It was an all too-familiar story, a slow motion spiral from hope to squalor that has plagued many promising HUD-assisted housing developments. Berkshire Place Apartments, a deteriorating multifamily complex that once offered a better way of life for low-income families, succumbed to the unrelenting assault of drugs and crime. In deplorable physical condition as well, the future of this 100 percent Section 8, 221(d)(3) project looked grim - until the owners and a determined Nashville faith-based group decided to turn things around.

The development includes a new Family Center (a major enhancement of an earlier Neighborhood Networks center), owned by Phillip Owen and Robert Trent of First Cumberland Properties and operated by Family Affair Ministries, Inc. Family Affair Ministries is a nonprofit group based in Nashville founded by Glenda Gleaves-Sutton, who also is pastor and CEO. The mission of the Family Center is to provide support and enrichment for the families to help rebuild communities. The Center is a result of the owners seeing a need greater than mere rehabilitation of the physical development: as the pastor of the Center said, "the owners could rehabilitate the structures but they could not rehabilitate the people," and reached out for the faith-based group's assistance.

Brenda L. Cleaver, Coordinator; Glenda Gleaves-Sutton, CEO, Family Affair Ministries, Inc.; Phillip Owen, President, First Cumberland, Properties, Inc.; (back row) Ed M. Phillips, Director, Nashville Multifamily Program Center; Phil Porzio, Chairman, Board of Directors Family Affair Ministries, Inc.; Robert Trent, Partner, First Cumberland Properties.

On February 28, 2002, HUD's Nashville Office proudly participated in an Open House ceremony for Berkshire Place Apartments' new Family Center. One of the old buildings was initially taken out of service for the Neighborhood Network Center, and now has evolved into the Family Center. The Center has a ten-station computer lab networked to a main server, four stand-alone PC's, five printers, a multipurpose community room, three classrooms, a dental examination room, a medical examination room, a parent-child play area, small commercial kitchen and more. A dentist and doctor have pledged to provide equipment and furnishings, and the Center is actively canvassing donations from individuals, businesses, and the neighborhood. The kitchen will be used for operations of the "Community Kitchen Program" and the Food Service Job Training Program.

The revitalized development isn't done adding gateways to success for the residents - the ambitious plan includes an active Residents' Association; a community-based job training program; enhancing basic education skills and providing adult/youth literacy programs; working with local schools to improve academic skills and raise scores on standardized tests; more computer-assisted instruction; special computer activities including artwork for clothing; reducing welfare dependency and more. The proposed activities should foster the residents' personal commitment to the success of the Center and the Apartment complex; they should foster the 'rehabilitation of the people'.