2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Michigan
Best Practice: Cathedral Terrace
Affordable Housing for Seniors
Detroit.
Cathedral Terrace, a Section 202 apartment building that provided affordable
housing for seniors in an underserved neighborhood, was in dire financial
straits due to mismanagement. The property lost its state property tax exemption,
owed thousands of dollars in property taxes to the city of Detroit and Wayne
County, and was scheduled for a tax sale. HUD staff members, working to
avoid the tax sale consequences and to preserve the property as affordable
housing, contacted the city treasurers office and successfully obtained
a stay on the tax sale. HUD then arranged to pay the outstanding taxes,
avoiding the need to relocate the residents. HUD staff also worked to identify
sale conditions that would make the property attractive to a nonprofit entity
interested in preserving affordable senior housing at the site.
Contact: Michael Polsinelli, Phone: (313)
226-7955 Ext. 8028
Tracking Number: 3077
Winning Category: Program (Office of General Counsel)
Best Practice: Detroit NAACP and WWJ Newsradio
950 Housing Fair/Seminar
Fair Offers Housing Guidance to Detroit
Residents
Detroit.
The Detroit National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and
WWJ Newsradio 950 teamed up to present a housing fair with seminars and
workshops to help educate Detroit residents about the homebuying process.
The event included both day and evening classes that offered panel discussions
on a variety of subjects. Seminars covered a variety of topics, including:
credit and credit reporting, types of mortgages, home equity financing,
top-five remodeling projects that add home value, preparing for the homebuying
and home selling process, home inspection and maintenance, understanding
the real estate market, and transitioning from renting to owning. Detroits
Mayor Dennis Archer; Senator Virgil Smith; Reverend Wendell Anthony, President
of the Detroit NAACP; William Apgar, Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal
Housing Commissioner; and Rich Homberg, Vice President/General Manager of
WWJ Newsradio 950 were on hand to welcome attendees and facilitate the learning
process. By attending the housing fair and seminar, residents learned about
the importance of remodeling and investing in residential real estate in
the city of Detroit.
Contact: Rose Baugh, Phone: (313) 226-6866
Ext. 8131
Tracking Number: 2057
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Single Family)
Best Practice: Riverside Apartments
Using HAP Funds to Move Riverside Apartments
Residents
Detroit.
In order to move the residents of the Riverside Apartments to suitable housing,
the HUD office used the funds from the propertys Housing Assistance
Payments (HAP) contract. This was done in response to an uncooperative property
owner who allowed a property to fall into disrepair. HUD inspected the premises,
noted the deficiencies and offered the owner sufficient time to correct
them. When the owner did not cooperate, the residents continued to live
in poor conditions. HUDs interest in the property was due to funding
through a HAP contract. HUD staff recommended abating the HAP contract,
but with a twist. The HAP contract funds were redirected for use in relocating
the residents. The Detroit Housing Commission helped find safe, affordable
housing for the residents. Subsequently, HUD was able to terminate the HAP
contract for the development.
Contact: Michael Polsinelli, Phone: (313)
226-7955 Ext. 8028
Tracking Number: 3081
Winning Category: Program (Office of General Counsel)
Best Practice: Mission of Peace Homeownership Center
One Stop Shopping for Potential Homebuyers
Flint.
The Mission of Peace Homeownership Center provides "one stop shopping"
for potential homebuyers. A local building has been divided into offices
for lenders, realtors, budget and credit counselors, and a car-buying club
to provide area residents of all economic and social backgrounds with a
convenient means of obtaining the resources and information necessary to
purchase a home. Over 1000 people have been counseled by this organization
in a three-month period, some driving as many as six hours to obtain assistance.
After obtaining HUDs approval as a counseling agency, the center continued
to expand its outreach activities, hosting several homebuyers fairs to educate
local consumers about available resources. Some activities, such as the
fair held for National Homeownership Week, are the only ones of its kind
in the area. In addition, staff travel all over the state to provide outreach
services through the Homebuyer Education Learning Program. Clients are instructed
on issues relating to home maintenance as well as homeownership.
Contact: Elmira Vincent, Phone: (810) 232-0104
Tracking Number: 2748
Winning Category: Program (Community Builder)
Best Practice: Community Rebuilders Inc. Families
in Transition Program
Moving Intact Families to Permanent Housing
Grand Rapids.
The Families in Transition Program (FIT) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, helps
move high-risk families with children toward stability, self-sufficiency
and permanent housing. Scattered-site housing in neighborhoods throughout
the city, coupled with the appropriate supportive services, attracts the
participation of homeless families who are reluctant to join a structured
social services program or who have been prohibited from joining because
of factors such as erratic rental histories, substance abuse or poor credit
standing.
To date, 90 high-risk households with 215
family members have entered the program and receive housing and supportive
services. Of the 67 families who have graduated from the program since its
beginning three years ago, 52 families have found permanent housing. Twenty-five
of the 67 families leaving the program are living in their own unsubsidized
permanent housing, and 9 families are living in their own homes with the
help of Section 8 assistance.
Supportive services during the 24-month program
include case management, employment training and placement, transportation,
substance abuse treatment and specialized counseling for abused women and
children. Because of the lack of affordable public transportation in the
Grand Rapids area, Community Rebuilders, the grantee as well as the Sponsor
for this project, has an automobile leasing and rental program to help participants
during the 24 months of the program. Automobiles, serviced by volunteer
mechanics, are available for lease to participants who have demonstrated
responsible behavior, are employed and are insurable.
The beneficiaries of the program are homeless
families with children, the majority of whom are female-headed households.
Some of the families are victims of domestic violence, and many are trapped
in alcohol or drug addiction.
The FIT program fills a need for transitional
housing for intact and large families. The only other programs that serve
intact families are emergency shelters. FIT also fills a need for housing
for the families that other programs refuse to accept because they have
too many problems. During the first 32 months of operation, the FIT program
received referrals for 446 families.
Contact: Ron Eberhardt, Phone: (616) 458-5102
Tracking Number: 1957
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Technical Assistance Series
Oakland County Providing Technical Assistance
Series
Pontiac.
To ensure a successful partnership with 50 local municipalities, Oakland
County implemented a comprehensive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
technical assistance, training, and monitoring program. Three components
comprise the program: 1) individualized CDBG orientation meetings tailored
for new local officials, local CDBG staff, and commissioners; 2) focused
monitoring interviews/reviews with local CDBG officials/staff to assess
performance and compliance and provide technical assistance; and 3) a technical
assistance series of workshops providing detailed training on eligible projects,
the annual application, and other topics. Sessions coincide with the annual
grant application, the release of grant funding and subsequent activity
implementation to assure effective grant management throughout the CDBG
process. The program has achieved enhanced compliance and spending performance
by local participants, and a better understanding of the program by elected
officials.
Contact: Karry L. Rieth, Phone: (248) 858-0493
Tracking Number: 60
Winning Category: Geographical
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Content Archived: April 20, 2011 |