NeighborWorks Network Helps Residents Start and Develop Community Gardens

Today NeighborWorks America announced its support for the 2010 National Farmers Market Directory recently released by the United States Department of Agriculture. The 2010 National Farmers Market Directory lists 6,132 operational farmers markets in the United States, which is a 16 percent increase since 2009. NeighborWorks America and its affiliates are taking part in this trend of transforming vacant and abandoned lots into community gardens and farmers markets.

Studies and surveys have shown that the use of community gardens and farmers markets help improve personal well being and enhance social relationships among residents while providing the community with an increased supply of fresh food. Gardens and markets generate community support through the involvement of local governments, youth, faith based organizations, businesses, banks and residents. The collaboration between these kinds of organizations and residents is a key part of the work done by NeighborWorks organizations with active community building operations.

The United States Department of Agriculture reported 1,755 farmers markets operating in the United States in 1994. From 1994 to 2010, there has been a 44 percent increase in markets nationwide from 1,755 to 6,132. In an effort to go green and provide neighborhoods with an abundant amount of locally grown food, NeighborWorks organizations in Sacramento, C.A., Rochester, N.Y., Rapid City, S.D., Utica, N.Y. and Orange, N.J. are taking part in this growing trend.

Among the recent efforts is a resident launched program with Dakota Home Resources, a NeighborWorks organization in South Dakota. At first Dakota Home Resources purchased a foreclosed house with the intent to rebuild it and place a homeowner in the house. However, the house needed to be demolished because it was too dilapidated to rebuild and in keeping with Dakota’s history of community engagement it sought resident input on next steps. The residents suggested that the lot should be used for a community garden with the hope that a garden would create broader benefits. Everything except the lot itself was donated by residents and other members of the surrounding community- the tools, mulch, water, compost piles, piping and manual labor. The garden opened on June 1, 2010 with 20 plots, all of them filled.

“The community garden has really brought the residents together on a united front,” said Jolee Wolf from NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources. “The garden has not only decreased crime in the area; but has strengthened the bond between the police force and residents of the community.”

While Dakota Home Resources used the community garden model, NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center-Sacramento Region developed and organized a farmers market in an area labeled a ‘food desert.’

Oak Park is considered a food desert because the overwhelming number of fast food restaurants in comparison with the number of grocery stores with fresh produce. Just as with the Dakota Home Resources, residents were the catalyst for this NeighborWorks organization project.

Oak Park residents went to NeighborWorks Sacramento and tapped the nonprofit’s organizational and financial capacity to develop a farmers market. Months of planning went into creating this market that’s now open five months of the year. At this weekly market, partners, vendors and NeighborWorks Sacramento have tables where they talk to residents about nutrition education and other programs the members of the community offer.

“We’ve gained a lot of support and attention from the residents and community,” said Sharon Eghigian from NeighborWorks Sacramento. “People love having the opportunity to buy local food. The Oak Park Farmers Market has a fun and exciting atmosphere with informational booths, activities for kids and a variety of vendors and farmers.”

The trend toward healthier and greener communities housing is a solid part of the services offered by many NeighborWorks organizations. For more information on how to participate in the trend go to http://www.nw.org/ to look-up the nearest NeighborWorks organization.

NeighborWorks America Joins Forces with HUD, Treasury and Atlanta Area Congressmen in an Effort to Prevent Home Foreclosures

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NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade joined HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Atlanta Congressmen John Lewis, David Scott and Hank Johnson at a recent “Help for Homeowners” event. The two-day event, which kicked-off on Friday, July 30, at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta, was hosted by HUD, the US Department of Treasury, the Hope Now Alliance and NeighborWorks America. More than 2,300 homeowners attended and had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their mortgage lenders or HUD-approved counseling agencies to find out if they qualify for various modification options, including the Making Home Affordable Program.

Maryanne Tavarez of Union City, a suburb of Atlanta, was glad to meet with her lender. Tavarez was forced to stop working due to a work disability. Then, her husband lost his job, and abandoned both her and the house. “My husband just got frustrated and moved out of the house and left no money. I applied for a modification as a single person and my brother said he would buy my house,” said Tavarez. “But, on July 6 they foreclosed on my house. I was scared every day and did not know when the Sherriff would show me out. Citi Mortgage sent me an invitation to attend this event. I thought maybe if I go it will all work out.”

Tavarez got her wish. She met with representatives from Citi Mortgage who reviewed her case and modified her loan to affordable monthly payments. “Citi went above and beyond the call of duty. They listened, looked and checked and said that I will no longer be in foreclosure,” said a beaming Tavarez.

In recent years, the number of failed mortgages more than doubled in Metropolitan Atlanta. The rate of foreclosures in the area is currently 3.18 percent, which is slightly higher than the national average of 3.15 percent.

Larry Gilmore, acting director of HOPE Now and CEO of HOPE LoanPort and Phyllis Caldwell, chief of Treasury’s Homeownership Preservation office were also in attendance at the event. They were joined by NeighborWorks representatives Marietta Rodriguez, national director of Homeownership and Lending and Hillary Wiley, communications and public affairs management consultant. Wiley was on point for media relations and co-hosted the loan modification scam alert table with Rodriguez.

NeighborWorks Southern District Director Don Phoenix had the opportunity to mingle with the congressmen and interact with several homeowners in crisis. “There are a lot of people in need, and this event provides an option for getting some assistance,” said Phoenix. “It was a very well done event.”

Help for Homeowners was covered by FOX News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

NeighborWorks America Helps Nonprofits Navigate NSP with Do's and Don'ts Accounting Webinar

With more than $7 billion of federal money flowing into communities through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), and nonprofit organizations playing a key role in using the funds to strengthen neighborhoods affected by foreclosure, NeighborWorks America, in partnership with the Lydon, Fetterolf, Corydon, P.A., recently offered tips on navigating the processes of cost allocation and reimbursement for nonprofit NSP grantees. In all, 38 organizations discussed how to accurately manage the NSP process under the rules established by the Office of Management and Budget in Circular A-122.

"The rules for NSP and other similar federal programs can be a challenge for nonprofit organizations who are not accustomed to managing federal funds, and the consequence of missteps can be delayed reimbursement or in the worst case, having to return grant funds to HUD,” said Sarah Greenberg, senior manager, Community Stabilization, at NeighborWorks America.

There are 109 organizations in the NeighborWorks network managing over $146 million of NSP Round 1 funds, and an additional 19 NeighborWorks network organizations are direct recipients of competitive NSP Round 2 funds. NeighborWorks America believes that it’s important for all participating nonprofits to have the best guidance on running a cost-effective program.

The webinar is part of NeighborWorks America's overall effort to make information readily available to nonprofits working to restore communities devastated by the foreclosure crisis. To this end, NeighborWorks will also be hosting a peer convening for nonprofit NSP2 grantees in Philadelphia on August 16, 2010, as part of the NeighborWorks Training Institute.

Other information on best practices, case studies, and the latest news and research are available at www.StableCommunities.org.

Community HousingWorks VISTAs Selected as Finalists in AmeriCorps Video Contest

Three VISTA volunteers serving at Community HousingWorks, a NeighborWorks organization in San Diego, CA, have submitted a video for the 2010 AmeriCorps Video Contest. Their entry, "What Does 'A' Mean to You?" was selected as one of the five finalists! Voting to determine the winning video takes place July 20-July 30, 2010. Check it out below or go here to view it and the other finalists.

Training In the Gulf Shows NeighborWorks Impact

The oil spill has provided new challenges for community development activities in the Gulf.

NeighborWorks America has taken steps to assist our local Gulf partners in their efforts to respond to the oil spill and its long term impacts with grants and technical assistance.

We also sponsored specialized training for Vietnamese American fishers and their families in Biloxi, Mississippi, which focused on media and messaging. In an interview with CNN, these Vietnamese American fishers were able to take true advantage of NeighborWorks' training and make their voices heard. View the interview.

Additional NeighborWorks-sponsored workshops in July and August will share skills in community assessment and program development so that community leaders can increase their effectiveness in responding to emerging needs.