February 2001 | |||
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Senior CB Jason Gamlin meets with members of the CCLCC |
Fledgling faith-based organization is transformed into affordable housing developer The ongoing support and technical assistance provided by the New Orleans Community Builders to a fledgling faith-based organization yields noteworthy returns and provides a "win-win" situation all around for the Houma, Louisiana community. The faith-based organization, Concerned Clergy and Laity of Christian Churches (CCLCC), Inc., incorporated as a non-profit organization in February 1998. The organization evolved out of a desire to address housing, social, educational, and economic problems facing the Houma community. The membership is comprised of approximately twenty-five ministers and lay persons representing various churches. Community Builders devoted intensive efforts to identifying Houma community needs for additional affordable housing and the rehabilitation of existing deteriorating housing stock. As part of their strategy for enhancing the skill level of CCLCC in obtaining funding, Community Builders Crystal Jones-Taylor and Janice Manuel, along with Senior Community Builder Jason Gamlin provided training for CCLCC staff regarding HUD’s role and programs, which included various Faith-Based Initiatives. In addition, the training increased CCLCC’s knowledge of community housing conditions, the role of local government, and introduced them to other non-profit organizations that were actively addressing housing, social, educational, and economic problems within their respective communities. The group’s mission to gradually transform the community’s landscape of decaying housing stock into habitable, affordable, single family housing is being realized. CCLCC can now point to a tangible manifestation of their contribution to their community. The maiden effort, a single family rehab project was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 7, 2000, completed on schedule and within the budget. Their second rehab project is 85% complete and the third project is scheduled for completion within a few months. In addition, their application for a CHDO is pending approval. As a result of their accomplishments in a short period of time, CCLCC was presented with the "Spirit of Greatness Award" sponsored by New Orleans Center for Successful Living (NOCSL), a faith-based organization that recognizes noteworthy contributions in the community. | ||
