![Some members of the planning committee with Marion Eisen](5cake.jpg)
After preparing and winning a HUD Drug
Elimination Grant, Madison Terrace thanked HUD staff with this cake, which
reads "Thank you HUD for helping us take back our neighborhood."
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Madison Terrace Residents
Take Back their Neighborhod
Residents of Madison Terrace, a Section 8-assisted
apartment complex in Las Vegas, NV, had enough of the crime and drug problems
that were encroaching on their community. The thirty-year old,
100-unit building had provided families with a good home for years, and
the residents association was not going to tolerate the increasing level
of criminal activity. They formed a working partnership with the property
management company and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and
formulated a plan to rid their community of criminals.
Given the large population of single mothers
with small children living in the apartments, the residents council knew
that they needed to head off their problem quickly and restore the safety
of the neighborhood. With the help of HUD staff, they were able
to identify an excellent grant resource available to them, and then prepare
a winning application for a HUD Drug Elimination Grant.
In partnership with HUD,
the property manager, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and
the residents formulated a plan to rid their community of criminals.
With the help of Multi-family PTO David Ewing, Senior Community Builder
Kenneth LoBene and his fellow CBs identified a HUD drug elimination grant
which could be tapped to address residents concerns. On
November 23, 1999, in a ceremony at the Madison Terrace Apartments attended
by community leaders, police on bicycles, and local residents, Mr. LoBene
presented the residents a check in the amount of $125,000 symbolizing the
success of their grant application and their award.
Today, Madison Terrace is a "Drug-Free
Zone" where hope has replaced fear. HUD CBs continue to work
with the very active residents association and the management. They
recently arranged for the donation of surplus HUD computers, technical assistance,
and linkages to service providers, so that Madison Terrace now boasts a
busy computer learning center with Internet access.
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