2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practices: North Dakota Fair Housing Council

Council Works to Eliminate Discrimination in Housing

Bismarck. The North Dakota Fair Housing Council has used technology and creative educational tools to prevent, reduce and eliminate discriminatory practices in the rental, sale, and financing of housing transactions. Using funding from social services agencies, other nonprofit fair housing organizations and the law firm of Brancart & Brancart, the Council has conducted eight workshops throughout the state, responded to more than 600 allegations of housing discrimination and conducted about 150 tests to investigate these complaints. The Council maintains a Web site and has developed a fact sheet series on fair housing. Helping clients to file complaints of housing discrimination with HUD, the Council ensures greater awareness among residents of the full scope of state and federal fair housing laws, including a greater willingness to pursue legal remedies to end discrimination.

Contact: Amy Schauer-Nelson, Phone: (701) 221-2530
Tracking Number: 1516
Winning Category: Geographical

Best Practices: MHA Entrepreneur Training Program

Training Program Teaches Low-Income Participants How to Start Their Own Businesses

Minot. The Entrepreneur Training Program promotes self-employment as a legitimate option for low-income participants to become self-sufficient. The program provides professional training, including business plan writing, guidance, and technical start-up assistance. Community business leaders, educators and economic development service providers lead workshops on subjects such as networking, advertising, marketing, and record keeping. Successful entrepreneurs also provide start-up tips. The Entrepreneur Training Program also provides individualized counseling and addresses needs such as childcare, transportation, credit history, budgeting, housing needs, additional education, and job training. Motivational presentations on empowerment, networking, business etiquette, and dressing for success provide participants with the tools for success in business. The program has also created an entrepreneurial support system. This system features a small loan-pool for start-up businesses, a mentoring program, and job placement support for those program participants who are not ready to start a business. Since 1994 over 300 participants have graduated from the program. Seventy-five of those graduates have started or expanded their own businesses.

Contact: Connie Philipenko, Phone: (701) 852-0485
Tracking Number: 760
Winning Category: Geographical

Content Archived: April 20, 2011