2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-451 Pensacola Multifamily Security Enhancement
Pensacola, Florida
Maxine Goodwin (850) 433-2026

The increase in crime at Pensacola Apartments inspired its manager, HUD’s PTO, and HUD’s Community Builder to create a strategy to immediately address the problem. The first step was to meet with the local police and several affected property managers to brainstorm what was and was not effective. A number of different approaches to creating a safer community were presented resulting in a list of security enhancements ranging from resident photo identification to better control of ingress and egress. The appropriate HUD projects were contacted by mail and a list of enhancements was recommended. Follow-up with the projects found that over half of the properties chose to participate. There was an additional meeting with the Police Department to share the names of the projects, the list of agreed to enhancements and a strategy to meet again in 3 or 4 month to review lessons learned.

2000-693 Cedar Grove 11
Gainesville, Florida
Jackie Richardson (352) 334-5026

Cedar Grove II is the City of Gainesville's first affordable single-family development for newly constructed detached homes. It is one of the first Energy Star Affordable Housing Development. Cedar Grove II contains a total of 131 units. HOME Homeownership funding, funding from the State of Florida and the City of Gainesville all support the initiative. The neighborhoods and communities in this Northeast quadrant of the City suffered from years of neglect and decline. Cedar Grove II is fast becoming a catalyst of housing AND economic development. It is also a mixed use development. The adjacent 54 acre site is being developed for commercial, office, and rental uses. The targeted market for the Energy Star homes in the community consists of families with gross annual incomes less than or equal to 120% of the area median family income--for a family of four the figure is $44,700. The development is one of the first Energy Star developments and incorporates features of new urbanism and neo-traditional design. The average house in Cedar Grove II sells for $90,000. The City Housing Division contracts to local suppliers and builders in building economic partnership with local businesses.

2000-696 Interfaith Coalition Against Poverty
Gainesville, Florida
Jim Hencin (352)334-5031

In May of 1999 and March of 2000, Thomas Vetica, Community Builder, worked with Gainesville Churches and agencies to host an Interfaith Summit on Community Development. Both Summits enjoyed the participation of 40 communities of faith and faith-based organizations. As a result of Interfaith 2000, "Helping One Another Help the Needy" the planning committee formed a Task Force to implement suggestions that came from participants. This task force became THE INTERFATIH COALITION AGAINST POVERTY.

2000-804 Landlord Appreciation Day
Pensacola, Florida
Pat Hubbard (850) 435-1668

As partners in providing affordable housing and playing a major role in the success of the Section 8 Housing Program, the city of Pensacola Housing Department realizes the importance of its landlords. To pay tribute to our landlords and strengthen the partnership between those involved in providing affordable housing, the Housing Department has initiated an annual Landlord Appreciation Day. This practice is also an excellent way to promote positive working relationships, improve communication, and provide landlords an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Section 8 Program and the Housing Department's role in providing affordable housing, all of which results in improved service to tenants participating the Section 8 Program. A main component of the event is to announce "Landlord of the Year" and runner-up. Tenants participating in the City's Section 8 Program are invited to nominate their landlord to be considered for this award. a panel of five judges from the community, representing various businesses and agencies, reviews and rates the nominations and makes the final decision on who will be named "Landlord of the Year". The panel rates the landlord nominations on a point system in the following five categories: 1) Quick response to unit problems; 2) Understanding and thoughtfulness; 3)Maintains unit; 4) Respectful of tenant; and 5) Extra efforts above and beyond. the Landlord of the Years is recognized and presented with a plaque and the Grand Prize. The runner-up is presented a Certificate of recognition and a prize. all landlords nominated receive a Certificate of appreciation and a copy of their tenant's nomination letter.

2000-1100 Neighborhood Network
Jacksonville, Florida
Karey EL Gee (904) 389-1197

NBA/Hollbrook Homes offer a vast array of needed programs in one easily accessible site that is central to the community it serves. Because of its history of providing services beyond basic shelter to meet the needs of NBA/Hollybrook Homes 673 residents and surrounding communities,NBA/Hollybrook Homes Inc. has been named one of the top 10 housing properties in the nation by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

2000-1299 Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Roslyn M. Phillips (904) 630-7030

Since October 1, 1997, the City of Jacksonville has provided $900,000 of CDBG funding to (Habijax) which is the local chapter of the National Habitat for Humanity Organization. This subrecipient has expended these funds in connection with lot preparation and utility tie-ins associated with the construction of 270 homes. This project provides home ownership for low and moderate income families. Under this project 50 of the 270 families assisted also received down payment assistance from the $900,000 of CDBG funds. This project is being implemented in specific neighborhoods which the Mayor’s administration has designated Intensive Care Neighborhoods, which assures that the City is also implementing multi-faceted revitalization projects in each neighborhood. Habijax’s housing construction home ownership activities are a major component of the revitalization efforts. This has been demonstrated from the more than $8,829,877 of non CDBG assistance which has also been expended by Habijax on their housing construction activities. This project enjoys strong community support from many sources, which has resulted in more than $3,300,000 of contributions from corporate sponsors. At this time, we believe Habijax is the most active Habitat for Humanity Chapter in terms of the actual number of homes being constructed for low and moderate income persons.

2000-1331 Multi-Purpose community "Team" Building
Tallahassee, Florida
Claudette Cromartie (850) 385-6126

Local leveraging of community funds to build a 200 sq. ft. multi-purpose center. This building will serve as: Community food distribution center Community/resident meeting space Satellite resource/computer center County school GED Center Boys/Girls Club Center The site location for this multi-purpose center will be on one-half acre west of the Pinewood Place public housing development, on PHA owned property. Infrastructure cost has been outlined under the estimated construction cost with the PHA requesting a waiver of fees from the City of Tallahassee. This site was chosen due to its stand-alone location, which will make it easier for the community to access. The PHA will get the preliminary drawings blueprinted and stamped by the architectural and engineering firm it has on retainer. Local fund leveraging will be from the Boys/Girls club ($50,000) and the City of Tallahassee neighborhood and Community Services ($75,000), which provides: On-going voter registration drive Community clothes closet Training Center for Big Bend Wages Coalition

2000-1585 Project Renew
Jacksonville, Florida
Ronnie A. Ferguson (904) 630-3810

With the help of an EDSS grant, the Jacksonville Housing Authority in 1998 launched an innovative program called RENEW (Residents Engaging in New Efforts to Win). RENEW plays a major role in resident initiatives by offering educational programs, job training, work force preparation and small business ownership assistance. RENEW is unique because it is a comprehensive program that seeks to remove the barriers that many JHA residents encounter in achieving success. Most notably, RENEW provides childcare and transportation assistance at little or no cost to its participants. A key aspect is that 13 organizations and agencies have partnered with JHA in providing services to RENEW participants. In addition, JHA hires residents whenever possible and gives preference for employment to residents. JHA provides counselors to assist residents in finding employment at various companies around Jacksonville, JHA also partners with Americorps and union apprentice programs in providing job training and skills development. JHA has also assisted residents in starting their own businesses in lawn care and day care services.

2000-1772 Conducting HQS Inspections
Jacksonville, Florida
Ronnie A. Ferguson (904) 630-3810

To target the ten worst occupied drug houses in the City, close them down, then, if needed renovate the buildings. As drug buildings are closed other drug houses are added To the Ten Most Wanted rolling list of targeted drug houses. Up until 1990 the conventional wisdom held, that only law enforcement agencies were held responsible for closing down a "drug house" and no one was responsible for renovating a boarded up former drug house Important Aspects of the Task Force: To target the worst "Urban Drug Houses" where police are expending a lot of man hours, where there have been a lot of 911 calls about a particular building or neighborhood residents have identified a building where they believe drug activity is occurring. For the next several weeks the Boston Police Department’s (B.P.D.) Drug Control Unit investigates the drug house. While they are doing that, the program coordinator collects information on the building and its owner. When there is an arrest made the B.PD. notifies the property owner, that an arrest has been made in their building. Previously the B.P.D. depended on outdated Assessing Department information, but the Task Force has developed resources to find the property owner in over ninety per cent (90%) of the drug houses they work on. If after several weeks of investigating a suspected drug house the B.P.D.’s Drug Control Unit feels there is drug activity, but they can’t get enough for a search warrant other options are then explored by the Task Force. Those options include requesting the Inspectional Services Department (I.S.D.) to inspect the property for building or housing code violations. Also, if we have determined that the Boston Water and Sewer Commission has in the normal course of their procedures turned off service due to non-payment the Task Force notifies I.S.D. of this violation of the State Sanitary Code. If I.S.D. confirms that their indeed is no water service at the location the will order the house condemned and vacated, because" the property is unfit for human habitation". Longer term steps involve the Task Force actually having the City of Boston expediting foreclosure for non-payment of property taxes or, if the situation is deemed critical to stopping the drug activity the Department of Neighborhood Development will authorize one of its developers to purchase the building. As a last resort the Task Force will request the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office to begin forfeiture proceedings against the property. enough detail to provide a basic Important Aspects of the Drug Den Renovation Program To renovate selected properties closed by the Task Force, which, are critical to restoring hope to a neighborhood previously devastated by drug activity. Because of the early success of the Task Force in closing and boarding up drug dens. Most of these drug dens were in "partnership areas", that D.N.D. was working in trying to build affordable housing. As a result of having staff working on the Task Force D.N.D.’s Housing Division now was aware of the history behind these boarded up buildings and their importance to the community. Drug Dens are renovated in three ways 1) By the Ten Most Wanted Drug Den Program, which is primarily funded through H.U.D.’s Community Development Block Grant Program. 2) If the Drug Den Program can’t fund or renovate a drug den other D.N.D. Programs may utilize these boarded up drug dens for other housing or commercial programs. 3) Finally almost forty per cent (40%) of the buildings renovated or in the process have been done by private developers without assistance from either state or federal agencies.

2000-2007 Jacksonville Multifamily Hub 2020 training
Jacksonville, Florida
Carol A. Strayer (904) 232-1777

Due to the diminishing staff of Project Managers from retirements and promotions to the Enforcement Center, Quality Assurance and the Community Builders, and the influx of formerly single family staff with little or no Multifamily experience, it became clear that the experience level of Multifamily staff was diminishing. Hence, in November 1999, Ferdinand R. Juluke, Jr. instituted the Jacksonville Multifamily Hub 2020 Training program to enhance the skills of Project Managers in the four Program Centers (Jacksonville, Miami, Alabama, and Mississippi). The Program provides 1.5 hours of training weekly, on Thursday, to all 65 Project Managers in the Program Centers and at outstationed sites, using the PicTele. An agenda of topics was developed covering every aspect of Housing's business from preapplication to payment in full of the loan or foreclosure. The sessions are conducted by the most experienced Project Managers and include various methods, such as (1) panel discussions, (2) video of on site review of site and construction issues, (3) role play-type meetings, and (4) lecture and guest speakers. Using the PicTele, all sessions are interactive and many result in developing best practices for the entire Hub. The training has brought all Project Managers to a level playing field in that they are given handouts for each topic demonstrating the day's topic and providing handbook and regulation references. The handouts are to be placed in their personal HUD 2020 binder for future reference.

2000-2046 Jacksonville Housing Authority Family

FSSU is a mandatory educational component of the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. Participants attend one six hour group session on a designated Saturday. FSSU sessions focus on four primary areas. They are life skills, employment, credit improvement and homeownership. A Dressing for Success demonstration is also included as a part of the employment module. Each participant is awarded a certificate of completion for attending their scheduled session of FSSU. Participants submit an evaluation following the Saturday class.

2000-2281 Women of Destiny, Inc.
Panama City, Florida
Barbara S. Moore (850) 873-8893

Women of Destiny is a 501c-3, non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of dependency through personal initiative, encouragement, support, educational/vocational direction, citizen leadership training and an increased awareness of all community resources designed and available to assist meet welfare-to-work requirements. The organization offers several training programs including a HUD Certified Home Education Learning Program (HELP) for first-time homebuyers, 6-hour MicroBusiness training classes for participant-members desiring to own or create a small business; variety of computer training classes; GED-related courses; Employability skills; Personal Development; Job Development / Job Placement; Drug Counseling/Intervention through Community Partnerships. An auto donation program helps alleviate transportation issues facing participant-members. In addition, the organization offers two motivational/educational conferences designed to empower the participant-members. Past conference theme/titles have been Changing Your Attitude to Achieve Your Goals; Families Facing the New Millennium; Personal and Family Empowerment; A New Attitude; Celebrating Womanhood. All residents living in HUD-assisted housing are automatically eligible for membership. Women of Destiny, Inc. is the non-profit "umbrella" serving primarily six [subsidized property] Neighborhood Network Centers – six HUD/FHA and two USDA Rural Development properties. This arrangement benefits these properties in many ways, primarily facilitating receipts of donations and grant-writing privileges / grant receipts within the organization.

2000-2383 Spring Manor Neighborhood Network Center
Ocala, Florida
Tambra A. Carswell (352) 629-7547

The Spring Manor NNC focuses on the varied needs of both adult and children living at Spring Manor Apartments. Adults are provided the opportunity to attend Adult Basic Education and GED classes with a qualified instructor present to teach concepts and provide a framework for study. Basic computer instruction is provided with Windows 95/98; MS Office applications and Internet. In addition to paper/pencil exercises, students use the computers to practice and reinforce learning concepts. The computer lab is open for adult use nearly every day and is used by individuals to further their personal, professional and recreational interests. Each lab is staffed by a business professional who can assist with both computer operations and offer business / interviewing / resume'-writing advice. Previous seminars include Credit Counseling, Dress for Success, Helping Your Child Succeed at School and Anger Management sessions. For children, programs provided at the Center include: Homework club (during school year); Computer Instruction; America Reads; Good News Club; 4-H, and other activities such as "Girl Talk." During Homework Club, every child enrolled in school can utilize the Center's resources (both written and electronic) to complete their homework assignments. If they have completed their homework, the center provides several educational computer programs such as Math Blaster, Reader Rabbit, Spell It Deluxe, all of which provide fun outlets to learning. America Reads assists the students with language and reading skills. Computer instruction for the children includes how to use the educational programs - Encarta and the Internet to aid their homework assignments. Good News Club provide weekly Bible studies for the children including discussions about character and values. 4-H offers children ages 5-18 the opportunity to study different subjects in-depth and then present what they have learned to others in the Club. Each participant completes a project record, which is then judged at the county level. In addition to their regular programming for adults and children, other family activities are scheduled from time to time.

2000-2606 City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Leaders
Tallahassee, Florida
Joeseph Jackson (850) 891-6500

This project offers community based education and provides insight into the City's operations, services, and limitations. the Academy included twenty participants who have been identified as neighborhood leaders from the three targeted areas of greatest need in the City and the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to those targeted areas. The sessions were held at 14 different City facilities, involving 21 City departments. The Academy also included a trip, funded by the City for the graduating class to attend the Florida Neighborhood Conference. This opportunity proved beneficial for the graduates as they were able to interact with other neighborhood residents and governmental staff, discussing their specific concerns and learning how others have dealt with or resolved similar issues, both from a neighborhood resident perspective and from other government agencies experiences. This information and training was brought back to their neighborhood associations providing enhanced leadership through better informed participation. There are four main objectives of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy: Broaden understanding of government. Develop a pool of skilled neighborhood leaders. Establish networks among other neighborhoods. Enhance the ability of a neighborhood to resolve problems on their own.

2000-2802 Increasing Accessible Housing
Jacksonville, Florida
Ronnie A. Ferguson (904) 630-3810

During a preliminary HOPE VI planning meeting it was noted that Jacksonville Housing Authority had determined that town housing style units would be used as replacement units for the 2 bedroom and larger units. The regulations allow PHA’s to opt for town house style units however, Sherry Norton, EOS for the Jacksonville HUD office urged them to design the some units so that larger families who had mobility disabled members would have the option of residing at the site and urged JHA to make all units visitable. In Jacksonville Housing Authorities final plan, all units were visitable and they altered the design of the stair cases to allow for the installation of a chair ramp. Thereby, giving disabled families access to the larger towns house style units.

2000-2831 Foundation for Learning and Success, Inc.
Pensacola, Florida
Maxine Goodwin (850) 433-2026

The Neighborhood Network Center (NNC) Program is a full-time alternative educational training program offered on-site to residents of two (2) [very] low-income area housing communities. The NNC is operated in conjunction with with an on-site child development center available for pre-schoolers of residents enrolled in the (NNC) program. Through an active partnership with the Escambia County School District Title I Program and Project Jumpstart, job training is provided for residents in accordance with new welfare reform legislation. The Director of Project Jumpstart has developed a self-sufficiency and empowerment program for the residents and provides assistance for job opportunities by offering job applications from local businesses, referrals, transportation, and assists in locating affordable child care. The NNC Program uses software especially designed for NNCs which provide educational skills to residents planning to receive their GED. Residents were hired at each site to work as "parent-educators." After receiving training, the parent-educators work with adult residents as well as with pre-schoolers. Both Neighborhood Network centers have operated successfully for three (3) years, providing opportunities for residents to become self-sufficient and finding alternative lifestyles other than welfare and assisted housing.

Cathedral Residences is an urban campus organization located on three city blocks in downtown Jacksonville, Florida which provides housing for persons 62 years of age and older, as well as to persons in need of wheelchair accessible apartments. Cathedral Residences is comprised of Cathedral Towers, a 202 built in 1967, Cathedral Townhouse, a 202 built in 1969, Cathedral Terrace, a 236 built in 1974 and Cathedral Court, a 202/8 built in 1980. We are home to over 660 residents. Cathedral Residences, a community within The Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville, Inc., is sponsored by St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. During the last ten to twelve years, the resident demographics have changed dramatically. In 1996, we found that the average resident is older, more diverse in racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds and more likely to have physical challenges. We noted the same changes were also occurring demographically in staff. These changes caused us to look for resources to assist with a process to improve communications, provide opportunities for individuals to discover common values and aspirations, and to provide resources for unlike cultural and ethnic groups to engage in discussion improving multi-cultural understanding and cooperation. We searched for model programs which had been developed in a retirement community setting and found none available. The experts we discussed this dilemma with agreed that models which were available for work-place and school-based programs on diversity were not the appropriate model for our community. The Cathedral Foundation felt that development of a program of this nature would be a certain benefit to our residents. We contacted several outside agencies to assist in the development of this model program. After careful review, The National Conference for Community and Justice was chosen as our partner. The next challenge we faced us the needed funding to develop and operate the program. A grant application was prepared and submitted to the Jacksonville Community Foundation requesting $5,000. The grant was awarded and we began this process in July of 1996. The National Conference Staff held several initial focus groups with staff and residents to assess areas where there were challenges. With the initial assessment complete, a one day off-site training session was held with all full time staff for a mini-evaluation of the program. With the direction of the program clearly in focus, sessions were designed for resident, employees and resident leaders in mind. During the course of the grant, over 100 people attended this training. Through program evaluations, it was learned that most people felt they benefited from the program and wanted the opportunity for further sessions of dialog and community building activities. The Cathedral Foundation approached the Jacksonville Community Foundation again in 1998 for a grant of $5,334 to further the work begun and to prepare a model program that could be replicated in other retirement communities nationally. As a part of that grant, we held sessions with our own residents and one session where we invited staff and residents from eight other local HUD funded retirement communities to attend. A model handbook for the project was created and is currently available for other communities who wish to participate in this program. In the second round of dialog and discussions, another 100 people attended the sessions. The staff of Cathedral Residences and the National Conference for Community and Justice will be presenting this workshop at the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's National Conference in Miami Florida to be held in October 2000. It is felt that the broad objectives that follow were met and could be met for others who choose to participate in this program: * Creating cultural awareness * Creating awareness of religious beliefs and practices * Creating awareness of persons with disabilities * Creating awareness of changing demographics of our multi-cultural society in the larger community * Assisting in developing sensitivity toward all people.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011