LUBBOCK ENVISION CENTER DESIGNATED BY HUD

FORT WORTH - Today at an event in Lubbock, Texas, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officially designated the Lubbock EnVision Center.

This designation serves as a critical component of HUD Secretary Ben Carson's EnVision Center initiative by connecting HUD-assisted and low-income families with the tools that lead to self-sufficiency.

"EnVision Centers are a way to connect local resources with the people who need them the most. From job training classes to financial counseling, vital services will be provided that will have an unimaginable impact on the lives of the people being helped," said HUD Regional Administrator Michael Burley, who spoke at the designation event. "I look forward to seeing the brighter futures the EC will bring to the Lubbock community."

"The Lubbock EnVision Center designation is a monumental achievement for the city," said Mayor Dan Pope. "We thank HUD Secretary Ben Carson, RA Burley and most particularly, our partners, for supporting the YWCA and helping us achieve our vision of opening an EnVision Center in Lubbock. Our Center will continue the YWCA's mission of empowering individuals and families in Lubbock for generations to come."

EnVision Centers are centralized hubs that support the four key pillars of self-sufficiency: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness and Character and Leadership. The Lubbock EnVision Center is the eighth EnVision Center in Texas and one of only 50 nationally.

The Lubbock EnVision Center began life as the YWCA's Resiliency Project in 2017 and was located in an abandoned Super K Mart. That same space has been transformed into a $20 million investment in the community that will revitalize an important corridor of the central Lubbock community. It sits on 26 acres and has 187,000 square feet of space---lending itself to a multi-phased development to meet the needs of residents in Lubbock and surrounding areas.

The Center's goal is to create an intergenerational community center that offers a one-stop access for family resources and services and tapping into the power of resiliency to give families, neighborhoods, and organizations the opportunity to thrive and overcome challenges when they arise.

The Lubbock EnVision Center has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Covenant Health to address the increasing need for mental health services for children. The Covenant Health Community Wellness Center in the EC will also support families with much needed well-child services for preventative care.

EnVision Center partner agencies are co-located in the EC to offer health and wellness, childcare, nutrition services, educational opportunities and financial literacy courses that will also focus on giving families the ability to take classes, use computers and get health care services---with the benefit of on-site childcare.

Among the EC's many partners are HUD, the City of Lubbock Community Development; UpBring/Neighborhood House; United Way; Texas Tech; Workforce Solutions; Covenant Health and EL ROBI. Major financial support has been provided by the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Charitable Foundation and the CH Foundation.

Classes/services that will be offered include:

• Job training classes through EL ROBI in high demand occupations, such as construction, plumbing and HVAC, and information technology
• Job readiness and referrals
• Wraparound case management services including child-care and transportation services
• Adult literacy and GED preparation
• Financial empowerment and counseling assistance
• Small business and entrepreneurial training

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
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