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Advocacy Resources
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Housing
Transportation
Transportation
Any good banker/financial advisor would say spend no more than 30% of a household’s income on housing costs.
Many of our participants voice that the high expense of housing is a barrier to living and working throughout Johnson County. A larger chunk of their budget goes to housing; as a result, many households can’t afford basic necessit
Any good banker/financial advisor would say spend no more than 30% of a household’s income on housing costs.
Many of our participants voice that the high expense of housing is a barrier to living and working throughout Johnson County. A larger chunk of their budget goes to housing; as a result, many households can’t afford basic necessities. We advocate for affordable housing for ALL.
The Housing + Transportation Index calculator puts 30% of Johnson County’s households paying more than 30% in housing costs. 15,904 households have to take from other parts of their budget to afford housing.
Johnson County Household Stats (JCCF Presentation, 10.29.19)
- 18.6% of mortgaged homeowners spend 30% or more on housing costs.
- 44% of renters spend 30% or more on housing costs.
City or town data for our smaller varied areas of Johnson County is unavailable.
Bridges Alliance partnering with ASPIRE Johnson County is working towards organizing a detailed housing study, so that elected and appointed officials along with city/county employees will understand what type of housing we lack and what solutions we need. The cities and towns that make up Johnson County have diverse needs and need detailed information to make informed decisions. Contact us today to join us in advocating for housing for all in Johnson County.
Housing Advocacy Resources
Rental Rate Hike Since 2019 Calculator
Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition
Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
As a rule of thumb, no more than 15% of a household’s income/budget should be spent on transportation costs.
Many of our participants voice that the high expense of transportation and lack of public transportation is a barrier to living and working throughout Johnson County.
The Housing + Transportation Index calculator puts Johnson County
As a rule of thumb, no more than 15% of a household’s income/budget should be spent on transportation costs.
Many of our participants voice that the high expense of transportation and lack of public transportation is a barrier to living and working throughout Johnson County.
The Housing + Transportation Index calculator puts Johnson County’s transportation costs at 26% of a household’s income. That means households are paying 11% more than what they should be for transportation. 11% of an income is quite a bit on a monthly basis.
Johnson County Household Stats (H+T Index)
- 0 households are spending the recommended 15% or less of their income in transportation costs.
- Most households are spending 22-29% of their income.
- 6.8% (3,628) are spending 29% or higher on transportation alone.
- H+T Index lists Johnson County as a 0.4 out of 10 on Transit Performance (Description: car-dependent with very limited or no access to public transportation).
- H+T Index lists Johnson County as a 4.2 out of 10 on Job Access (Description: moderate access to jobs).
Existing Public Transit Resources
How do I RIDE Access Johnson County?
Vehicle Resources
Auto Maintenance and Repair
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ALICE
Transportation
ALICE
What is an ALICE household?
Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed household is a household that is struggling to make ends meet and has to make hard decisions about what bills get paid and what bills get delayed.
Indiana Stats
United Way tells us in 2018 before COVID-19, “37% of Indiana’s 2,592
What is an ALICE household?
Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed household is a household that is struggling to make ends meet and has to make hard decisions about what bills get paid and what bills get delayed.
Indiana Stats
United Way tells us in 2018 before COVID-19, “37% of Indiana’s 2,592,262 households still struggled to make ends meet. And while 13% of these households were living below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), another 24% — almost twice as many — were ALICE households: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed."
Johnson County Stats (ALICE Report)
- 1 in 5 households are ALICE Households.
- Some areas within the county have 1 in 2 households that are ALICE.
- Of Johnson County ALICE households, 40% (4,929) are senior citizens households.
Many of Bridges Alliance's Surviving to Thriving and CirclesUSA program participants (Circle Leaders) are ALICE households. Working more than one job is common in ALICE households. Food pantries are a resource for ALICE households and prove important when hard decisions about where money is spent are made. Most federal assistance programs aren't available for ALICE households because they make too much, but still make too little to afford necessities.
Learn what hard decisions must be made on a monthly basis: Take the ALICE simulation.
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
The Democracy Group is a network of podcasts united around the goal of helping listeners understand what’s broken in our democracy, and how people are working together to fix it. We see the network as a public service dedicated to creating a more informed, civically engaged electorate.
Free Guides to Misinformati
The Democracy Group is a network of podcasts united around the goal of helping listeners understand what’s broken in our democracy, and how people are working together to fix it. We see the network as a public service dedicated to creating a more informed, civically engaged electorate.
Free Guides to Misinformation, Polarization, Voting Rights, Democracy, Gerrymandering, and more
Sharon McMahon News & Government Education Topics
Podcasts
Instagram Stories
Educational Workshops
Website
Social Media
Daily email of nonpartisan recap of news
30 minute podcast that explains 1 current news story an episode
TIF Districts
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
TIF districts or tax increment finance districts have become widely, but controversially used in Johnson County. Generally speaking, they help entities pay for infrastructure that promotes economic development for the specific district. If used properly, they can be very successful.
According to Purdue University, "with TIF, an enacting go
TIF districts or tax increment finance districts have become widely, but controversially used in Johnson County. Generally speaking, they help entities pay for infrastructure that promotes economic development for the specific district. If used properly, they can be very successful.
According to Purdue University, "with TIF, an enacting government establishes a TIF district, and issues a bond to finance infrastructure—roads, water and sewer systems, buildings, amenities—that promotes new economic development. Governments continue to tax the existing assessed value of property in the district, but revenue generated by the added assessed value from the development is diverted to repay the bond. Once the bond is repaid, the TIF district expires and the added assessed value is available for general taxation."
In layman's terms, the district has to be designated as blighted. Then the government takes out a bond (money borrowed from the public not a bank), similar to a loan, for infrastructure and uses taxes to pay it off. Infrastructure investments can be made upfront and paid off later.
TIF Resources
What is a TIF district? article
What is a TIF district? video, disregard Nebraska specific information
Government Decisions
Nonpartisan News/Gov't Sources
Government Decisions
Mayors/town managers, governors, presidents and their offices run day-to-day operations of their cities, towns, states or nations. They can issue mandates in certain circumstances (as seen during COVID-19).
Mayors/town managers preside over council meetings, informing and reporting to their council members on finances and operations.
Th
Mayors/town managers, governors, presidents and their offices run day-to-day operations of their cities, towns, states or nations. They can issue mandates in certain circumstances (as seen during COVID-19).
Mayors/town managers preside over council meetings, informing and reporting to their council members on finances and operations.
The mayor/town manger's office proposes a budget to the council. In many cases, they filter requests for projects, development, and other ideas from the public to the city/town council for decisions.
Most large decisions get made by the legislative branch of government: city/town councils, the General Assembly, and Congress. For example, the city council decides what companies get tax breaks, what land gets annexed, or how money will be spent. The state General Assembly and U.S. Congress makes decisions on what laws get passed or how money is spent.
At the local level, mayors, councils, and county political leaders choose who is appointed to specific boards that make important decisions that affect citizens' daily lives. For example, the Board of Zoning Appeals (info resides in Planning & Zoning department) decides who and what developments can have exceptions to zoning ordinances. These can be decisions that affect the growth of a town and what choices citizens have when working, living, and playing in their community. Many times affordable housing development decisions are made by the the Board of Zoning Appeals board because of their various grant requirements. Appointed park boards choose where playgrounds and green spaces are developed. Though board decisions might seem boring and mundane, sometimes they affect the most change in our lives.
When advocating for yourself and others, it is important to know who makes the decisions on what topics. This is the key to effective advocacy.
Knowing Your Roles: City and Town Government Edition