ST. LOUIS, MO - Urban Strategies, a not-for-profit corporation that works with its development partner, McCormack Baron Salazar, to help communities build safe neighborhoods, good schools and a range of comprehensive human service supports was recently awarded a $1 million grant by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The recovery funds will help Urban Strategies assist former residents of the C.J. Peete public housing project in New Orleans - who are returning to the new community currently under construction called Harmony Oaks - in achieving self-sufficiency.
The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, awarded a total of $46 million to 84 grantees under the new program. The grants were provided to help improve the ability of nonprofit organizations to promote the economic recovery of people with low incomes. The fund is comprised of two programs, both of which will boost the ability of community and faith-based organizations to handle the broad economic recovery issues in their communities, including job training and retention and access to state and Federal benefits. All grants are one-time, two-year awards.
Urban Strategies is collaborating with Harmony Oaks' developers, Central City Partners (CCP), which includes McCormack Baron Salazar, KAI Design and the New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative to revitalize the former C.J. Peete Public Housing Development as a mixed-income community. The organization has been engaged by the CCP team to implement community and supportive services like job training and placement, quality child care and schools, access to physical and mental health services, senior programs and enrichment activities for children and youth.
"This grant will be used as a social investment into the former public housing residents to provide the services and community enhancements needed to positively enhance their lives and futures," said Sandra M. Moore, president of Urban Strategies. "These types of funds are crucial to help families and children break free from the cycle of poverty and turn the neighborhood into a thriving, socially and economically integrated community that catalyzes self-sufficiency."
The first wave of families returning to the site will move in at the end of the year and the redeveloped Harmony Oaks community is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. The redevelopment will include 460 high-quality mixed-income rental units, 50 home-ownership units and a state-of-the-art Campus of Learners comprised of a K-4 charter school, a health suite and a recreation facility.
Source: Urban Strategies