The West Virginia Affordable Housing Trust Fund was created by the state legislature in 2001 to help meet the need for safe, decent, and affordable housing in West Virginia.  From its inception, the Trust Fund has encouraged a bond between private sector and community-based organizations, who in turn help low- to moderate-income families obtain affordable housing.  

“We’re not successful unless the organizations that receive our funding are successful, putting people into homes,” Executive Director Marlena Mullins expressed in a recent conversation. The Trust Fund hired Jamie Summers-Brown of Bricks Without Straw to transform its stagnant website into a dynamic resource for the groups and individuals united by the WVAHTF.  

It was important that the website not only serve the Trust Fund’s partners (nonprofits, county governments, and local housing authorities) but also members of the public. “We want it to be a vehicle that they can also use to find relevant information,” Mullins explained.

The first priority was linking the Trust Fund’s website to its Facebook account and Twitter account (which Jamie helped create).  All three sites are automatically updated with any information that Mullins sends Jamie, which he is quick to add. “Anything that I send him is up there almost immediately; it gets refreshed almost every single day with new information.”

Searchable Databases

Another exciting improvement was the addition of a rental housing database, letting individuals locate rental housing, by county, throughout the state.  The WVAHTF had the information for some time, but unfortunately, couldn’t include it on the former website.  When the Trust Fund asked Summers-Brown to add it to the new site, he simply responded, “Okay, let’s do it,” and seemed unfazed by the request.  “I think he’s innovative and uses technology to his advantage,” Mullins observed.  With the new ability to include searchable databases, the WVAHTF is working on an impressive taxonomy of housing service providers in the entire state, listing everyone from rehab contractors to mortgage loan originators, giving West Virginians quick access to housing information in their area. 

He was unbelievably patient with us.  Being a very small organization and a staff of 1.2, there were times that I’m sure he was ready to pull his hair out, but he (said), ‘Let me know when you’re ready,’ and he just moved on to the next item. I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone that has the patience that Jamie has.”

Print & Design Services

In addition to the website, the Trust Fund also wanted to promote their identity.  “One of the things we wanted to do was brand the trust fund theme, not only from the website standpoint, but through our letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc.”  The organization hired Jamie to produce its print material, entrusting him with the layout and incorporation of its logo.  They also asked him to design a postcard with graphics highlighting housing cost information in the state of West Virginia.  The WVAHTF was extremely happy with the end results of both projects, and has decided to have Bricks Without Straw print its annual report, instead of printing it in-house, as they have done in the past. 

When asked about the cost of printing and about turn-around time, Mullins had one word for both: “Amazing.”  She added, “It was 7 days, and we had the postcard in our hand.”

“Unbelievably Patient”

Mullins also appreciated Jamie’s attitude toward the WVAHTF staff.  “He was unbelievably patient with us.  Being a very small organization and a staff of 1.2, there were times that I’m sure he was ready to pull his hair out, but he (said), ‘Let me know when you’re ready,’ and he just moved on to the next item. I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone that has the patience that Jamie has.”

As the conversation ended, Mullins commented on one more new feature of the site—project updates.  Featuring numerous organizations that the WVAHTF has partnered with, the visual updates highlight different ways these groups have helped West Virginian families obtain decent and safe homes.  For Mullins, they are meaningful reminders.  “Being able to scroll through those, to be able to see them, from a vision and a concept, to fruition, is amazing.”  Bricks Without Straw is honored to be a part of the process.