Neighborhood Development Annual Report FY18-19

2018-19 Neighborhood Development A N N U A L R E P O R T

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

A Note from the Director

StanleyWilson Director City of Greensboro Neighborhood Development

Thank you for reading the City’s Neighborhood Development Department 2018-19 Fiscal Year Annual Report. This document outlines the many achievements our department accomplished from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, but it only tells part of the story. Behind the dates, numbers, and project write-ups, are personal stories: • Schelena, a woman who bought her first home with our down payment assistance program the day before her baby was born. • Tara, a woman with a physical disability who moved in to a more affordable and accessible apartment unit built with our federal funds. • Maranda, a single mother with three kids who got out of a pattern of homelessness by going through our partnered workforce program. • The Harris couple whose home is being rebuilt after the devastating tornado of 2018. These stories and so many more are what our Neighborhood Development team hears and addresses every day. Our team knows that the work we do is vital to your quality of life and it takes many resources. Two of the most important resources are funding and our team. I am proud to say our team of 30 employees is diligent about providing programs and services, and administering the appropriate local, state and federal funds, using them wisely and effectively to better communities. We are excited that City Council approved a contract with HR&A Advisors to develop a 10-year affordable housing plan that will serve as a guide for directing affordable housing resources and programs. I encourage you to learn more about our department and services by visiting us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov/ND or calling us at 336-373-2349. Thank you for allowing us to serve you. Sincerely,

Cynthia Blue Housing Services Manager Troy Powell Code Compliance Manager B. Lamont Taylor Fiscal Planning & Administration Manager NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

GREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL Nancy Vaughan Mayor Yvonne Johnson Mayor Pro Tem Marikay Abuzuaiter At Large Michelle Kennedy At Large Sharon Hightower District 1 Goldie Wells District 2 Justin Outling District 3 Nancy Hoffmann District 4 Tammi Thurm District 5

Stanley Wilson

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

The Year in Neighborhood Development Highlights from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 JULY 2018

City Council awards $4 million to affordable rental housing developments: Elmsley Trail, Muirs Landing, and Printworks Lofts.

AUGUST 2018 First Greensboro resident purchases a home through Housing Connect GSO’s redesigned down payment assistance program.

SEPTEMBER 2018 Construction on Printworks Lofts’ 217 housing units begins.

OCTOBER 2018 Lead Safe Housing Program is promoted in recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and we offer to speak with community groups and organizations about our lead safe services.

NOVEMBER 2018 Housing Consultants Group is awarded a contract for housing counseling services such as, homeownership education and outreach and homeownership counseling through Housing Connect GSO.

DECEMBER 2018 50th resident purchases a home through Housing Connect GSO.

JANUARY 2019 In partnership with Workforce Development and Salvation Army, our Welcome HOME program launches to promote economic development and job creation opportunities for those experiencing homelessness.

FEBRUARY 2019 Our Tornado Disaster Recovery Program issues an ongoing RFP for nonprofits organizations to help rehab (and build) quality affordable homes damaged by the 2018 tornado. Housing Consultants Group launches social media campaign “#100Homes” to help 100 residents/families become first-time homebuyers by December 31, 2019.

APRIL 2019 We host “Making Homes Safer”with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promote the Lead Safe Housing Program, certify contractors to perform lead safe services, and encourage homeownership.

MAY 2019 We sign a contract with HR&A Advisors to a create 10-Year Affordable Housing Plan. HR&A visits Greensboro and meets with stakeholders to begin the planning process.

JUNE 2019 We host our second annual Homebuyers Fair in recognition of National Homeownership Month. The #100Homes campaign goal is achieved and renamed #200Homes. We hire Troy Powell as our new Code Compliance Division Manager.

Construction begins on Elmsley Trail’s 60 housing units and Muirs Landing’s 72 units.

Neighborhood Development Successes

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Code Compliance Issues

1,366

1,601

Residential dwellings brought into compliance

Residential dwellings inspected

Housing Bonds (since 2016)

$ 5,936,819 Money spent and committed $ 99,316,664 Funds leveraged

223

Households received housing counseling

217

Down payment assistance loans approved

659

Units completed & financed

Homelessness Prevention

Spent on overall homelessness prevention services $ 1,289,811

110

1,394

Households received short-term rental assistance

Homeless persons provided overnight, emergency, and/ or transitional shelter

City funds were used to support short-term rental assistance, overnight, emergency, and transitional shelter, and housing for veterans and chronically homeless persons in Greensboro.

As of July 1, 2019, we began administering the homeless services contracts under the supervision of a newly created Homelessness Prevention Program Coordinator position.

Single-family units rehabbed Multi-family units rehabbed 197 45

Nuisance cases brought into compliance 4,349 3,372 Vehicle cases brought into compliance

Housing Rehabilitation

$ 1,011,493 $ 526,213 $ 1,537,706

Money spent on single-family rehabs Money spent on multi-family rehabs

Combined rehab investment dollars spent

Housing Connect GSO

DPA HIGHLIGHTS

By the end of FY 2018-19, we helped with the purchase and closing of 215 houses, thanks to an earlier revamping of our down payment and closing cost assistance program (DPA). The maximum income level for DPA was raised to include moderate-income households, as well as low-income, which has allowed more first-time homebuyers to apply and qualify for the program. DPA provides up to $15,000 in down payment assistance and closing costs as a five-year, forgivable loan at zero percent interest. And the program isn’t only for first-time homebuyers. Potential buyers who have not owned a home within the last three years may also apply. The DPA program is one part of our comprehensive homeownership services under the “Housing Connect GSO” banner. Find out more at www.greensboro-nc.gov/ HousingConnectGSO. Another successful part of Housing Connect GSO was our campaign to turn 100 renters into first-time homebuyers in

• All of the 215 homebuyers were first-time buyers. • 208 were moderate- and workforce-income buyers. • 124 of the 215 were households that included one or two parents with children. • 99 percent of the homebuyers were current residents of Greensboro. • Average amount of down payment assistance received has been $10,000. • Nine of the homes purchased were in City redevelopment areas, specifically Willow Oaks and Ole Asheboro.

12 months. Called #100Homes, the campaign hit its goal seven months early and continued to grow. Find out more at www. greensboro-nc.gov/DPA.

Schelena S., pregnant with her first baby, was very familiar with the hardship of moving from town to town as a child with her father who was in the military. Not wanting the same experience for her son, she looked for a place they could call their own for a lifetime. Schelena went through our first time homebuyer’s program under #100Homes. She was able to access two down payment assistance loans and close on her new home the day before her baby was born.

Schelena’s Story

Photo by Woody Marshall, News & Record

Code Compliance

FIELD INSPECTOR TERRITORIES

In the past, the Code Compliance Division organized its field inspectors’ territories very differently, which meant some territories overlapped. With the addition of our new Code Compliance Division Manager, Troy Powell, residents now see territories aligned with City Council districts to help everyone receive services more efficiently. This way, councilmembers and residents know who their field inspectors are and how to reach them. In turn, field inspectors get to know the councilmember, residents, businesses, and neighborhoods in their respective council district. “Council members and residents want to know what’s going on in their districts and they want to be involved,” Powell said. “Knowing who to call for code compliance issues offers everyone a stake in the city.” See the complete Code Compliance staff list with contact information at www.greensboro-nc.gov/CC.

8 2 2

Field Supervisors that oversee all Field Inspectors

Field Inspectors for nuisance and junk vehicle issues that service the entire City

Field Inspectors assigned by City Council District (see below)

What Council district are you in? Find out at www.greensboro-nc.gov/CouncilDistricts.

Homelessness Prevention

Welcome HOME Welcome Housing Opportunities Matching Employment (HOME) is a joint effort pilot program between our department, Office of Workforce Development, and Salvation Army of Greensboro. Clients in the Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) program are paired with pre- employment assistance, job training, and work experience. The RRH model is a national best practice in helping to end homelessness. Studies show that it is more cost effective to rapidly rehouse individuals experiencing homelessness rather than to allow them to remain in a shelter. Additionally, research demonstrates that those who receive RRH assistance are homeless for shorter periods of time than those assisted with shelter or transitional housing. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, stay housed, and find permanent employment.

Maranda, a single mother of three boys, was stuck in a pattern of homelessness. Through the Salvation Army, Maranda was introduced to our housing and employment program called “Welcome HOME.”Maranda was the first to experience Welcome HOME’s life-changing opportunities. She says the program helped her refocus, start a new job, and learn how to make a house a home – a real home.

Maranda’s Story

Yolanda & Kenley’s Story

Storm Recovery Alliance

April 2018’s tornado that cut a 34-mile path through Greensboro affected many residents who have since rebuilt their lives, with a hand-up from our community. Soon after the storm, it became obvious that long-term recovery plans were needed, as was the coordination of all the agencies and organizations who had committed to help. That is how the Storm Recovery Alliance (SRA) was formed, led by our department. SRA reached out to families who were rehoused after the tornado to offer them homeownership counseling under our Housing Connect GSO program and the option of buying one of the repaired or newly constructed homes. SRA agencies have also purchased abandoned or vacant properties and lots and are building new single-family homes in the area. In March 2019, we created the Tornado Disaster Recovery Program to continue to address storm-damaged property owned by residents who had been unable to receive help otherwise. Qualified contractors have been repairing and reconstructing damaged property and building new homes in the tornado-impacted neighborhoods. Our continuing goal is to reinvest in that area through affordable homeownership and improved housing quality…turning what was a storm disaster area into a vibrant, thriving community.

Photo by Ivan Saul Cutler, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro

Homeowners Yolanda and Kenley Harris lived in their east Greensboro home for 20 years before the tornado hit in April 2018. The devastating storm uprooted trees that destroyed their roof, left them without electricity, and eventually caused so much mold that it was no longer safe for the couple to live there. The Harris couple was forced to move into a local hotel, and eventually into other temporary housing. Out of the Storm Recovery Alliance came a partnership between us, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, and Mt Zion Baptist Church of Greensboro to help them and other storm victims with home repairs and restoration. Crews of volunteers, family and friends worked to get the site of the Harris home ready. In the meantime, Habitat for Humanity provided a temporary home for the couple while they wait for their new home. The house is under construction and the couple will be able to move into their new home in February.

Photo by Ivan Saul Cutler, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PO Box 3136 • Greensboro, NC 27402-3136