On September 30th, 2008, the $20M HOPE VI Grant for the Duluth Revitalizatin Plan was fully expended. Much progress has been made in both the construction and resident services side of our mission. The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth ( HRA) in the successful 2002 grant application set aside $2.44M of the $20M revitalization grant to provide services to HOPE VI eligible residents. The services were focused in two areas:
- Self Sufficiency services to assist as many willing participants to get training and education services to increase their income and become economically more self reliant:
- Provide stability services to people who are retired or disabled with a goal of increasing the quality of their lives.
The following is a summary of progress made before the September 30th, close of the grant.
- 490 Enrollments in Employment Prep/Placement/Retention Services with 318 completions
- 110 Enrollments in Job Skills Training Programs with 96 Completions
- 356 New Job Placements
- 82 former TANF recipients employed longer than 6 months
- 2 residents started their own businesses
- 19 Section 3 jobs
- 128 enrolled in homeownership training with 75 completions
- 11 families are now homeowners
On September 15th, 2008, the Department of Housing and Urban Development approved of the creation of placing over $580,000 of HOPE VI funds in an Endowment Trust specifically to continue providing self-sufficiency services to HOPE VI eligible people. HOPE VI eligible people include original residents of Harbor View Homes now called Harbor Highlands. Original residents must still live in the Duluth area. In addition, new residents of Harbor Highlands can receive services like those described above if they are, 80% or less of area median income, agree to go through a needs assessment with HOPE VI staff and allow HOPE VI Staff to monitor their progress toward goals.
Another Community and Supportive Services initiative is the HRA's HOPE VI program joining forces with the "Duluth at Work" initiative. This initiative based upon the "Portland Model" has a goal of helping families increase their incomes by at least 25% over a three year period. The HRA HOPE VI staff will recruit 30 HOPE VI eligible families or individuals over a three year period and work diligently to help participating families and individuals become successful by the Duluth at Work program standards.
Homeownership Training and Downpayment Savings Match Opportunity
The HRA's HOPE VI program will support eligible people to join homeownership training through and accredited training organization in Duluth. The two primary training agencies include HOPE VI partners:
The Duluth HOPE VI program is also partnering with Community Action Duluth in funding 10 FAIM slots for HOPE VI eligible families or individuals.
FAIM IDA stands for Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota Individual Development Account. This matched savings account program is specially designed to help you save enough money to acquire one of these three assets:
- A home
- A higher education
- A small business
How FAIM Works
Once you become part of the FAIM program, a special IDA savings account will be established for you at Bremer Bank. Matched funds are made available to you when you are ready to purchase your asset. You must save for at least six months before you can make a matched withdrawal. When you are ready, a check will be issued to the mortgage company if you are buying a house, the college if you are paying tuition, or to a supplier if you are purchasing supplies for a small business.
HOPE VI Staff Contact information
To find out how the HOPE VI program can help, you can contact the following two people.
Dan Moore at: 218-529-6361
Susan Jordan at 218-529-6357
or email info@duluthhousing.com
