2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-265 City of Grand Rapids Neighborhood Development Strategy
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Elizabeth Byron (616) 456-3677

Funding recommendations for Grand Rapid’s four programs were made in a fragmented and disjointed manner. The funding was conducted in a reactionary manner instead of a being conducted in a proactive manner. The city was unable to truly identify the needs of the community as a whole, and therefore unable to determine if the funding provided actually and correctly served the needs of the community-at-large. The city set out to create a method that would allow them develop a coordinated strategy to guide the allocation of funds.

To obtain a better understanding of the needs of the citizens they improved the citizen input process by engaging in an extensive community outreach process, to identify priorities for housing and community development programs and services. Methods used to solicit input included focus groups, forums, meetings, a Web-site survey, and neighborhood workshops. An electronic voting system was used in the workshops to ensure that all participants had an equal voice. Energized from the success of this citizen input process and recognizing the importance of the information collected, Community Development Department staff recommended and the City Commission approved revamping the entire funding process. As a result, the once fragmented and reactionary funding process became a consolidated and strategic approach to addressing community needs.

The tools used in this new approach were the Neighborhood Development Strategy (NDS) and a Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The organization and content of the NDS is derived from the City’s Strategic Plan, the key findings of the citizen input process, the City’s Residential Area Priority Team recommendations, the objectives of the Office of Children, Youth and Families, and the requirements of the federal grant programs. The NDS is comprised of the following strategy areas:

• PUBLIC SAFETY
• INFRASTRUCTURE
• HOUSING, ECONOMIC
• OPPORTUNITIES
• HEALTHY FAMILIES.

Each of these Strategies includes specific Objectives and Actions to guide proposers in developing projects that meet identified community priorities.

To help implement the NDS and to improve the application process for community agencies, a consolidated RFP process was developed. This consolidated approach enabled the City to review submitted proposals across all funding sources at one time and provided integration with the NDS.

2000-1573 Michigan Shores Cooperative
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Sherwood C. Sherwood (616) 456-2100

Michigan Shores Cooperative is a 54 unit elderly project located on 19 wooded acres overlooking Lake Michigan in Frankfort Michigan. This is a cooperative in the true sense of the word, owned, governed and managed by its resident members.

2000-1957 Community Rebuilders' Inc. Families In Transition Program
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Ron Eberhardt (616) 458-5102

The FIT Program was designed to move high-risk families with children toward stability, self-sufficiency, and permanent housing within a neighborhood environment. Scattered-site housing in neighborhoods throughout the city, coupled with the necessary and appropriate supportive services attracts the participation of families who are reluctant to join a "program", and therefore are are at high risk for repeat homelessness. Supportive services included in this project include case management, employment training and placement, child care, transportation, substance abuse treatment, and specialized counseling for abused women and children.

2000-1704 Stuyvesant Apartments Project # 047-35184
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Elaine c. Duncan (616) 456-2100

Stuyvesant Apartments is an eighty six (86) unit mid-rise 221(d)4 elderly/family apartment complex located in the historical district near the downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan business district. It is a U-shaped concrete block, brick faced building with a well-maintained courtyard. Despite the age of the complex, it is well maintained through the conscientious efforts of the on site management staff. The population of this complex consists of some recovering alcoholics and chronically mentally impaired who continually deal with issues from those illnesses. Few of the tenant population own vehicles and must rely on walking or take public transportation to access basic services. The apartment complex has a community room which has been utilized for tenant gatherings. A Neighborhood Networks Center was installed in this room in the past, in partnership with Project Rehab, a local non profit, providing the computer equipment, but when the funding was discontinued, that agency pulled their computers and abandoned the project. In April, 2000, the Grand Rapoids HUD office received a donation of excess computer equipment from the United States District Court, Western Division, Department of Justice. It consisted of Gateway computers, monitors and printers. Our office selected Stuyvesant Apartments as recipient for these systems since they had formerly had shown interest through local HUD office surveys and participation in Neighborhood Networks training. The Business Plan was submitted and approved by our office, and eight Gateway 486/Pentium with hard drive, 1.2 gig of memory, including three with CD ROM, and three HP2 Hewlett Packard Laser printers were officially transferred to on site management in late April, 2000. Through partnership with two other non profit organizations, Stuyvesant was able to reach out to other less served population in the community. Unlimited Alternatives, Inc., a non-profit advocacy agency through Community Mental Health, is a drop-in center for adult mental health consumers. The residents in the apartment complex are among the clients served by the agency on such topics as FIA, Social Security, family matters, housing, furnishings, appointments, the judicial system and helping with case managers. The population served by this agency will be able to gain new computer skills and access the resources of the Internet and foster a sense of community. UA will be providing financial support for the new center in future years of operation. The collaborative agreement between Project Rehab-Contact Center and the Stuyvesant Apartment Community will benefit their respective clientele, allowing mentally, emotionally and physically challenged clients and residents gain new life skills and self esteem. The population will be expanded to include ex-offender clients currently served by the Contact Center. In exchange for the use of the Learning Center, the Contact Center will offer job development services to Stuyvesant clients and residents.

2000-2950 Grand Rapids Housing Commission - Homeownership
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Carolos Sanchez (616) 235-2600

5h Homeownership Program. The Grand Rapids has sold over 109 homes to low-income families of public housing and Section 8. 150 units were built for the purposes of homeownership.

2000-2890 Grand Rapids Housing Commission
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Carolos Sanchez (616) 235-2600

The Grand Rapids Housing Commission has successfully issued 100% of their welfare to work vouchers. To date the agency has leased over 119 of the welfare to work vouchers and anticipate leasing all by 9/30/00.

2000-2631 Fair Housing Center of Greater Grand Rapids
Detroit, Michigan
Contact: Wendell H. Holmes (313) 226-6280

This project operates educational and enforcement programs specifically designed to further the goals of the federal Fair Housing Act and conducts fair housing training to assist the housing industry. It also conducts fair housing testing on the western side of the State of Michigan. This agency also accepts and investigates fair housing complaints and has the capacity to litigate in both state and federal courts. Housing discrimination complaints are referred to HUD on a case by case basis after testing has been completed.

2000-2505 Regional Opportunity Counseling/Grand Rapids Housing Commission
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: Holly Sturges (616) 235-2600

The Program identifies census tracts with more than 20% of families living at or above poverty income level. They provide counseling through a partnership with the Grand Rapids Urban League. The purpose is to move families from low poverty areas and to encourage greater opportunities for housing, schools, employment and training.

2000-2041 Benton Harbor Michigan capacity building partnership
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: William Heado (616) 456-2100

HUD, the Justice Department, US Attorney's office, Western Michigan University and the City of Benton Harbor have joined in a memorandum of understanding to formalize two years of ongoing cooperation that will assist in capacity building to attract and keep funding within the area for the betterment of all local citizens. Among actions to be taken include a contract with Western Michigan to develop a "center for community enhancement and best practice" to provide technical assistance, grant writing, strategic planning and leadership training for local residents and city employees. The Justice Department will provide assistance with recreation, law enforcement, community policing, drug courts, dropout prevention, and teen pregnancy prevention and intervention through its various funding sources. HUD will continue to provide assistance in facilitating economic development, infrastructure, brownfields cleanup, housing demolition and redevelopment, and neighborhood redevelopment, while identifying resources and best practices that may assist in developing local solutions. In addition, HUD will provide technical assistance where needed to support the efforts of its partners in this regard, including identifying potential funding sources and best practices. Benton Harbor will identify, assess and prioritize issues and needs of community residents; and develop, implement and evaluate policies, plans and strategies designed to address these issues.

2000-1580 A Practical Guide to Public Relations and Publicity for the Nonprofit Community
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: William K. Wheadon (616) 456-2127

A May 15-17 Conference on Affordable Housing in Lansing Michigan featured a highly unique example of HUD and State collaboration. Community Builder Fellow Bill Wheadon and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Communications Specialist Mary Lou Keenon volunteered to produce a public relations guide for non-profit groups. Both had owned and operated marketing communications firms before joining their respective agencies. So Bill started writing and Mary Lou began to develop a layout. The final product of 52 pages, entitled "A Practical Guide to Public Relations and Publicity for the Non-Profit Community" was printed at no taxpayer expense and distributed to all 1000 conference attendees. Bill Wheadon presented a PowerPoint presentation on Wednesday morning to about 200 attendees outlining the book and then Mary Lou chaired a panel of a newspaper reporter, a television news director, radio network executive, and a public relations professional. Feedback was extremely positive.

2000-1539 HOPE Network, Inc.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: (616) 248-5900

Program Description: HOPE Network, Inc., was started 35 years ago by Herbert A. Start, because his compassion for people who have a disability. HOPE Network’s mission is to serve people with dignity and respect, and participate in the realization of their gifts and potential, and encourage the community to realize the gift of their presence in our lives. It all started in the beginning with a small sheltered Workshop at Pine Rest Christian Hospital in 1963 and have expanded to become a statewide organization that provides a full continuum of services in the areas of housing, transportation, employment and training, counseling and residential, and residential rehabilitation.

2000-373 Fair Housing Affirmative Lending
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact: William G. Falen (616) 456-2100

Fair Housing Affirmative Lending (FHAL) is a philosophy and a commitment strategy. This strategy permits affiliated HUD approved lending institutions or organizations and HUD to work closely together in collaborating. Together, they can apply greater efforts to eliminate and report unfair, prejudicial, predatory and discriminatory lending. FHAL will challenge and encourage industry to underwrite more minority and low-to-moderate income mortgages. They can do this while still abiding by required Federal Fair Housing Statues and normal mortgage credit standards and guidelines.

2000-2222 The Forks Initiative
Albion, Michigan
Contact: Karen L. Sherrard (517) 629-3993

Establish a web presence for the Greater Albion Community that enchances the quality of life of our residents; host community webpages, provide email accounts for partners, assist with economic development, close the digital divide, share library resources, create a training center. The specific best practice we wish to showcase is our Albion Smart Center project. Albion Public Safety, the Albion Housing Commission, Albion College and Millennium Digital Media collaborated to open two internet access points in a public housing and an a subsidized housing unit The Smart Centers, as they are called, provide and support internet access and Microsoft Office Suite. They are used for recreation, homework, job readiness. The Centers are attractive to the residents because they have been staffed by residents themselves and are located in the neighborhood. This entire project was initiated by an Albion Public Safey officer who saw an opportunity to expand the Community Policing Program. Albion College provided computers, Millennium Digital Media provided free cable modems, and the Forks partners provided expertise, advice, and support.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011