless families. Several families have graduated to self-sufficiency, and six families have transitioned from homelessness to homeownership. WCDC has also developed 83 rental units using Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Homeownership is the most important rung of the ladder of housing opportunity. WCDC has made this rung a priority by creating the Buyer Support Program.
WCDC has also become an industry leader in the HOPE 3 program, producing nearly 40 percent of the total program production in Indianapolis. In 1999 WCDC completed a 50 unit rental housing project in partnership with the Indianapolis Housing Authority.

Utilizing a $2.25 million Community Impact Award, WCDC has made major strides in commercial development, neighborhood beautification, housing development, training programs for youth, and an Family, Faith & Community program. WCDC has also acquired a large parcel at Belmont and Michigan streets; this 6-acre brown field site is currently being developed by WCDC.

Community Partnerships
Westside Community Development Corporation has an ongoing relationship with a variety of community and corporate partners, including Christamore House, local businesses, the Local Initiative Support Corporation, the City of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Indiana Department of Commerce, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library, Wishard Hospital, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.