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In 2014, NeighborWorks Montana approached the Northwood Trailer Park in the city of Pablo to let the residents know their community was for sale. That’s when they met Mary, who had a deep desire to improve her community. NeighborWorks Montana presented Mary Sherman and the rest of the Northwood residents with the opportunity to purchase the property and operate it as a resident-owned community. This model of community ownership gives residents control of the land on which their homes sit, and the ability to take an active role in making the community a place they are proud to call home.
NeighborWorks staff stepped in to help residents learn the skills necessary to form a cooperative and purchase the property. Sherman was involved in every step of the process. She organized meetings, educated residents about the cooperative ownership model and encouraged everyone to be involved in whatever way they could. Since completing the purchase in November of 2014, Northwood residents have been revitalizing their community, with Mary playing a key leadership role as the president of the cooperative.
Sherman and the other four board members oversaw major improvements to a rental home they now lease out on the property and removed two abandoned homes, making space for new residents to move in and join the co-op. With involvement from other residents, they also have cleaned up common areas and yards, built a bus stop shelter for the kids, and are starting work on a community office and park. Residents also have been coming together for social events, including a BBQ and birdhouse-building activity that brought out many of the kids. They also are working with local law enforcement on efforts to reduce drug use and crime in their neighborhood.
Sherman’s 15-year-old son says the change as transforming, describing the neighborhood as going from rundown and unsafe, to safe and sophisticated. The residents now have a deeper sense of pride and ownership in the place they call home.
Today, NeighborWorks Montana provides ongoing support to Northwood, one of seven resident-owned communities in the state, in partnership with ROC USA.
NeighborWorks staff stepped in to help residents learn the skills necessary to form a cooperative and purchase the property. Sherman was involved in every step of the process. She organized meetings, educated residents about the cooperative ownership model and encouraged everyone to be involved in whatever way they could. Since completing the purchase in November of 2014, Northwood residents have been revitalizing their community, with Mary playing a key leadership role as the president of the cooperative.
Sherman and the other four board members oversaw major improvements to a rental home they now lease out on the property and removed two abandoned homes, making space for new residents to move in and join the co-op. With involvement from other residents, they also have cleaned up common areas and yards, built a bus stop shelter for the kids, and are starting work on a community office and park. Residents also have been coming together for social events, including a BBQ and birdhouse-building activity that brought out many of the kids. They also are working with local law enforcement on efforts to reduce drug use and crime in their neighborhood.
Sherman’s 15-year-old son says the change as transforming, describing the neighborhood as going from rundown and unsafe, to safe and sophisticated. The residents now have a deeper sense of pride and ownership in the place they call home.
Today, NeighborWorks Montana provides ongoing support to Northwood, one of seven resident-owned communities in the state, in partnership with ROC USA.
