You would be hard-pressed to find someone in the Washington University community who is unaware of the chancellor’s vision that is “in St. Louis, for St. Louis.” Pre-dating this campaign is the Employer Assisted Housing Program, which was established in 1997 before being expanded and renamed as the Live Near Your Work (LNYW) program.

Founded on the premise of providing stability to local communities, the Live Near Your Work program offers benefits-eligible employees a path to home ownership. A joint effort of Washington University and BJC HealthCare, the initiative was recently expanded to offer potential buyers a forgivable loan up to $12,500 to be used toward the down payment or closing costs of a home within specified neighborhoods.

“At its heart, Live Near Your Work is a means of encouraging and incentivizing sustainability and public health,” said David Chunn, the LNYW community development manager.

In addition to curbing greenhouse gas emissions associated with solo car driving, living near your workplace means shorter commute times and makes it easier to opt for a sustainable commute, saving you money and benefiting your physical and mental health.

Those utilizing the LNYW program move into neighborhoods that have access to transit, green space, and commercial corridors that facilitate shopping and dining destinations by foot. Owning a home also allows access to outdoor spaces which provide participants with access to garden spaces for growing vegetables or adopting other sustainable landscaping practices.

Living near your workplace also benefits the community. Programs like LNYW improve air quality by decreasing automobile emissions, reducing urban sprawl, and decreasing traffic congestion. The program also supports locally owned businesses and provides stability to participating neighborhoods.

For more information about the Live Near Your Work program and to see if you are eligible, visit the website.

Further reading:
Live Near Your Work Program Expands Eligible Neighborhoods
What a Pandemic Taught us about Commuting
WashU Smart Commute page