Issue 5 | |||
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 resident’s 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. | ||
