2000 Best Practice Awards

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 treasurer’s 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. Detroit’s 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 property’s 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. HUD’s 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 HUD’s 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

Content Archived: April 20, 2011