Organization Background
Participants
The CBO has been instrumental in establishing programs for social services, housing and education and training for the entire area for the past 20 years. The CBO has been instrumental in its advocacy on housing issues as well as protesting the level of safe, decent, affordable housing provided throughout the city. In addition the CBO has built or rehabilitated and managed hundreds of units of low income housing in the past decade.
The LNO is a singular and primary source of essential services for residents of the community. The LNO is an umbrella organization which with its affiliates administer a comprehensive retinue of programs involving social services, health, educational, vocational and housing. The LNO itself provides fundamental social services involving counseling in a variety of governmental, social, health and family related programs.
The mission of the LNO is focused in three major areas. The first is the providing a range of direct hands-on constituent services including but not limited to counseling and referral on assisted housing, social security, employment and education services and health care. The second is fundamentally directed towards planning and development with an emphasis on housing development, business planning and job training. The third area of importance is community relations and advocacy for issues of importance for the community.
(see Joint Applicants Mememorandum of Understanding attached in Appendix A)
The CBO
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 Neighborhood 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 neighborhood'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.
The LNO
For nearly twenty years the LNO has been a primary resource for the people of the neighborhood. 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 neighborhood. 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 Neighborhood 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
CHT 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" in the 200X Audited Financial statement. For evidence of ability to use acceptable financial control procedures, please see the appended "Fiscal Internal Control Procedures and Regulations" in the 200X Audited Financial statement. The 200X Audited Financial statement is attached in Appendix A.
Training Program Experience
Since 19XX, the CBO has been providing training and supportive services to high school drop-outs through the Department of employment Housing-Related Work Experience Training Program. 160 participants have already obtained full-time, unsubsidized jobs, but actually, intense placement has not yet started due to this agency's desire to provide a full training cycle to as many of the participants as possible. By so doing, we believe that higher quality placements can be achieved. The training has included full participation in the gut rehabilitation of more than 100 units. this experience is being reinforced through related field trips, lectures, and demonstrations. Remedial education is improving the participants job readiness by improving math and reading skills. Supportive services being provided include help obtaining day care, housing, medical and legal help, etc., as well as intensive work education and counseling.
For the past 10 years, this agency has worked with the Neighborhood Vocational High School training 30-50 students a year from the school. The students are chosen to work along with our rehabilitation and maintenance crews in order to receive work experience training. Classroom training is provided on alternate weeks by the high school. this program has resulted in 3000 students obtaining valuable rehab skills and hundreds of repairs/rehabilitation of low-income tenants' apartments made possible due to the assistance of the trainees. this agency's Community Program actively follows the policy of hiring unemployed local residents and training them on-the-job for maintenance and clerical positions. this policy has resulted in numerous local residents obtaining skills; some of these employees have moved on to private-sector jobs. Since 19XX, this agency hosted Summer Training employment Program workers. We have provided on-the-job training and limited counseling for approximately 100 trainees. The trainees have received experience both in clerical and maintenance work. For many years, this agency has provided architectural drafting training to students from the Neighborhood Vocational School. These students have participated in drafting rehabilitation plans and specifications for the building trades.
Since 19XX, training has been provided to the neighborhood school students in computer work. The students are assisting this agency with a heavy workload of inputting, and at the same time are receiving valuable on-the-job experience. In a previous program, this agency trained unemployed local youths in its Recycling Program. Professional quality recycled products were sold to local businesses and other establishments. Not only did the students obtain professional skills, but the re-use and conservation ethic was instilled and the businesses have benefited from the end products with cost savings and more customers. Also previously, this agency participated with other local community based agencies with the local Training Center on a job placement and training program. Neighborhood people were recruited to come to the office and be interviewed by the Training Center personnel. Those who were ready were matched with available jobs in the community; those who were not job-ready were referred to the appropriate training program.
