Federal Housing and Retraining Program (HRP)
Exhibit 2:
Applicant Information
Background
Housing
The CBO's housing work can be roughly divided into three areas: tenant/landlord mediation, rights in court; housing management; and housing development. The CBO offers assistance to tenants and landlords regarding their housing rights and responsibilities. this assistance preserves more low income housing than could ever be developed. When mediation and negotiation do not settle housing problems, Housing Court cases follow. In order to work for better housing laws and to utilize volunteers in teaching tenant rights, CBO organized the Area Tenants League. The Tenants League has been in operation for more than six years, with regular monthly meetings and housing rights clinics. The CBO manages 25 buildings (City-owned), 222 residential units in all. management and rehabilitation of City-owned buildings, many previously abandoned, is through the City Program. The CBO has been under contract with the City since 19XX to manage housing.
Housing development projects include the moderate rehabilitation of a 50 unit residential building purchased from the City in 19XX. this project marked the beginning of CBO's bank mortgage-financed rehabilitation. After four years of organizing and pressure, a Federal new construction housing project was awarded in 19XX. this project brought 150 units of desperately needed low income housing to the Community. Facade Improvement Program funds from the City have stabilized and beautified the Area's main commercial strip. Historic restoration of other residential properties, funded through the National Historic Fund, is also taking place. Several vacant buildings are being renovated under an area program, which provides up to $6,000 per building. All told, over 160 buildings on ten blocks are receiving assistance. The CBO also sponsors and provides technical assistance to local groups working to rehabilitate vacant City-owned multi-family buildings on the Street. The CBO sponsors, networks and facilitates the formation of housing advocacy groups.
The organizational structure of the CBO is typical of many local community organizations. It is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with a governing board comprised of local residents and community leaders.
To Top
For nearly twenty years the LNO has been a primary resource for the people of the Area. With other affiliated organizations, it has been involved with scores of programs mostly in the social service context, but increasingly involving urban development. The LNO has been active in housing and economic development both singly and through its affiliates and partners for a considerable period of time. It is currently involved in numerous commercial, civic and housing developments in the area. It is responsible for the local Women and Children program, the Home Improvement Program, a Health Care Center, Home Attendant and Housing Counseling programs and has been in charge of Federal, State and Programs. It has been responsible for ten civic, commercial and housing developments since 19XX all of which were privately funded.
The LNO with other local community groups sponsored the Gardens Housing project, six buildings involving 500 units of affordable housing in the Area. At the present time the LNO is attempting to find sites that will attract a large supermarket into the area and is involved in the Area Housing Development Project which is involved in purchasing, developing and constructing a mixed income, ownership and rental housing development in several buildings in the area. The LNO is examining the possibilities of new enterprises based on the existing skill levels of the working population to effect a positive change in halting business flight and attracting additional sophisticated industries.
Other business development activities which are being pursued as a result of the LNO's mission are:
A Community Revolving Loan Fund
Community Re-Investment Proposal
Potential Food Cooperative
Health Care Agency Startup
Planning and Development Study
Vocational Training Program
HRP Consortium
The organizational structure of the LNO is the same as that of the CBO. It is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with a governing board comprised of local residents and community leaders.
Fiscal Responsibility
As evidence of our ability to handle, manage and adequately account for financial resources we have appended a "Schedule of Financial Resources Managed by CBO from 199X to 199X" and refer the reader to the statement made by to CPA in the Appendix. For evidence of ability to use acceptable financial control procedures, please see the appended "Fiscal Internal Control Procedures and Regulations" and a report from the Director of the office of Fiscal management of the Mayor's office of The City. (All appendices are part of this Exhibit.)
To Top
Program Linkages
The CBO and the LNO both have a history of dealing with other community groups and forming partnerships and alliances with other neighborhood organizations and a wide variety of groups and programs.
The CBO has performed these significant linkages over the past ten years with these results.
A co-venture with the Service Agency for transitional housing for battered women. The CBO is the owner and developer and the Service Agency is the tenant. The program houses and counsels battered women and provides them with appropriate legal and social services. Partnership with the Local Housing Development Corporation. for the development of low income housing. Linkage with the Senior Citizens Center of the Area advocacy for the construction of additional elderly and disabled housing. Alliance with the Area Legal Services for the protection of tenants' rights and requiring that landlords provide adequate services. Association with the Community Training Center for job training, counseling and placement services. Partnership with an Hispanic housing non-profit corporation for development of assisted housing, housing advocacy and tenants rights and the Home Improvement program. Affiliation with the Coalition of Neighborhood Women. Affiliation with the Home Improvement Coalition to provide updated Home Improvement services to the residents of The Area.
The LNO has been in partnership with many groups and organizations in attempting to fulfill its mission.
Some of these activities are:
Affiliation with the Opportunity Improvement Corporation in various activities including the building of a community health center and the construction of the Gardens Apartments assisted housing development. At the present time the LNO is engaged with another local non-profit housing organization, in the joint development of a 20 unit housing project on another Street. The LNO is negotiating with the Economic Improvement organization to produce a study of the community. At the present time LNO is attempting to find sites that will attract a large supermarket into the area and is involved in the Area Housing Development which is involved in purchasing, developing and constructing a mixed income, ownership and rental housing development in several buildings in the area. For the purposes of providing proper training and counseling for the HRP program the partnership has approached the Council for Training and Education for help in providing the appropriate specific and broader curriculum that will necessary for the progress of each of the program participants.
To Sample Grant Application No. 3, Exhibit 3 |
