RESERVOIR HILL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The year 2006 marked an important period in the history of Reservoir Hill, particularly in the context of the past five years. In 2002, Reservoir Hill Improvement Council (RHIC) released an updated revitalization strategy, Strengthening the Bonds of Community, which is now the foundational document guiding Reservoir Hill revitalization, and which stimulated a new drive for revitalization, resulting in nearly $4 million in investment in 2005 alone. Here, we note some of our other long-term accomplishments.
- RHIC has built a solidly functioning staffed organization capable of assessing a fast developing environment, and effectively implementing projects.
This may be one of the most significant successes of the past three years. The establishment of an effective, organized community entity has been the foundation for being able to elevate the city-wide dialogue around preserving affordable housing, develop a mixed-income community vision, assess and monitor public and private initiatives and give a voice to the community in these processes, and build community leadership. Without such an infrastructure, communities are left without a base of power through which to articulate their voce not just in one campaign, but across the years.
- RHIC programs help preserve affordable housing.
There are 100 properties under construction, yielding 75 units of affordable housing (rental and homeownership). More than 500 volunteers have completed home repairs for 40 low-income homeowners. A partnership of RHIC, Pennrose Properties, and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City is rehabbing 76 public housing units scattered throughout the community. Residents are moving back into these renovated homes throughout 2006.
- RHIC’s leadership is shaping answers to the vacant house problem.
RHIC’s assessment of a City property disposition program led to a dialogue with organizations city-wide to build a new vacant house strategy.
- RHIC helps a wide range of people prepare for home ownership.
Since September 2004, RHIC has sponsored home ownership, tax credit, and lead paint abatement workshops for 320 people, distributed 500 tax credit applications to low-income renters and homeowners, and provided 123 hours of one-on-one counseling to 81 families.
- More residents from more sectors of community are participating in neighborhood revitalization projects.
- During 2005 and 2006 more than 500 people worked on 11 projects restoring seven parks and vacant lots. More than 300 residents participated in a successful campaign to retain the neighborhood school, gain increased funding, and form a Parent Teacher Community Organization.
- Community leadership is better organized through the quarterly Leadership Assembly. The quarterly Leadership Assembly, a gathering of the leaders of each Member Organization, has completed one year of operation, and involves more than 60% of RHIC Member Organizations. The Assembly has helped streamline communications between the Member Organizations and RHIC, more deeply engage community leadership in revitalization issues, and provided a forum for educating the leadership.
July 2006 |
|
|
