ABSTRACT
[T]hrough a variety of partnerships [the community housing development organization] created the first ever privately funded community renaissance zone. Through this partnership we re-focused all housing and revitalization efforts of all partners to one 12-block area, significantly changing the appearance and stability of the neighborhood. In addition to the partnership, we created the community house, a two-unit rental home where families were moved in and provided services to assist them to pay off debt, clean up credit, and become mortgage ready. At completion [of their time in the program], they then purchased one of the newly renovated or constructed homes in the neighborhood. As one family moved out another was moved in. A partnership with the County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) trained unemployed workers between the ages of 17 and 30 in the construction trade.
