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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
The University of Delaware's Community-Based Development Certificate Course and Housing Capacity Building Program were selected as nominees for this year's Best Practices awards of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Each year, HUD recognizes community housing and economic development programs for their use of its resources "to make a significant difference in the lives of the people in the communities they serve."
The Center for Community Development and Family Policy created and administers the certificate course and building program. Tim Barnekov, urban affairs and public policy, said the selection of these programs out of thousands across the nation underscores their value to the community.
Barnekov said it is an honor to have been nominated even though the two UD programs were not among the final 100 selected at the HUD Best Practices and Technical Assistance Symposium in Kansas City, Mo., in July. Being nominated is significant because it means "the University is receiving recognition for these very high quality, innovative programs," he said.
In order to be nominated, a program or project must have at least two of the following characteristics: positive impact on the people it serves, be useable in other locales, demonstrate how private businesses, government organizations and nonprofit organizations can work together to achieve positive results and show creativity in attacking a problem.
The Community-Based Development Certificate program is an intense four-month professional development training course for community members, nonprofit staff and board members of community-based economic development organizations. During its first five years, the program has trained the staffs and board members of 90 nonprofit organizations in urban and rural communities in Delaware and throughout the region resulting in 11 new community economic development corporations.
The program was designed and is administered by Raheemah Jabbar-Bey, urban affairs and public policy. She said that the training "is committed to transferring useable knowledge that will help community, public and private entities work together to improve the vitality of urban and rural neighborhood economies and develop social and civic entrepreneurs."
The Housing Capacity Building Program (HCBP) has offices in Wilmington and Dover. The HCBP helps place low- and moderate-income people in affordable homes and offers programs to meet family needs. This project provides information on housing resources and programs; training in housing development and management techniques; technical assistance to nonprofit housing organizations; and financial assistance to nonprofits for core operating support.
Steven Peuquet, urban affairs and public policy, administers the program, which is based on cooperation among the University, the state housing authority, the governor's office, the Delaware Community Investment Corp. and a 37-bank consortium.
Barnekov said the program has infused $1.5 million into community housing which, he said, is unique in the nation. "This is the only program in the nation that consists of a full partnership between a university, the public sector and a banking consortium. No other has been able to bring resources of this magnitude to promote affordable housing," he said.
In May, nominations for the "Best Practices" Awards were sent to the regional HUD offices.
"Many local governments and groups are successfully using HUD assistance for innovative programs to revitalize communities and bring new opportunities to American families," Andrew Cuomo, HUD secretary, said. "They are building affordable housing, sparking economic development, creating jobs, expanding homeownership and helping homeless people become self-sufficient. By recognizing these success stories, which we call best practices, we will help communities across the nation learn from each other."
-Barbara Garrison
