By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is hosting two separate conversations to explore the current and future state of housing in the Bibb-Chilton-Shelby Tri-County Area.

The upcoming conversations will both be held in Montevallo, with the first at University Baptist Church Montevallo on Tuesday, May 13 beginning at 6 p.m. and the second at the American Village Rotunda on Tuesday, May 20 beginning at 11:30 a.m. In earlier conversations, community members helped identify key-housing related needs and resources across the Tri-County Area.

The upcoming discussions will focus on the guiding question of “How can we ensure that housing in the Tri-County Area remains affordable, available and accessible for all residents, including those in vulnerable situations?” The discussions will also focus on expanding affordable housing, removing barriers to homeownership, updating local policies to allow more housing options and supporting individuals facing housing instability. Food will be provided at both events.

Herman Lehman, who has an extensive background in municipal government and has been active in organizing the events, expressed the goal of the discussions.

“The goal is to develop an action plan going forward of what we could do collectively or individually to address some of the (housing) needs that are out there,” Lehman said.

According to an information guide provided by Lehman, access to affordable, quality housing is essential for community stability and economic development. However, the Tri-County Area is facing rising home prices and rents, a limited supply of available homes, barriers to homeownership, a need for infrastructure improvements and a lack of short and long-term housing options for vulnerable populations.

“Finding solutions to Montevallo’s housing challenges requires thoughtful, community-driven approaches,” the guide reads. “By working together, we can ensure that housing in Montevallo is affordable, available and accessible for all residents, including those in vulnerable situations.”

For more information on the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, visit Mathewscenter.org.