HUD St. Louis Office's Third Annual
Community Partnerships Award Event

HUD Field Office Director Roy Pierce presents award to representatives from Owens Development and Owens Financial Services, and the St. Louis Multi-Family Center

HUD Field Office Director Roy Pierce presents award to North East Community Action Agency (NECAC) Staff

Proud homeowner receives the key to his new house built through the NECAC Self-Help Program.

Ten (10) local partners and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Office of Rural Development, were presented with Shining Star Awards recognizing their contributions to meeting HUD national and local goals. The HUD St. Louis Field Office 2002 Shining Stars are:

• Harris Stowe State College, a HBCU grant recipient, for using the HBCU grant to organize and develop the Harris Stowe/Lucas Heights partnership, which is working to revitalize the Lucas Heights Neighborhood, St. Louis, MO.
  
  
• HOME SERVICES, Inc, a City of St. Louis CDBG Recipient, for successfully developing, implementing, and providing home maintenance services to elderly homeowners.
  
  
• DOORWAYS, a City of St. Louis CDBG Recipient, HUD Homeless Continuum of Care Partner, a HUD Section 811 Grant Recipient, for developing and producing 69 units of housing for homeless persons with HIV/AIDS.
  
  
• Stephen Trampe, Owens and Owens Financial Services, for the innovative rehabilitation of the historical Continental Life Insurance Building, that is a multi-use, mixed-income, 108-unit apartment building in midtown St. Louis. HUD insured the property for approximately $12 million; and the City of St. Louis allocated $3.5 million from CDBG.
  
  
• Neighborhood Council, a designated community housing development organization, and City of St. Louis CDBG Recipient, for developing and implementing viable housing counseling programs that are producing new minority home buyers throughout the City of St. Louis, Missouri.
  
  
• North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC), a designated community housing development agency, recipient of numerous HUD grants, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, for developing and implementing the first Section 8 Homeownership Program in Region VII.
  
  
• Housing Authority of Columbia, Missouri for developing a partnership with the Columbia Community Development Corporation that produced four new homes for purchase by public housing residents.
  
  
• St. Louis Housing Authority and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis for operating a Performing Arts Center After School Program for youth residing in public housing.
  
  
• Wellston Housing Authority for implementing management directives and actions that have improved tremendously the accountability and management of HUD's public housing investments in Wellston, Missouri.
  
  
• Missouri State Office of Rural Development for partnering with the Northeast Community Action Corporation and HUD to provide successful homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income families in rural Missouri.

Collectively, in one year's time, these 11 partners have produced approximately 170 housing units; provided housing counseling services to 350 families; provided social, recreational, enrichment, and cultural activities for 112 public housing youth; improved by 19 percent management and accountability in one of the worst managed public housing agencies in Eastern Missouri; and provided 1,076 minor home repairs; 138 safety and security installations; 107 accessibility modifications, and 897 energy and weatherization services to elderly homeowners.