Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program FY 1999 Grantee

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY, VALPARAISO, IN -- $399,740

Valparaiso University will receive a Community Outreach Partnership Centers New Grant of $399,740 to assist the Hilltop neighborhood in Valparaiso. The neighborhood is in Porter County and has the highest rates of poverty and unemployment, lowest education levels, and oldest housing in the County. About 30 years ago, a few Valparaiso University and faculty calling themselves "Project Neighbors" started building affordable housing and helping families in the Hilltop neighborhood. By 1995, hundreds of people from the University and the community had established a partnership to provide affordable child care, a community center and service learning opportunities for Valparaiso students. This grant would help the university significantly expand its partnership with the neighborhood.

Among the activities Valparaiso will undertake are:

• Developing and distributing guides on the volunteer building process in the county, listing sources of low-cost or free contract labor, building equipment, materials and supplies, as part of a larger effort to increase the supply of affordable housing;

• Enlisting volunteers to help construct or rehabilitate 10 houses in the neighborhood;

• Offering homebuilding apprenticeships to neighborhood youth, plus career guidance and job search assistance once they are ready for permanent jobs;

• Creating a mentoring program called "Reviving Fatherhood" to develop male family responsibility and strong relationships with children; and

• Using neighborhood residents to prepare a neighborhood development asset map to help the neighborhood organize around its strengths.

Content Archived: January 20, 2009