HUD, LOCAL OFFICIALS DESIGNATE ENVISION CENTER IN LANCASTER
Center to help HUD-assisted households become self-sufficient

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice virtually announced (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqKXulLceXw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=HUDchannel) today the designation of Franklin Terrace as an EnVision Center site in Lancaster, Pa. Joining him for the announcement were City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace, Lancaster City Housing Authority (LCHA) Executive Director Barbara Wilson and LCHA Resident Services Coordinator Izzy Rivera.

"While the work we do at HUD to provide public housing is absolutely critical, one of our key priorities is to help the individuals and families we serve become economically independent and self-sufficient," said Regional Administrator DeFelice. "Secretary Carson has long said that our measure of success is not how many people we can get into our programs, but how many people we can graduate out of them."

EnVision Centers offer HUD-assisted families access to support services that can help them achieve self-sufficiency, thereby making scarce federal resources more readily available to a greater number of households currently waiting to receive HUD assistance.

"I really see this as an opportunity to elevate the work the housing authority has already begun and to deepen the work to support the residents of the city of Lancaster," said Mayor Sorace in her remarks during the virtual announcement.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson launched the HUD EnVision Center Demonstration in June 2018, as one of his signature initiatives. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers are centralized hubs that support four key pillars of self-sufficiency: (1) Economic Empowerment, (2) Educational Advancement, (3) Health and Wellness, and (4) Character and Leadership.

"The Lancaster City Housing Authority is very honored to have Franklin Terrace recognized by HUD as an EnVision Center," said Wilson. "Since my hiring as the executive director, the LCHA board of commissioners gave me permission to seek out community partners who share my same commitment and vision—a vision of creating an environment that provides unique opportunities for resident services that are consistent and holistic, empowering families and individuals to become successful in their endeavors."

The initiative is premised on the notion that financial support alone is insufficient to solve the problem of poverty. Intentional and collective efforts across a diverse set of organizations are needed to empower households to reach self-sufficiency.

"We look forward to this amazing opportunity to partner with HUD and local agencies to provide a much-needed service to the 564 public housing residents of the Lancaster City Housing Authority," said Rivera.

The Franklin Terrace EnVision Center is the 13th site designation in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 12 other sites are located in McKees Rocks, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pa., Washington, D.C., Williamson, W.Va.; Wilmington, Del. and Bristol, Hopewell, Lebanon, Newport News, Norfolk and Roanoke, Va. Nationwide, there are 92 centers.

Watch the virtual announcement (www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wqKXulLceXw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=HUDchannel).

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