HUD AND LOCAL OFFICIALS KICK OFF ENVISION CENTER DEMONSTRATION IN WILMINGTON
February 5, 2020
WILMINGTON, Del. – To help low-income residents increase their income and gain self-sufficiency, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice joined U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and City of Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki in announcing a new designated HUD EnVision Center demonstration in the city of Wilmington yesterday, joining dozens of communities across the country taking this vital step to offer support services for the benefit of its residents.
HUD’s EnVision Center demonstration offers assisted families support to help them achieve self-sufficiency and, thereby, making limited federal resources available to others awaiting assistance. It is premised on the fact that financial support alone is insufficient to solve poverty. Intentional and collective efforts across various organizations are needed to realize a more holistic path to foster lasting self-sufficiency.
Joseph J. DeFelice, Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (CENTER) speaks with a local resident after an announcement regarding a new demonstration benefiting the community and its residents Tuesday, Feb.04, 2020, at Wilmington Housing Authority’s Crestview Apartments in Wilmington, DE Photo By Saquan Stimpson
“We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center,” stated DeFelice. “Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency—who no longer require assistance from our programs—who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy, their own homes.”
The announcement was made at the Wilmington Housing Authority’s One-Stop Shop at Crestview Apartments at 2700 North Market Street in Wilmington. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub to access support in the following four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership.
In addition to the EnVision Center demonstration designation, Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) Executive Director John Hill accepted a “big check” for $142,000 for a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program grant. FSS Program funding enables local public housing authorities to hire Service Coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with existing programs and services in the local community, and who may in the future, help residents access resources available through the agency’s new EnVision Center.
Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) Executive Director John Hill accepted a “big check” for $142,000 for a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program grant Tuesday, Feb.04, 2020, at Wilmington Housing Authority’s Crestview Apartments in Wilmington, DE Photo By Saquan Stimpson
“This $142,000 investment in an accessible resource center at Crestview is going to make a real difference for families in this community,” said Senator Coons. “The decade that I spent in county government—working alongside city government—gave me a window into programs like EnVision and how, together, we can help make housing stronger and better. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which allows me to fight to bring home resources to Delaware.”
“We’re extremely proud to be opening the first EnVision Center in Delaware. We work tirelessly for our community and are grateful that HUD has recognized our commitment to assisting Wilmington families who are working to escape poverty and achieve economic self-sufficiency, and independence,” said John Hill, Executive Director of the Wilmington Housing Authority. “The EnVision Center, housed in our One-Stop-Shop, will allow WHA to expand the delivery of services and bridge the gap between affordable housing and access to education, jobs, and living wage income. The EnVision Center positions WHA for more growth and opportunity to help the residents of Wilmington, and I’m thankful to our staff, as well as the many Community Partners who helped make this a reality.”
Mayor Mike Purzycki (LEFT) speaks with a local resident after an announcement regarding a new demonstration benefiting the community and its residents Tuesday, Feb.04, 2020, at Wilmington Housing Authority’s Crestview Apartments in Wilmington, DE Photo By Saquan Stimpson
“Lacking knowledge about resources in the community or not knowing where to turn for assistance or guidance are huge impediments for residents who want to improve their lives and make things better for their families,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “The new EnVision Center is intended to foster self-sufficiency by giving people the information and confidence they need to succeed. We can all use a little boost at times, and I commend HUD and the WHA for adding to the benefits of public housing in order to help even more people throughout our City.”
To learn more about HUD Secretary Carson’s EnVision Center demonstration, please visit HUD.gov/EnVision Centers.