Housing is more than a roof over heads, shade from the sun or shelter from the weather.

Affordable housing plays a very strong social role in our communities. It can provide security, profoundly affect the developmental health of current and future generations and enrich lives.

The Conestoga Valley area is just one of many places in Lancaster County facing affordable housing challenges.

"The people who will directly benefit from this project are neighbors who are referred to Chestnut Housing by CV SEEDS or Bridge of Hope," said Michelle Kime, the executive director of Conestoga Valley SEEDS. "They are individuals and families in need of the opportunity for more affordable housing and who are working with a social service organization on goals they have. Once they are living in these homes, they will stay connected to the social service organization working with them for at least a year. We would also suggest that our entire community would benefit from this project, because when more of our neighbors have access to affordable housing and the stability that it brings and the space that it allows for them to thrive in new ways, we all benefit."

Partners CV SEEDS, Chestnut Housing and Bridge of Hope are collaborating on the Bridgeport Housing Project (BHP), a new initiative that will construct 13 affordable apartments on Lincoln Highway. Currently in the land development phase, BHP, which to date has raised over 55% of its projected $3.2 million budget, hopes to begin construction on the apartments sometime during the second quarter of 2027.

"When individuals are not able to afford housing in a community, it creates many challenges," said Megan Shertzer, administrative assistant for CV SEEDS. "These individuals are often working multiple jobs to make ends meet, making child care a challenge. Many of these families live permanently in motels or hotels, which are not designed to support long-term living. Families living in motels and hotels encounter many barriers - no stoves or ovens to cook full meals, limited space to sleep, no space for children to go outside and enjoy playing, limited space for belongings and many other things. Many of these families are paying $400 to $600 per week to stay at these motels. Affordable housing brings dignity, stability and safety to families in our community."

CV SEEDS, Chestnut Housing and Bridge of Hope will stage a fundraiser, The Bridgeport Housing Celebration: Creating Housing in Conestoga Valley, on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Inn At Leola Village, 38 Deborah Drive, Leola. The evening will include delicious dining, an update on the unfolding of BHP, an opportunity for direct giving and an important conversation titled "Neighbors Bridging Differences" led by pastors Jon Carlson and Joel Kime.

Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com and searching for "Bridgeport Housing Celebration."

As many as 150 individuals - civically minded citizens, community members and people connected with the three sponsoring organizations - are expected to attend. Organizers of BHP are hoping the funds raised that evening will go a long way toward satisfying the remainder of the financial goal.

The Conestoga Valley School District has identified 90 students whose families could be considered homeless.

"CV SEEDS has three key focus areas - housing, education and health - and within our housing focus, this is incredibly important," said Kime. "We have been walking alongside seven different families since January who have been able to move from motels to stable housing. Only one of those families has been able to stay within our CV community because the options for affordable housing weren't able to be found in our community. While we are thrilled when our neighbors find stable housing anywhere, we would love to be able to have more housing options available that allow them to stay within our community. This project will help with that."

In addition, CV SEEDS will host its fourth annual community breakfast during the morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 8. More details on the free community event will follow.

For additional information, go to https://seedscv.com.