HOPE VILLAGE REVITALIZATION

THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN AREAS LISTED BELOW: FRESH AND HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS : THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING FRESH AND HEALTHY FOOD TO HOPE VILLAGE. IT OPERATES A WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET FROM JUNE - SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR AND PARTNERS WITH OTHERS TO PROVIDE FREE FRESH PRODUCE BOXES TO NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO GROWING AND EXPANDING ITS VIBRANT FARMERS MARKET TO SERVE AS A HUB OF COMMUNITY CONNECTION, RESOURCES, AND ART/CULTURAL EXPRESSION. IT IS "MORE THAN A FARMERS MARKET" - IT PROVIDES FRESH FOOD PREPARATION DEMONSTRATIONS, ACCESS TO WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES, INCLUDING DETROIT AT WORK'S RESUME PREP AND JOB OPPORTUNITY HUB, SNAP FOOD NAVIGATION, HEALTH CARE RESOURCES SUCH AS BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF SUBSIDIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-AND MODERATE-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED OVER 19,000 AND 18,600 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE IN PARTNERSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTERN MARKET AND PARTNERSHIP AND HOSTED 13 FARMERS MARKETS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2023 RESPECTIVELY. SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING: THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED ENSURING ENERGY EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS IN THIS AREA ARE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING EDUCATION ABOUT AND ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, RECYCLING, RAIN GARDENS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. IT IS ALSO WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF CREATING ENERGY EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF SHARED EQUITY AND LONG- TERM LEASES FOR RENTERS. IT USES ITS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, THE LASALLE ECO-DEMONSTRATION HOME, AS AN EDUCATIONAL HUB TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING SOLAR PANELS, LED LIGHTING, ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS, SUSTAINABLE FLOORING, RAINWATER GARDENS, AND POROUS PAVEMENT WALKWAYS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO USES GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE MINOR EXTERIOR HOME REPAIRS FOR LOW- INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO IMPROVE THE ENVELOPE OF THE THEIR HOMES AND PREVENT WATER INFILTRATION DAMAGE. IT PARTNERS WITH ECOWORKS TO PROVIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNANCES, WATER HEATERS AND REFRIGERATORS TO LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED A MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NO COST ACCESS TO MUCH NEEDED HOME REPAIRS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT LONG TERM NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS COULD ADDRESS IMPORTANT EXTERIOR BUILDING SYSTEMS SUCH AS SOFFITS, GUTTERS,DOWNSPROUTS, AND SIDING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, MORE THAN 140 HOMES IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE RECEIVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. BUILDING A GREEN AND HEALTHY COMMUNINITY: THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTOR AND HUB IN ORDER TO EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND RESOURCES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. IT HAS LONG TRACK RECORD OF PLACEMAKING, INCLUDING CREATION OF COOL CITIES PARK ON A FORMER BROWNFIELDS SITE, SPONSORING NEIGHBORHOOD ART INSTALLATIONS, AND PROVIDING LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE PERFORMANCES AND FESTIVALS. THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATED LOW- INCOME RESIDENT ACCESS TO MORE THAN 500,000 IN STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL - INCOME SUPPORTS. IN ADDITION, IT WORKED TO ADDRESS LACK OF RELIABLE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS IN THE HOPE VILLAGE AND TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF FLOODING AND REPEATED,LENGTHY ELECTRICAL OUTAGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED MULTIPLE COMMUNITY HEALTH DELIBERATIONS AND A NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH FAIR, AND ALSO CONTINUED NEW HEALTHY HEART SELF- MONITORING BLOOD PRESSURE PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS WELLNESS WALKING CLINIC FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.THE COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS STARTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021, CONTINUES TO BE LED BY A COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE, WHO ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AROUND HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE HEALTH AND ASTHMA. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS AND HOSTS MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD CALLS FOR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT AND SHARE RESOURCES, INCLUDING FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH, UNEMPLOYMENT, ANTI-EVICTION, AND OTHER RESOURCES.