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18 2O24–2O2 5 GU I D E to Y E L LOW S P R I NG S all in years. Forest Village was followed in 2021 by the 12-unit Glen Cottages pocket neighborhood, a combination of rentals and for-sale homes. Building, rehabbing, selling and renting homes is certainly the most visible part of Home, Inc.’s work — but according to staffers, its lesser-known work is just as important, if not moreso. Outside of offering home repair grants — Home, Inc. passed through about $300,000 in such grants this year — and offering periodic financial educational program - ming for current and prospec- tice homeowners, much of Home, Inc.’s work centers on building relationships and offering guidance and assis - tance. Chris Hall is often the first person prospective homebuy - ers meet at Home, Inc. He’s on hand to walk homebuyers through the purchase process from start to finish and answer questions along the way — and folks often have a lot of ques - tions, because buying a home of money and time donated by people in the community. People have really been com - mitted to Home, Inc.” EXPANDING, MAINTAINING HOME On a weekday afternoon in the Millworks offices of Home, Inc. last year, Executive Director Emily Seibel, Program Manager Chris Hall, Outreach and Fundraising Manager Alexandra Scott, Development Coordinator Brittany Keller and Board President Chris Bongorno gathered around a table and reflected on Home, Inc.’s 25 years. “I’m going to be 30 in March,” Scott said. “So that puts things in perspective for me — that’s almost my whole life.” “You read news articles from back then, and it's the same conversation,” Bongorno added. “Despite all the work that this organization has done, [affordable housing] is a persistent issue.” Those around the table spoke with the News while they assembled the annual gift of sweet treats Home, Inc. delivers to homeown- ers and renters in December, tying bows and affixing them to cards. This object lesson in multitasking was, in its way, emblematic of Home, Inc.’s increasingly diverse body of work. After Seibel took the helm at Home, Inc. in 2011, the nonprofit really began to widen its focus to creating and maintaining affordable rental housing. “There aren’t a lot of mul- tifamily rentals happening in places like ours, even though the need is there,” Seibel said. “Nobody else was going to do it — so we said, ‘We need to step up and do this so that we can meet more of the needs in Yellow Springs.’” In 2018, Home, Inc. built the six-unit Forest Village Homes, its first slate of afford - able multifamily rentals — and the first apartments to have been built in the village at Cozy Pet Sitters Serving Yellow Springs since 2002 767-8743 Critters (937) When you’re away or delayed e o ’ e o el e e o ’ e o el e Bronwyn Reece Carmen Milano Cozy t Sitt rs Serving Yellow Springs since 2002 - ters (937) e o ’ e o el e e o ’ e o el e e o ’ e o el e Bronwyn Reece Carmen Milano Professional • Local • Personal In-Home Pet Care and Dog Walking P H O T O : L A U R E N ' C H U C K ' S H O W S ▲ In December, Home, Inc. staffers gathered in the nonprofit’s Millworks offices to put together the annual gift of holiday cards and treats for homeowners and renters. From left: Executive Director Emily Seibel, Outreach and Fundraising Manager Alexan - dra Scott and Program Manager Chris Hall. Not pictured but pres - ent that day: Development Coordinator Brittany Keller and Board President Chris Bongorno. www.lastqueenpub.com Tu-Th, 4–9 p.m. | Fr, 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Su. 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. 210 E. Main St., Enon, OH 937-340-6032 Traditional British gastropub in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. Dine in, order online or carry out! B URKLAND P AINTING & H OME W ORKS • Interior/Exterior Painting • Fencing • Commercial Painting • Drywall • Decking • Small & Large Home Projects Professional, Affordable, Courteous 937-532-4983 FREE ESTIMATES 25 yEArs serving the village 225Xenia | 937-767-3466