CoAction brings affordable housing to the forefront with their annual Trivia Night

On Friday, September 18, CoAction’s annual Trivia Night gave the Valparaiso community a fun, celebratory evening, while also raising money for an incredible cause.

Attendees were provided with tasty hot food, cold drinks, and an evening of entertainment. Residents of all ages socialized with one another, making new bonds and tightening old ones, while also showing support for an important community organization.

CoAction is dedicated to helping the underprivileged residents of Northwest Indiana. They have provided people and families with affordable rental homes, given senior citizens hot meals and in-home service, and offered residents financial education and coaching. CoAction’s volunteers and employees work tirelessly to help those in need, and events like their Trivia Night inform the community of the organization’s existence and its efforts.

“We always like to do events that raise both awareness and financial resources for our programs,” said Jordan Stanfill, the chief housing officer of CoAction. “Fundraising goes towards helping us maintain our housing and bring more affordable housing into it, but certainly we need to bring awareness to the need for it, and the benefits it brings to communities as well.”

Stanfill’s role in the organization comes with many responsibilities. Numerous CoAction programs rely on his oversight, which, at times, can be stressful; after all, these programs affect thousands of Region residents, but the work is well worth it to Stanfill.

“In my role as chief housing officer, I oversee all of our affordable housing programs. We own, develop, and manage our own housing for people of low to moderate income, and supportive housing for people who need long-term support over time,” Stanfill said.

Events like CoActions Trivia Night, however, give Stanfill, along with other members of the organization, an opportunity to relax a bit, have fun, and provide that fun to other people.

“I like that it’s a really laid-back event,” Stanfill said. “It’s not easy to take yourself too seriously, so we like to have a lot of fun. I love the boxing theme as well; we’re all in ref shirts, and then the MCs will have boxing gloves and stuff at some point too. It’s just a fun, casual event.”

CoAction’s Trivia Night is an important event for both the organization and residents alike. CoAction gets to spread awareness and educate attendees on what they do and how they help the community. Residents, of course, get to eat, drink, socialize, and play a competitive game of trivia alongside their community. CoAction makes sure to remind everyone of their work, particularly in providing affordable housing.

“We’ve been doing a trivia night for around a decade at this point, and it’s all focused on the theme of ‘knocking out housing’, but it really focuses on bringing awareness to the need for affordable housing across Northwest Indiana,” Stanfill said.

CoAction is an incredible organization that helps to tackle one of America’s most stubborn problems. Countless residents have been helped by the organization’s affordable housing programs, and employees and volunteers take great pride in their work.

“We get to touch so many people’s lives every day. Last year, we helped about 1500 people achieve and maintain housing. To be able to have that impact day in and day out makes a real difference. And again, our residents are great. Getting to help people grow in their life goals is great,” Stanfill said.

For more information on CoAction, visit coaction.care.