BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — Chandra Roberts hopes a discussion of ways to offer more housing options in Pike County will lead to results.

The NECAC Pike County Service Coordinator is seeking ideas from residents, businesses and local organizations. Her goal is to address what NECAC clients and others have said is a lack of adequate housing, especially for the many who live paycheck-to-paycheck and victims of domestic abuse.

“I don’t care if it’s positive or negative, I need suggestions,” Roberts said. “Sometimes, I can make something positive out of it. Any insight is better than none. Bring it.”

NECAC has already started the ball rolling with its Aspire Partnership Small Homes Program. With oversight by the Carpenters Union District Council of Greater St. Louis, one-bedroom homes built by inmates at the Lincoln County Jail will be sold by NECAC for around $37,000 in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. Construction of the first homes is expected to begin soon. Roberts said Aspire would be perfect for communities looking to add new housing through a small homes subdivision. In addition, NECAC offers home ownership programs and administers the Section 8 Housing Rent-Assistance Program, which pays part of the rent for income-qualifying residents.

Roberts hopes to see more lease-to-own and transitional housing developed in Pike County. Another option would be converting older buildings to apartments or lofts.

“We need investors,” Roberts said. “We need people with money they want to invest back into the communities.”

The biggest concern Roberts foresees in Pike County is what has already happened in other places – too many abandoned buildings and houses that collapse or must be torn down. She also has a vested interest in seeing more housing options. Roberts and her husband, Kasey, are looking for land on which to build a home.

“We need more people with ideas that are forward-thinking,” she said. “We need to build our communities. I won’t stop pushing for this until I get results.”

Suggestions may be made by calling Roberts at 573-324-2207 or stopping by the NECAC Pike County Service Center at 805 Business Highway 61 in Bowling Green from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.