United Way Seeking Request for Proposals for Housing-Related Initiative

Middlesex United Way thanks Webster Bank and Harding Development Group, our 2010/11 Gold Sponsors, for Living United.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2011

Middlesex United Way is making available a one-time grant to support a new or existing housing-related initiative. This housing initiative must be consistent with Middlesex United Way’s Five Year Goal to increase the ability of individuals and families to attain affordable housing. While not necessary, proposals that support the goals of the Middlesex County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness will receive additional consideration.

There is a total of $10,855 available for this opportunity. The award period will be from January 2012 – June 2012. Funding beyond this time period is not guaranteed. Organizations may submit more than one proposal.

Middlesex United Way’s Affordable Housing Impact Team comprising local volunteers will review all requests, conduct site visits as needed, and recommend one or more proposals for funding.

Proposals will be rated on the following criteria:

· How it will increase the ability of individuals and families to attain affordable housing;

· Demonstrate need for service/program;

· Identity/description of target population;

· Number of people served/impacted;

· Ability to demonstrate measurable outcomes/results;

· Financial accountability for project and for overall organization; and

· Ability to implement the initiative within 2-4 weeks of notice of funding.

To download a Fund Request Form with more information and a list of required documentation visitwww.middlesexunitedway.org/housing. All requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2011 to ed.bonilla@middlesexunitedway.org.

All interested organizations are encouraged to consider submitting a proposal even if they feel you don’t meet all of the above stated criteria and/or if their proposal prioritizes different criteria. New, creative ideas that demonstrate potential will be considered.

There will also be a Technical Assistance session for organizations held on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Middlesex United Way. Contact Ed Bonilla for more information and to register at (860) 346-8695 ored.bonilla@middlesexunitedway.org.

Middlesex United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income, health and housing – the building blocks for a good quality of life.

United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done. You are invited to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. That’s what it means to Live United.

Middlesex United Way is a locally-based organization serving the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.

Nehemiah digs in

The performance hall at the Green Street Arts Center was packed with dignitaries for Monday's groundbreaking ceremony for the North End Home Ownership project. After remarks by no less than 15 politicians and stakeholders in the project, the crowd moved outside for a golden shovel ceremony. The developers, Nehemiah Housing and Broad Park Development Corp, note that actual construction is slated to begin in late summer, with the first of the 15 units available by October 2010.

Readers of the Eye have been treated to many, many articles about the long process of finding funding and getting approval from the Redevelopment Agency and Common Council for the home-ownership condos. Compromises between the developers and the preservation community led to the decision to rehabilitate three of the Ferry houses that were originally to be demolished. The January 2008 move of the former Methodist Church on Liberty Street to a new site on Rapallo Avenue added further complexity to the project, resulting in a plan to create 4 units in the renovated building. The difficulties of the current economy and real estate market required the developers to trim the original 7 sites to 6 -- the Habitat for Humanity duplex on Ferry Street will have to wait.

Although there are a number of funding sources (including some $700,000+ from the City), the project ultimately received its green light with the recent agreement by the state's Department of Economic and Community Development to provide $3 million in grants to fill the gap in the approx. $7 million budget. In exchange, the developers are required to sell the homes at below-market prices to households within targeted income categories -- most are for families with up to 80% of median income, and two units are reserved for families with up to 50% of median income.

In this architectural rendering you can see:
1 Top right corner: two new duplexes will replace two houses on the south side of Green Street which are currently vacant and condemned. These units are priced at $124,000 to $148,000.
2. Top left corner: the planned facade of the former Methodist Church. This elevation will face Rapallo Avenue, and the building will house four units which are priced at $93,970 to $124,000.
3. Bottom row: Three existing houses on the south side of Ferry will have condos priced from $138,000 to $168,000.

Many of the speakers at the groundbreaking praised the partnerships that brought this project to fruition, as well as the investments of Wesleyan University, the City and private developers in the North End. In her remarks, Jackie Clegg Dodd (wife of Senator Chris Dodd) noted the progress that Middletown has made in recent years. We now know, she said, that the North End was lucky to escape the wholesale redevelopment that other towns experienced, and the resulting construction of buildings in the "Early Ugly" style. Instead, the North End still has "good bones", and a strong base of dedicated people who care enough to work at creating a stable community.

As the final speaker, Izzi Greenberg, the executive director of NEAT and a contributor to this blog, noted that this is a very exciting step for residents of the North End -- the culmination of a neighborhood redevelopment effort that began in the late 1990's. Ever practical, she also noted that NEAT and Liberty Bank have been cooperatively offering financial literacy workshops to educate families that might be eligible to purchase the homes.

Chamber to Host Affordable Housing Forum

From the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce:

the Chamber will host a forum entitled Overcoming the Obstacles to Affordable Housing in Connecticut on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell. Registration for the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. The forum is sponsored by the Liberty Bank Foundation.

Confirmed panelists for the program are: Diane Randall-Executive Director, Partnership for Strong Communities, Joan McDonald-Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Graham Stevens-Chief of Staff to the Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Liz Verna-Partner, Verna Properties, Noel Bishop-First Selectman, Town of Westbrook, Christine Nelson-Town Planner, Town of Old Saybrook ,Tim Hollister-Land Use Attorney, Shipman and Goodwin, Chandler Howard-President and CEO, Liberty Bank

The Forum will be moderated by Rick Green of the Hartford Courant.

For more information on the Overcoming the Obstacles to Affordable Housing in Connecticut Forum, please contact Jeff Pugliese at the Chamber at 860-347-6924 or email him at jpugliese@middlesexchamber.com.