NSP2: PROPOSED USES OF FUNDS AND TARGET GEOPGRAPHY

Tabitha House Community Services with a consortium of nonprofit organizations including:
Community Training & Education Development Center, Bethesda Manor West Association, White School of Arts of Arts, New Bethlehem M. B Church-The Barack Obama Community Outreach Center, and Angel of God Resource Center, Inc.  intends to apply for grant funds through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

This summary statement includes information regarding the proposed targeted geography, the proposed budget and the proposed uses of the funds.  This document has also been posted on Tabitha House website http://www.tabithahousecs.org. You may contact Annie Smith at (773) 940-7479 or Willia Anderson at (773)261-1100 for additional information.

Tabitha House Community Services will accept comments concerning this proposed NSP2 plan summary from July 7, 2009 through July 17, 2009.  Written comments may be mailed to Willia Anderson at Tabitha House Community Services, 550 North Pine, Chicago, Illinois 60644, or email to : asmith5283@wowway.com

Tabitha House Community Services will submit the application for NSP2 funding to the United States Department of Housing Development (HUD) on July 17, 2009.

SUMMARY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP2)

Applicants will compete for up to 1.93 billion of NSP2 funds to carry out neighborhood stabilization programs.  HUD will select NSP2 programs that integrate the following principles: Target the community, rapidly arrest decline, assure compliance with NSP, deep targeting requirement t hat no less than 25% of the funds be used to benefit individuals and families at or below 50% of the area median income, ensure longest feasible continued affordability, support projects that optimize economic activity and number of jobs created or retained or that will provide other long-term economic benefits, coordinate planning and resources. Leverage resources and remove destabilizing influences, set aggressive, but achievable goals and ensure accountability.

PROPOSED TARGET GEOGRAPHY:

The area listed below defines the census tracts and community areas which will be defined as target geography in the Tabitha House Community Services Consortia NSP2 program.  The target geography is the specific geography where the NSP2 program activities will be carried out.  The target area is selected both maximizes the average HUD need score to assure a competitive application, addresses the unmet demand for affordable rental housing and builds upon the recent and current neighborhood stabilization efforts being carried out by its Consortia member organizations.

Tabitha House Community Services Consortia NSP2 program strategy will leverage an estimated $26,123,589.00 of public and private resources throughout Chicago and Indiana in neighborhoods including but not limited to: Austin, East and West Garfield Park, Near Westside, Chatham, Roseland, Morgan Park, Allen In., and Lawndale communities.  These targeted areas have been disproportionately affected by recent high levels of foreclosures and current recessionary economy.  As required by the HUD NSP2 NOFA, the full qualified census tracts in these communities which have been identified have an average combined risk score of 18.

PROPOSED NSP2 ACTIVITIES AND BUDGET:

Based on the researched gathered by Tabitha House Community Services Consortia the most appropriate strategy to stabilize and revitalize targeted neighborhoods is acquisition and rehabilitation new community center projection, expansions along with foreclosed multi-family dwelling 2-4 units and single family dwellings for affordable rental housing combined with lease to own single family housing.  This combined with training, quality programs as lead and homebuyers development to equip them for ready to purchasing of the dwellings made available to them.

Tabitha House Community Services is set up to help accomplish the short term outcomes:

• Construct three shovel ready projects: Community Training & Education Development Center, 112 South Central Ave., 60644 ; Tabitha House, 550 N. Pine, New Bethlehem -Barack Obama Community Outreach Center, 8854 South Cottage Grove.
• Expand and rehab existing facilities.
• Arrest decline in home values based on average sales price in targeted neighborhoods due to negative effects of a high number of  homes that have been foreclosed upon.

• Reduce or eliminate vacant and abandoned  residential properties
• increase the supply of and affordable single family housing for household with incomes between 50%  and 100% of area median income.
• Revitalize targeted neighborhoods and reconnect neighborhoods with the economy, housing market and social networks of the community.
• Invest in affordable housing that will remain desirable and affordable for the longest feasible time.

The long term benefits may include, but not limited to increased sales of residential property in targeted neighborhoods and increase median market values of real estate in targeted neighborhoods.  Provide an array of one stop services to meet the need of all residents.
The Consortia members have established a goal to use 50% of NSP2 funds to purchase and redevelop rental unity or homes for individuals and families at 50% of median and below and will continue affordability standards.
Also, the Consortia will build a culture of transparency and accountability that accounts monitors and evaluates: decline of home values, reduction/elimination of vacant and abandoned residential properties and increase sales of residential property short term and long term.

CONSORTIUM PARTNERS:

The Consoritum will submit the application for NSP2 funding to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on July 17, 2009.

* Summary of Proposal(.pdf)
* Census Tract (.pdf)
* Target Area Map (.pdf)

Send your comments or questions to:

Willia Anderson
willia_anderson@yahoo.com
Tabitha House Community Services

or

Annie Smith
asmith5283@wowway.com
Angel of God Resource Center, Inc.