State College, PA
Other
Steve Coraor
This campaign has ended and is no longer accepting donations.
Help Preserve Houseasaurus
Family & Friends,
We need your help! Houseasaurus (aka Central PA Community Housing) has operated at the center of alternative living and social change in State College for 12 years, housed over 100 people and impacted countless more community members. Houseasaurus members have changed the fabric of the State College community by
- leading efforts to make all PSU official clothing sweatshop-free
- getting the first bike lanes in town
- removing homophobic basketball coaches
- raising funds to help in tragic times
- hosting activism and bystander intervention trainings
- providing the first organized space in town for people to participate in drag shows and other queer positive events.
This space has had a profound impact on so many lives. We are so much more and have always been more than a house: we are a community of passionate people. While we are all so incredibly different -- in how we look, the work we do, our tastes, our struggles -- we came together because we all sought something different from the status quo. In supporting Houseasaurus, you have created a space where people can safely express who they are, grow their ideas about the world, learn and create new things, and be a part of their community. It's incredible, really.
Here's where we are today.
With the help of a dedicated volunteer board, we have made huge strides over the last year to begin establishing stability as a nonprofit organization and as an affordable living space for students and low-income residents. We successfully transitioned to a new location to avoid a 20% rental increase by new landlords of the original property. Unfortunately, in this transition we lost all of our basic house resources and funds and had to move to a location that still is not as affordable for all residents..
With the help of a dedicated volunteer board, we have made huge strides over the last year to begin establishing stability as a nonprofit organization and as an affordable living space for students and low-income residents. We successfully transitioned to a new location to avoid a 20% rental increase by new landlords of the original property. Unfortunately, in this transition we lost all of our basic house resources and funds and had to move to a location that still is not as affordable for all residents..
We need your help now to make up for this loss of resources and support our most passionate change-making residents. Supporting us now will help bridge the financial gap to long term plans of reducing rent through grants and buying a property. We have already been awarded future financial support through NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation) once we find and close on a house.
Our goal is to raise $12,000, a grand for every year of existence, to help us continue as a center of positive change in State College for at least the next dozen years.
Our goal is to raise $12,000, a grand for every year of existence, to help us continue as a center of positive change in State College for at least the next dozen years.
Funds will be used for:
- Basic house start up costs for house items and repairs that will be used for many generations of residents to come
- At least a month's rent and board reserve for our new home to keep the house stable amidst transitions
- Scholarships for very low-income, self-reliant students who are actively participating in the co-op and social change in the community (there will be an application process)
- Non-profit insurance and accounting fees
We know it's been a tough year to be in the world. It's just another reminder that spaces like Houseasaurus, that are actively bringing people of different backgrounds together, are needed now more than ever.
Really care about the preservation of Houseasaurus, alternative living and social change in State College? Share this message or call your friends and family and add your personal story as to why this matters to you!
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