County 48: Clay

It is always exciting to see the large impact that can be made when a few abandoned homes are razed or restored. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which is administered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, aided in the reconstruction of 13 blighted properties in Brazil. The properties are then resold to low- to moderate-income families. 



Lt. Governor Skillman tours a home in Brazil, IN rebuilt
through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which is
administered through her Indiana Housing and Community
Development Authority.



The NSP fund allocated $1.4 million to a neighborhood in the North-West section of Brazil. Upon my arrival, I wanted to view one of the new homes, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with its design. It was a wow moment when Stacy Gibbens, the local project administrator, showed me the before and after pictures of each property. It was also very encouraging to hear that only three properties still need to be sold.  

Stacy, Mayor Wyndham, and Angie Pappano (also a project administrator) took me on a tour of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home. It was a two-story structure and came with a fully equipped kitchen. I could envision a well-deserving family residing inside. 

I have viewed several NSP projects around the state, and I always notice the next-door neighbors to these new homes. After seeing a cleaned up yard and new house built next to them, many neighbors now take pride in their own property to revitalize it, as well. It creates quite the ripple effect for the neighborhood. 

As I continue on my 92 county Hoosier Crossroads Tour, I look forward to hearing about the continued successes from the NSP project in Brazil. I know it will have a lasting impact on the community and on several families who will be given the opportunity of homeownership.