2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-1609 Firm Build
Merced, California
Contact: Nick Benjamin (209) 722-3501

FIRM BUILD was developed with two distinct goals in mind. First to promote individual self sufficiency and second to assist in the campaign of welfare to work. FIRM BUILD participants are public housing and Section 8 residents looking to learn a job skill. Residents work on a wide variety of HA modernization and repair projects. The program is a self paced, work first process that includes extensive on the job training supplemented by some basic classroom instruction.

2000-788 Southeast Asian Crime Prevention
Visalia, California
Contact: Paul Chao (559) 738-3224

Southeast Asian (Hmong, Lahu, Lao, and Mien) refugees experience many language and cultural barriers which prevent them from fully understanding law enforcement issues. In their home country, law enforcement agencies were perceived as a oppressive force of government, full of corruption. Trust became an issue that divided the government and it's people. Refugees in the United States, particularly in the City of Visalia, in rural Tulare County, California, do not utilize law enforcement services because available services are not linguistically accessible to the needs of a limited English-proficient population. The Southeast Asian Crime Prevention grant will be used to provide community education in the areas of law enforcement, the judicial system, and after school programs.

2000-1651 Moving to Work Program
Visalia, California
Contact: Tim Sciacqua (559) 627-3700

Moving to Work is an innovative program, operated by the Tulare County Housing Authority, which provides families living in public housing, receiving Section 8 rental assistance, or receiving public assistance with the opportunity to save money, receive financial incentives for finding employment, and, eventually, purchase their own home. With help from local job training services, families in the Moving to Work program participate in education, employment, and training programs, with the goal of finding employment.

2000-1868 Villa de Guadalupe
Visalia, California
Contact: Peter Carey (559) 651-1000

Villa de Guadalupe will be a major new housing and medical center for the desperately poor farm worker communities of Cutler and Orosi. Working together in a model partnership, two of the region's leading non-profit organizations are bringing into reality an answer to long-recognized community needs. Self-Help Enterprises (SHE), one of the nation's foremost rural community development organizations, and Family HealthCare Network will join together in construction and operation of 60 units of affordable rental housing targeted to the vast unmet farm worker housing need, and a primary care health clinic. Unique to the project is the direct involvement of a local community task force in the development of the concept and the direct long-term involvement of local farm workers in management and operation of the project. The original initiative for the project came from the local task force, and the project name itself, which symbolizes hope, was chosen by community members.

2000-1894 Hmong Agricultural Economic Development Project
Fresno, California
Contact: Pheng Lee (559) 237-4919

The Hmong are an agrarian tribal people from the mountains of Laos. During the Vietnam War, the Hmong and other Laotian tribes protected United States interests by defending the Ho Chi Minh Trail against the North Vietnamese forces. After Laos fell to communism in 1975, the Hmong were targeted for reprisals by the Laotian and Vietnamese governments for their support of American interests during the Vietnam War. To escape Laos, thousands of Hmong fled their home country, through the jungle and across the Mekong River to live as refugees in Thailand. Since the late 1970s, more than 150,000 Hmong refugees have resettled in the United States. An estimated 60,000 Hmong live in California's San Joaquin Valley, the largest concentration of Hmong outside of Asia. Since they were primarily farmers in their home country, the Hmong were drawn to Fresno and other counties in California's San Joaquin Valley because of the availability of farmland and agricultural opportunities. The Hmong have not made significant economic progress, however, after twenty years in Fresno County. Today, the majority of Hmong are still in farming and struggling, and approximately 60% still rely on public assistance as a mean to support their family.

The Hmong agricultural economic development project provides economic empowerment to the underserved Hmong farming community. This project, an agricultural co-operative, provides Hmong farmers with the capital, technical, and financial support necessary for a successful farming operation. Through partnerships with local resources, Hmong farmers can now receive information on farm loans, pest control, crop production, harvesting techniques, marketing, and running a successful farm operation.

2000-2210 Neighborhood Networks Center - The Winery
San Rafael, California
Contact: Nathan Stairs (559) 453-1504

The Winery Apartments is a 248 unit multifamily project located in Southeast Fresno which is a poor, high unemployment, high crime, high vacancy area. The Winery Apartments Computer/Crafts Learning Center was opened in October, 1997 as a part of a comprehensive rehabilitation process. Using operating funds and funds provided by the Bank of America, as well as two volunteers from a faith-based organization, the Computer/Craft Learning Center was started. Because of the socio-economic problems in its community, the non-profit owner Ecumenical Association for Housing (EAH) realized that it would need partners and community support. The United Way of Fresno County became a partner by choosing the Wineryas a "Weed & Seed" safe haven site. The Weed & Seed program has funded the NNWs at a rate of $7,600 per year for four years, which is used for operating the computer/crafts programs.

Most recently, the U.S. Department of Justice "Weed & Seed Program awarded the Winery a $50,000 "Seedtech" Grant—one of only three grants given out this year in the entire country.

2000-2923 Fresno County Downpayment Assistance Program
Fresno, California
Contact: Gigi Gibbs (559) 262-4266

The Downpayment Assistance Program provides low and moderate income families with a $1,000 to $4,000 zero interest, deferred payment loan to cover portions of a downpayment for a new or used home. The money can also be used to pay closing costs, loan points, home inspections, and home warranties.

2000-2984 Growing Jobs
Fresno, California
Contact: Toulu Thao (559) 487-5033

Growing jobs is a unique collaborative between HUD, the American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the local farming community in Fresno that will serve the Hmong population that began migrating to Fresno from Laos in the late 1970’s. While the Hmong were farmers in their homeland (Laos in Southeast Asia), they have had difficulty finding land to farm in the Central Valley of California. Lack of access to land and credit has limited this populations ability to farm. The Growing Jobs collaboration has purchased a 40-acre plot of land (through a land trust with the American Farmland Trust). This plot of land, which was threatened with development, will be preserved as open space and farmland in perpetuity. The Hmong population will be able to use this land to cultivate crops such as strawberries, bitter melon and other traditional Asian produce. The land trust will serve the dual objective of farmland preservation and economic development through increased employment and income for the Hmong population in Fresno.

2000-3063 Latino Marketplace Homeownership and Social Services Fair
Fresno, California
Contact: Lidia Mena-Hermida (559) 487-5033

The Housing and Social Services fair is being held June 10, 2000 and is targeted to the large Latino population that resides in the Fresno area. The event will provide information and resources on homeownership, housing, health services, social services, and other issues. The fair is being held downtown at the Mercado Latino (the Latin Marketplace) which includes a collection of about 40 shops and stores that sell Latino merchandise and cuisine. Attendance is expected to be more than 1,000.

2000-3067 Time of Sale Energy Renovation (TOSER) Program
Fresno, California
Contact: Jim Staples (559) 487-5100

The Staples-Hutchinson Time of Sale Energy Renovation (TOSER) Program is designed to transform the homebuying process to include energy efficiency as a prime consideration. The goal is to motivate the homebuying, refinancing and, eventually, the home-building markets to use an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) to meet or ensure standards for home energy efficiency. To achieve this transformation, TOSER's public education and information activities focus on three principle players: homebuyers, real estate agents and mortgage lenders.

2000-3078 Self-Sufficiency Children's Activities
Fresno, California
Contact: Ned Stacy (559) 443-6400

Self-Sufficiency Children's Activities are sponsored by the Fresno City and County Housing Authority's Self-Sufficiency Program. It is aimed at children who live in public housing whose families may not have money to pay for music lessons, after school programs, scouting troops, and other childhood activities. The Fresno City and County Housing Authority provides two unique activities: a children's performing arts troupe, and scouting activities, for children living in the Housing Authority's projects.

2000-3117 The Californian
Fresno, California
Contact: Christy D. Baker (559) 485-8190

The Californian is a seventy five year old high rise building in the heart of downtown Fresno, California. Surrounded by boarded up buildings, abandoned storefronts, and a deteriorating downtown, the Californian is one of Fresno's most beautiful old buildings. The facility was remodeled in 1973 to provide 217 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing units for low income seniors and the disabled. It provides a program of gentle support that enables residents to maintain optimum health and an independent lifestyle. Programs emphasize and promote nutrition, mental health, physical health, social activities, life skills, security, and acceptance. This project is operated by AIMCO, whose mission is to provide dignified, comfortable housing for low income seniors and the disabled. Through networking with non-profit and government agencies, The Californian has been able to provide a safety net of services for tenants who need assistance.

2000-514 Hmong Homeownership Video
Fresno, California
Contact: Toulu Thao (559) 487-5033

The Fresno HUD office, located in California's San Joaquin Valley, homeownership and housing services to the largest population of Hmong outside of Asia. According to some estimates, nearly 60% of the Hmong in the San Joaquin Valley receive some form of public assistance. This inability to achieve economic independence has affected the Hmong's abilities to achieve the American dream of homeownership. This issue is further compounded by confusion about credit and the homeownership process. Experts who study the Hmong estimate that only 10% of Hmong families in the San Joaquin Valley own a home.

In an effort to address issues that have prevented the Hmong from buying homes, and to improve the homeownership rate, staff from the Fresno Area HUD office designed, developed, and produced a Hmong Homeownership Video. This innovative project is the first of its kind in California, and a significant resource for the Hmong community, which helped write, narrate, and produce the video. The actors are in this video are local Hmong leaders, and the dialogue is spoken in Hmong, with Hmong voiceovers for the sections with English speaking actors. The video shows Hmong families going through all the steps of purchasing a home. It makes a particular effort to clear up confusion in the Hmong community about credit. This video was developed, written, and produced with support and technical assistance from both the Hmong community and the local real estate industry.

2000-1848 Visalia Fox Theatre Renovation
Visalia, California
Contact: Steven Salomon (559) 738-3312

In 1996 the Visalia Fox Theatre, after over 65 years of venerable service to the City of Visalia as a cultural and social meeting place and structural landmark in the community closed. Although the theater was designed as an elegant movie palace in the late 1920's, it had been converted to a cinema triplex which hid many of its glorious details. The theater sat vacant for months while rain, lack of use, and overall deferred maintenance inflicted its toll on this important cultural and historical landmark.

In that same year a group of interested citizens armed only with their good intentions and belief that important historical and cultural venues should be preserved for the benefit of the community decided to form the Visalian Friends of the Fox, a private non-profit organization whose purpose was to: (1) To acquire through purchase the Fox Theatre located in downtown Visalia at 300 West Main Street, Visalia; (2) To restore the Fox Theatre to its original state, maintaining the historical setting and design; (3) To operate the Fox Theatre as a viable home for the visual and performing arts; and, (4) To make the theatre available for use without discrimination to any group, individual, or organization, subject to the normal and customary costs and availability.

2000-2267 Kings County Foster Youth Transitional Housing Program
Hanford, California
Contact: Donna C. Puckett (559) 582-2806

The Kings County Foster Youth Transitional Housing Program provides an affordable residence and supportive services to young adults who have "aged out" of the foster care system. Goals of the program include adequately preparing the young adults to be self-sufficient, preventing homelessness, and preventing teenage pregnancy. Services provided to the residents include job training/employment guidance, assistance with educational opportunities, health education, tutoring in life skills such as budgeting and meal preparation, assistance with transportation, and mentoring. Housing and services are available until a resident is 21 years old.

2000-2810 Clovis, Magill Heights Housing Project
Fresno, California
Contact: Ron Leinio (559) 242-4292

The purpose of the project was to improve the condition of the Magill Heights neighborhood. The project involved several funding sources. CDBG funds were used to install full street widths, a cul-de-sac to three of the four streets, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, and a sound wall. The Clovis Community Development Agency purchased vacant property using redevelopment affordable housing funds and CDBG funds for a housing in-fill project. The County of Fresno provided HOME CHDO funds as loans to ten low-income, first-time homebuyers through a self-help housing project. The area is a low/mod area based on a 1995 income survey. The area covers Herndon/Magill, Phillips/Duke/manila/Sunnyside, and Argyle Avenues. Phases I, II, and III were completed with CDBG funds.

2000-3070 Administration-CDBG Program Management
Visalia, California
Contact: Steven Solomon (559) 738-3312

The City of Visalia developed a new project/program management process and tracking system providing a framework for the successful reduction of the City's CDBG carry forward amount.

2000-3079 Clovis Silver Ridge Section 108 Project
Fresno, California
Contact: Ron Leinio (559) 262-4292

This project involved the creation of 100 apartments for low-income senior citizens. The old Clovis Community Hospital, located at 88 N. DeWitt Avenue, was left empty when Clovis Community Hospital moved to its new facility northeast of town. The property housed interim uses in portions of the buildings for several years after the hospital vacated. Once the building was permanently vacant it began to fall into disrepair. With deteriorating property conditions and trespasser problems that kept the police department busy, the facility had become a slum-blight on the neighborhood.

In November 1996, the Affordable Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) expressed an interest in the site and began discussions with Community Hospitals and the City. As the project began to evolve through its many stages, it began to emerge as a reality. By November 1997, the project was approved.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011