2000 Best Practice AwardsProgram and Geographical Winners: Kentucky
Best Practice: AVOL AIDS Housing Project
AVOL Project Provides Array of Services
for Eastern Kentucky AIDS Community
Lexington.
The mission of AVOL AIDS Housing Project is to maximize independent living
by providing education, support, prevention and direct client services to
those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Each year, more than 3,000
people are educated through outreach efforts in five areas. They include
a speakers bureau comprised of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS;
prevention and outreach activities in high-risk populations; a statewide
toll-free AIDS hotline; a client news bulletin and regional newsletter.
Outreach efforts also include direct client services such as a caregiver
team program, support groups, legal referral, chemical dependency assessment,
treatment linkage, housing placement and follow-up, individual case management,
rental assistance, transitional housing for homeless persons, and an end-stage
AIDS community residence. The AVOL project is the only program of its kind
in the 63 counties of Eastern Kentucky. It has served 698 individuals and
families since its inception. Partnerships with government, social service
agencies, nonprofits, hospitals and community-based health organizations
across Central and Eastern Kentucky have been crucial to the projects
success.
Contact: Kathy Clark, Phone: (879) 278-7494
Tracking Number: 369
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: Fair Housing Initiatives Program
Lexington Fair Housing Council Fights Discrimination
and Resolves Housing Disputes
Lexington.
The nonprofit Lexington Fair Housing Council, which received a Fair Housing
Initiatives Program grant from HUD in 1998 seeks to assure equal access
to housing, without discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin,
religion, familial status or disability. The council investigates and files
complaints of unlawful housing discrimination, initiates negotiations to
resolve equal housing disputes, conducts surveys to evaluate fair housing
practices in the sales and rental markets, and provides training and public
information on fair housing issues. In one year, the council settled three
familial status discrimination cases. Pending are a sexual discrimination
case and a fair housing advertisement violation. The council is conducting
ongoing inquiries involving racial discrimination at two apartment complexes.
Contact: Teresa A. Isaac, Phone: (859) 971-8067
Tracking Number: 1097
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Louisville Housing Fair
Louisville Housing Fair Facilitates Home
Buying and Markets Housing Programs
Louisville.
For the last two years, The City of Louisville has sponsored a one-day Housing
Fair to bring together housing agencies from across Kentucky to show potential
homebuyers how simple purchasing a home can be. The fair is both a marketing
strategy for the City's numerous housing programs and a "one-stop shop"
for potential homebuyers. The City's goal is to create an environment where
a potential home buyer can find all the necessary home purchasing information
and by the end of the day, leave with an approved loan. The success of the
event is evidenced by its strong attendance. The 1999 fair consisted of
13 booths, and was held in a local gymnasium where it attracted approximately
600 participants, many of whom left pre-approved to purchase a home. As
a result of the overwhelming success of the first Fair, this years
event was held in the new Convention Center, with more than 50 booths and
nearly 600 participants.
Contact: Robin Penick, Phone: (502) 574-4315
Tracking Number: 376
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: REACH HIGHER and Women in Construction
Training Program
Bowling Green Public Housing Residents
Can Reach Higher Goals through Employment and Job Training Program
Bowling Green.
The Housing Authority of Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Kentucky State Department
for Community Based Services, The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, Industrial
Board, Western Kentucky University and private industry established a REACH
HIGHER program to assist the large number of public housing and Section
8 residents living solely on welfare assistance. REACH HIGHER offers a six-month
work and training program culminating in job placement. Trainees work 32
hours per week in the housing authoritys cabinet shop, administrative
offices, and maintenance department as well as for nonprofit agencies throughout
the community. On Fridays, they attend work readiness classes focusing on
self-esteem, people skills, and the expectations of employers. Positive
attitude, good work habits and expectations of success are all primary objectives
of the program. REACH HIGHER has grown to include the Women in Construction
training program. This program will provide training and job placement opportunities
for women in the construction trades, including accreditation for 72.5 hours
of apprenticeship training and a two-month internship with a local construction
company. To date, 137 individuals have graduated from the REACH HIGHER and
approximately 84 percent are still employed.
Contact: Judy Garratt, Phone: (270) 843-6074
Tracking Number: 1239
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Owensboro Area Shelter and Information
System (OASIS)
Owensboro Shelter Provides an Oasis for
Homeless Women and Children
Owensboro.
This comprehensive program is designed to assist the most vulnerable of
the homeless population -- battered women and their children -- who have
complex problems that could not be addressed by a 30-day emergency program.
The project evolved from an emergency shelter for domestic violence victims
and now includes more comprehensive domestic violence services, drug and
alcohol treatment, mental health services, medical assessment and wellness,
career development and child development services. The program focuses on
safety, sobriety and self-sufficiency through a highly structured four-phase
process. Phase I is crisis stabilization, including domestic violence and
substance abuse treatment. Phase II provides supportive services to get
the women and children on track. Phase III is the transitional phase, which
includes vocational, educational and housing services. Phase IV is aftercare,
to help families maintain self-sufficiency. The program has made a significant
impact on participants, especially those with chronic substance abuse problems,
by providing each family member with counseling, education, housing and
other services needed for self-sufficiency of the family as a whole. The
program model, Empowering Women through Combined Treatment, has been presented
throughout the state and at conferences across the country.
Contact: Rebecca Hagan, Phone: (270) 685-0260
Tracking number: 440
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: Facilitation of the Continuum of
Care
The Continuum of Care Coalition Brought
Together Community Leaders to Fight the Homeless Problem
Louisville.
The Coalition for the Homeless, Inc., has been the vehicle for the Louisville
and Jefferson County governments to make unbiased decisions regarding how
to provide emergency shelter grant and other homeless funds in Jefferson
County. The Coalition brought together business, religious, civic and government
leaders and partnered with nonprofit and other organizations to determine
how best to serve the area's at risk and homeless families and individuals.
In 1993, due to the creation of the Continuum of Care and the hallmark of
effort, efficiency and knowledge demonstrated by the Coalition, local leaders
decided that the Coalition would continue its efforts. Through monthly meetings
and community involvement, the Coalition has immensely increased the community's
understanding of homelessness issues. The Continuum of Care analysis has
resulted in consistently high scoring applications through priority rating
and rankings initiated impartially, and the majority of applications have
been funded over the past four years.
Contact: Marlene Gordon, Phone: (502) 589-0190
Tracking Number: 482
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
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