2000 Best Practice Awards

218 Saint James Manor, Scranton, PA

Saint James Manor is a 16 unit (12 one bedrooms and 4 two bedrooms) transitional facility for persons with special needs. The facility serves homeless veterans and homeless persons who have completed substance abuse treatment programs or transitional residential programs for the chronically mentally ill. This program provides up to 24 months of transitional housing, in addition to providing social services, such as:

• life skills training
• vocational/employment services
• mental health services
• drug and alcohol counseling

The period spent in transitional housing combined with the social services provided at the facility, offer residents a more fluid transition toward self sufficiency and permanent housing.

The apartments are designed in a manner intended to increase homeless individuals’ self-esteem. The apartments are bright with natural light, every room has a window and every apartment has a different design (no two are the same). The carpeting colors are alternated, and each apartment has a full bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom and . Every apartment is also equipped with separate utilities meters (GAS /Electric) and all utilities are in the residents name. This was designed to assist the homeless in preparing for independent living. They are responsible for working with their case managers in paying there bills first before paying their rent. Every apartment is equipped with a phone and Voice Mail for emergencies , security and employment opportunities.

As part of the Catholic Social Services Residential Service Complex the program provides One Stop housing services. The following programs are housed in the building:

1. The Saint Anthony's Haven Men & Women Shelter
2. The Veterans ADT program for Homeless Veterans with addiction problems
3. The Veterans CMIH program this is for Homeless Veterans with Mental Health problems
4. The CRR program for homeless (CMIH ) county residents with Mental Health issues
5. The VA SRO program for Homeless Veterans
6. HUD Housing Counseling Program which assists homeless families trying to find apartments and refers first time home buyer to housing services
7. Housing Case Management for Homeless individuals and families (HAP program)
8. The Saint James Manor 16 apartment SHP program
9. A relief assistance program (Rental/Mortgage assistance) to prevent homelessness

241 Champions of Caring

Dedicated to educating, sensitizing and empowering young people from multicultural and diverse socio-economic backgrounds to play active roles in improving their communities, Champions of Caring celebrates and honors high school students who have committed themselves to service and promotes them as role models -- as heroes of our time. A not-for-profit educational organization, Champions encourages and nurtures caring behavior as an antidote to the "disease of indifference" which allowed such monumental human devastation as the Holocaust during World War II. It elicits respect for and participation from different religions, ethnic backgrounds and races. Champions of Caring was founded by Barbara Greenspan Eisenbud, the daughter of holocaust survivors, based on her desire to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again to any group. Ms. Eisenbud's mother, Carolyn Greenspan, was incarcerated in Auschwitz and is the sole survivor of a family of 65. Ms. Eisenbud's father and grandfather worked for Oskar Schindler, whose life was the basis of Steven Spielberg's motion picture "Schindler's List." To fulfill its mission, Champions of Caring offers a three pronged program including: 1) a multi-disciplinary multi-cultural secondary school service learning curriculum for classroom use; 2) Ambassadors of Caring - a leadership and advocacy development program -- including training in public speaking, grant writing, community change, and social issues -- for high school students throughout the Delaware Valley who have qualified by already logging many hours of community service and receiving recommendations from responsible adults; and 3) recognition ceremonies and events honoring young people who have engaged in extraordinary community service activities. Teenagers selected to be "Ambassadors of Caring" take a two day trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, a two day life skills building educational retreat in Philadelphia, and other character enhancing activities. Speakers and trainers include NBC's Andrea Mitchell, Senator Harris Wofford. Sponsors and supporters include Steven Spielberg, Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Superintendent of Schools David Hornbeck, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, NBC, Business Financial Services Inc., and the Philadelphia 76ers. Participants in the second and third prong of this program alone include 850 high school students who have collectively logged in 400,000 hours of community service.

605 Chester County PA - Townhomes of Buena Vista

The Townhomes of Buena Vista housing development for homeownership project began as a local grassroots effort to find safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for Southern Chester County's growing mushroom farmworker population. The Alliance for Better Housing in partnership wit the Office of Houing and Community Development of the County of Chester, spearheaded this effort to develop decent, affordable housing for this needy population. The development, consisting of twenty-four townhomes, was the result of the collaborative effort of a plethora of agencies and organizations committed to overcoming the many obstacles of developing affordable housing for low-income families. Thee partners provided the resources, funds, technical assistance, and overall support necessary of the development of become a reality. As a result of the tremendous effort given by all of the parties involved, the Townhomes of Buena Vista stands today not only as an accomplishment in terms of increased affordable housing, but also as an excellent model of how the collaboration of many vested partners can gain community support and overcome a myriad of obstacles to achieve remarkable results.

762 University of Pennsylvania Center for Community Partnerships

This program is linked to HUD by its COPC funding which was developed in 1992 out of the Penn Program for Public Service. Beyond the original COPC program, many other programs have evolved to encompass the broader spectrum of community building. One key element of the program is the collaborative formed with the School of Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Chaplain-Program in Universities, Communities of Faith, Schools and Neighborhood Organizations-which begins to weave together all of the issues in the community into one seamless programmatic approach. The research foundation and baseline information for this program is provided by the Program for the Study of Organized Religion and Social Work located in Penn's School of Social Work. Interns in the PUCSFN work on establishing model programs in the schools and churches in the community, joining them in collaborative work on issues such as "Building Community While Conquering the Digital Divide" "The Creation of a Web-based Community Resource Guide" and forming and conducting a "Technology Institute" and the "New Dimensions Cultural Arts Academy for Boys and Girls: Nurturing Students to be Their Best." They are also involved in developing a Community Nursing Program in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania Health System Pastoral Care department.

946 Section 108 Loan Program

The City of Easton conceived a creative development, designed to capitalize on the City’s fortuitous geographic location at the confluence of the Leigh and the Delaware Rivers. The City of Easton utilized a $1,000,000 Section 108 Loan to acquire Orr’s Department Sore, which had been a blighting influence on the City’s Central Business District for a number of years. Easton had been aggressively attempting to reinvigorate its downtown area, and this project was a key element of that endeavor. The City of Easton typifies the problems of many of Pennsylvania’s smaller, older cities. It had been losing population and jobs since the 1950s and, overall, its population was becoming older, poorer and more culturally diverse. Mayor Thomas F. Goldsmith decided to take action and he commissioned a plan for the development of the Northampton Street Corridor as a part of the Two Rivers Landing Project. To implement the Plan, the City developed and successfully utilized a unique and integrated funding plan. · CDBG funding was utilized for facade improvements, street tree planting and furniture, signage, acquisition and disposition; · State recreation funds were used to supplement the streetscape program; · National Park Service funds facilitated the development of the Heritage Corridor along the Delaware and the Lehigh Canal; · State economic development grants were used for downtown business incentives; · The City of Easton used its tax abatement program in the area for business development; and · The Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) utilized its own loan pool to finance downtown business development. The cornerstone of the project, however, was Two Rivers Landing itself. The old abandoned Orr’s Department Store was totally renovated into three museums and public space, an auditorium, the Museum Shop, a restaurant, and an official visitor center for the National Park Service, which administers the Delaware and Lehigh Canal Park. A National Canal Museum featuring the Delaware and Lehigh Canal and a local museum were developed. In addition, a third museum was developed by a local corporation, Binney & Smith, which makes and markets crayons under the trademark Crayola. This museum, which has become a local tourist attraction that draws over 200,000 visitors yearly, outlines the history and the development of Crayola Crayons. This development has helped the City of Easton to provide a major focus on its tourist attractions and effectively increase its market share of the tourism business. Since this development was completed and opened to the public, the City has seen a significant increase in tourism throughout the entire City and the surrounding area, which has resulted in a significant economic return to Easton. Community Development Block Grant Program and Section 108 Loan Guarantee Funds provided the City with the necessary capital to pull this entire project together. This $7,000,000 project created 25 new permanent full time jobs directly and the boost that it provided to local tourism helped to create many more new jobs and totally revitalize the City’s downtown area. A small City like Easton, would never have been able to provide the necessary subsidy to get the project moving without the availability of the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program

1079 Philadelphia Housing Authority

PHA made arrangements through First Union Bank so that Housing Assistance Payments [HAP] to landlords can be paid through electronic direct deposit, assuring that payments arrive expediently to the owners with less labor and postage by PHA Section 8 staff. All funds would arrive in landlord's account on the day payment is due.

1215 Asset Control Area Housing Rehabilitation

The project is a joint effort of private, public and non-profit groups to improve the housing stock in the City of Reading, PA, reduce its vacant housing inventory and promote affordable homeownership opportunities for City residents. It will acquire vacant homes from HUD, renovate them and make them available at affordable mortgage amounts to homebuyers. Its goal is to rehabilitate 100 homes this year and 200 homes every year thereafter. Albert Boscov, Chairman of the Boscov Department store chain, is instrumental in leading the project. Funds for acquisition and repairs will come from proceeds of a $5 million bond issued by the Community Initiatives Development Corporation of Hudson, NY, a nonprofit development company that has been involved in similar projects in other cities. The City will make $5,000 to $10,000 per unit available for contingencies. Vacant homes that will be acquired will be HUD-owned homes, some of which will come from the new dollar home program. Most properties will be located in the federally designated revitalization zone where the project will play a vital role in improving deteriorated neighborhoods there. The City’s Community Development staff will inspect the homes and determine the needed repairs. At a minimum, it is expected that every house will have a new bathroom and kitchen, new or repaired windows, new carpeting and appliances, a roof good for ten years and upgraded heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The Boscov stores will provide appliances and other material at a discount. It also periodically offers a large range of classes to the community at nominal cost. They include topics such as financial management, budgeting, and home repairs that would benefit potential homeowners. Renovation work will be performed by contractors associated with the Home Builders Association of Berks County at cost plus five percent. Outreach to identify potential homebuyers will be done by community organizations, including the Reading Housing Authority, churches and hospitals. Homebuyers will initially enter a lease-to-own agreement with their rent set at amounts equal to their eventual mortgage payments. They will initially pay $500 towards closing costs. Their lease payments will be greater than the amount needed to pay off the bond and the difference will be placed into an escrow account to pay the balance of the settlement costs. It is expected that it will take less than two years to accumulate the needed closing funds after which time the homebuyer will own the home and start making mortgage payments. Until then, Community Initiatives will be responsible for maintaining the homes.

1467 Mechanicsburg Library Conversion Project

The Cumberland County Housing & Redevelopment Authority worked closely with a number of partners to accomplish the conversion of a former public library in Mechanicsburg, PA into five apartments for households with MH/MR disabilities. The building features innovative loft style apartments that fully utilize the space in the main building that was originally constructed in 1903 as a Church of the Brethen. The Cumberland Perry Housing Initiatives (CPHI), a non-profit housing corporation purchased the building from the Mechanicsburg Area Public Library. Project based assistance is utilized.

1674 Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.

The mission of the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.(CAADC), its Affiliate Corporations and Partnerships, is to assist families and individuals to move toward economic self-sufficiency and reduce their dependence on public support through innovative approaches to programs including: provision of professional case management services, life skills training, employment training, provision of social services, housing rehabilitation and community development. CAADC, Inc. strives to prudently but creatively utilize all available resources, both public and private, including: Local, State and Federal government; individuals, foundations and corporations, income generated from economic development projects, private funding and private partnerships. CAADC, Inc. has been very active in Delaware County, Pennsylvania for the last 20 years and a large portion of their activity has been focused in the City of Chester, PA. Through their efforts 88 units have been brought on line to low income residents as part of the Madison Street Comprehensive Neighborhood Strategy. This initiative was designed to redevelop a 21 block area on Chester’s East Side. In addition they acquired and rehabilitated a 68 unit low-income housing complex, known as Flower Manor (on the West Side), that had been vacant, abandoned and had fallen into disrepair. Rounding out the stock is some scattered site transitional housing. These units are available to families and individuals for up to 1-year following an emergency shelter stay and stabilization (allowing clients to prepare for self-sufficiency and permanent housing). Two emergency shelters, funded and/or operated partially with HUD dollars, serve 240 homeless families and/or individuals a year. Both the Wesley House and the Norris Street Family Management Center provide residents with a wide range of intensive case management and supportive services including nutrition counseling, health services, recreational activities and socialization. There is also the availability of onsite drug/alcohol and mental health counseling services. The array of services is so comprehensive that it also includes: life skills training, parenting education, transportation, employment training linkages, home maintenance training and budget counseling. To compliment their permanent and temporary housing CAADC, Inc. operates a Donations Warehouse which receives clothing, furnishings and supplies on an on-going basis that is distributed for use by agency clients. Other partnerships have been developed with service providers which assist the clientele with such items as utilities. Both PECO (the local electric/gas provider) and the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company have developed programs with CAADC to offer discounts to clients in need of utilities assistance. The Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. has established and maintains these programs in the City of Chester as well as County-wide.

1770 Accessibility Compliance Checklist

The FHEO HUB relies on partnerships, both internal and external, in order to promote and help in the fight for fair housing. One way the FHEO HUB increases their influence over long standing civil rights issues, such accessibility; is broadening the base of support in this fight. Maximization in the use of the human resources at hand within the Department is a way of accomplishing this goal. At the FHEO HUB we have developed close working relationships with other program areas such as Multifamily, Public Housing; among others which allow us to coordinate policy, monitoring and compliance efforts in an integrated fashion, thus addressing the needs and concerns of HUD’s customers. A form was developed by the Programs Branch which will provide guidance to all Program staff on how to evaluate accessibility compliance of their recipients during an on site monitoring visit.

2235 Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Strategy

This best practice is a lead hazard control program that has been integrated into all rehabilitation and code enforcement activities in the city of Harrisburg.

2405 Carlisle's Downtown Hotel

Recently, Carlisle was faced with two problems in its downtown: the out migration of offices and the presence of a large vacant lot blighting the main street. A joint effort of numerous parties was organized to develop an attractive 105 room franchised hotel and conference center on the vacant lot to revitalize the downtown. The hotel opened in August 1999 with capacity for five meeting rooms and banquets, a small restaurant and a bar. A parking garage was built in conjunction with this project. Fifty-two jobs were created, and the resulting business serves both Carlisle residents and tourists.

2463 Asociacion De Puertoriquenos en Marcha

Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM), in collaboration with community residents, developed a ten-year strategic neighborhood plan in 1993, which outlined the proposed revitalization activities that were need to restore and stabilize a community in Eastern North Philadelphia (bounded by 4th Street, Ninth Street, Berks Street and York Street), so that residents could once again reside and work in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment. The plan consisted of the development of two hundred and fifty units of rental housing, a day care center, homeownership opportunities and a retail center. To date, 287 units of housing have been completed, the day care center and retail center are in operation and the homeownership project is under construction. Borinquen Plaza Retail Center consists of a 40,000 SF supermarket, a 4,000 SF retail space and a 2,500 SF pad for future development. The retail center was completed and open for business on March 27, 1999. This project is unique in that it is located in the hear of an urban renewal area that is considered one of the poorest and most difficult areas to attract retail in the City of Philadelphia.

2630 Interstate Realty Management - Family Neighborhood Networks Centers

The Interstate Realty Management-Family Of Neighborhood Networks consist of twelve Neighborhood Network Computer Training Centers that offer comprehensive job-training and self-sufficiency programs for residents of the affordable housing developments where the centers are located. Although the centers are located in different geographic areas, each center is able to communicate with other centers through video conferencing. The centers are in the process of being linked together by a super server and backup server that will allow clients to train for over 200 vertical markets. IRM's Life Skills Training component provides hands on training in resume writing, completing successful job applications, job interviewing, and life and career planning. Other important topics covered include Positive Attitudes Toward work, conflict Resolution Skills, Punctuality and Attendance, Dressing for Success, Finding and Following Up on Job Opportunities and Interviews that Win jobs. Some of the centers also have on-site "employment clothing banks". Each member of the Family of Neighborhood Networks facilitates a broad-based curriculum that includes job readiness, life skills, basic computer literacy, data entry, Microsoft Office 2000, Adult Basic Education, GED Training and Life Skills training. In addition, to having state of the art hardware and software, each center is well designed and maintained, which provides an atmosphere that enhances the learning process.

2960 Universal Companies

Universal Companies is a Community Development Corporation which has achieved very big results in South Central Philadelphia through a holistic approach to community revitalization. The goal of Universal is to build the organizational and economic capacity to challenge many of the underlying "causes and effects" of poverty, promoting opportunity for a positive community change through real estate development, workforce development and education. Its efforts to improve the physical landscape of the community are anchored by an commitment to rebuild the hope, confidence and spirit of the people who live there, which they see as intrinsically connected to the physical structures like parts of a body. On the other hand, they also hold themselves responsible for accomplishing significant and visible physical changes to the community as clear evidence of community change. Their watchwords are leadership; commitment, dedication, passion, perseverance, partnerships and community involvement. Most of their staff and community partners live in the community. Promoting self-reliance and accountability, Universal strives to create an institutional framework that produces people who take care of their families, pay taxes, create and sustain their place in the global economy, and who are productive members of a civil and orderly society. Universal Companies is a group of non-profit organizations that have emerged from Universal Community Homes (UCH) that began in 1993 as a developer of affordable housing. UCH was organized and received its initial financial support from its founder and Board Chairman, Kenneth Gamble. Mr. Gamble is a world-renowned musical writer, composer, producer and Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia International Records. His extreme concern over the years about the deterioration of his hometown neighborhood and about a trend he perceived for successful people to distance themselves from deteriorating communities which nurtured them, he decided to take personal responsibility and moved back to South Philadelphia to rebuild the community. He began with the postulate that anything less than a comprehensive approach will only provide temporary and facial changes, not those needed to overcome poverty.. UNIVERSAL COMPONENTS: Universal is a comprehensive approach to rebuilding a community. Universal provides quality and affordable housing, education for children and adults, economic development with jobs and business creation. Universal has built the following institutions: * Universal Community Homes - Real Estate Development and Organizational Management * Universal Construction Management Company - Construction Management and General Contracting * Universal Center For Employment Training - Vocational Skill Training * Universal Workforce Development Center - Job Development and Placement * Universal Business Support Center - Business Support and Creation * Universal Institute Charter School - Elementary Education * Universal/MLK Opportunity and Resource Center - Social and Supportive Services CURRENT PROJECTS: Universal, in a relatively short period of time, has begun one of the largest concentrated community development initiatives the city of Philadelphia has ever witnessed. Since 1993, Universal has developed more than 120 housing units (rental and homeownership) and 75,000 square feet of commercial space and operates four programs at a cost of more than $22 million. Universal is currently involved in the development of more than $300 million in real estate development activity, including: * Martin Luther King Plaza Revitalization - $65 million - 4 year project to develop 450 units of housing, community center and park; * 16th & Federal - $13 million - 2 year project to develop 90 units of housing; * Point Breeze Performing Arts Training Center - $6 million - 2 year project to develop a state of the art 45,000 square feet performing arts training center; * Schuylkill Falls Revitalization - $51 million - 3 year project to develop 300 units of housing; * Universal Commercial Center - $50 million - 3 year project to develop 150,000 square feet commercial center; * Royal Theater Revitalization and South Street - $12 million - 3 year project to develop 200,000 square feet of commercial and theater space; * Broad and Spruce - $150 million - 4-year project to produce 250,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. * Universal Retail Companies - $3 million - 2 year project to develop 25,000 square feet retail facilities; and * Universal Institute Charter School - $3 million - 2-year project to develop 40,000 square feet of space for charter school.

2000-1313 HTVN Shared Connections for Improved Training and Communication

For the past five years, the Department has increasingly utilized satellite broadcasts as a method of training or explaining new programs, regulations, NOFAs, etc. Within the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Office of Public Housing, three PHAs have elected to purchase satellite hook-ups and subscribe to the Housing Television Network [HTVN]. The PHAs are Scranton, Reading and Philadelphia, which together with the set-up in our building provides four locations for our 57 PHAs to attend. This provides closer and more convenient access of the training/information to our PHAs, providing a quicker transfer of program information to HUD's clients and strengthen a cooperative approach amongst our agencies. Discussions at non-HUD sites are often more open and interesting to the other PHAs.

2000-1500 York Housing Authority Driver’s Education Program

The York Housing Authority entered into a partnership with the County Assistance Office and the York County Office of Traffic Safety to provide assistance to residents to allow them to obtain their driver' license. Driver's education programs (both hands-on, classroom and computer based) are provided. In addition to assisting persons obtain their driver's license, the partners also hope to demonstrate to the PA Dept of Welfare the worthiness of funding this type of program. This program will be conducted in both English and Spanish.

2000-2370 Neighborhood Assessment Tool

The objective of the project was to develop a neighborhood assessment tool based on economic, social, and physical factors. Having a reliable assessment tool will allow community development organizations to identify early warning signs of neighborhood decay and to develop a strategic approach to allocating resources to the neighborhood. The Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County has undertaken a number of major neighborhood development projects over the years. One of the concerns expressed by staff was that the intervention of community development organizations did not occur until the neighborhood decay was advanced and had manifested itself in the form of blighted properties and a deterioration of the quality of life for the residents. Essentially the neighborhood assessment tool allows community development organizations to evaluate the health of the neighborhood vis-a vis other neighborhoods through a quantitative process involving eight factors. One outcome will be a more efficient use of CDBG and HOME dollars. If neighborhood needs are identified at an earlier stage, the cost of responding to those needs should be less because the problems (deteriorated properties, vacant properties, etc.) are more manageable.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011