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Annual Reports |
Home >> Programs >> Current Projects
Currently, we have the following projects/programs available:
Best House on The Block Contest®
Maximizing curb appeal is the simplest way to dramatically and immediately improve the look of a home. The Best House on the Block Contest® encourages homeowners in a designated area to spruce up their houses. Winners are selected based on the degree of improvement to the front of their homes, including landscaping, front sidewalks, and home faēade during the contest period. Neighborhoods Inc. offers free construction consultation to entrants of the contest. Neighborhoods Inc. awards the rehabber, whether financed through Neighborhoods Inc. or otherwise, with commendation certificates and cash prizes. Among neighbors a friendly competition results, raising the standards for the entire neighborhood. Since the inception of the Best House on the Block Contest®, hundreds of awards have been distributed, one exemplary house at a time. Click here to see a brief history and pictures from the Best House on the Block Contests®
Improve as You Move
To encourage home purchasers to choose the Calumet
Region when
looking for a home, Neighborhoods Inc. offers flexible
loans to buyers who agree to make
noticeable
improvements after moving in to the home. Neighborhoods
Inc. accomplishes this by partnering with real estate
agents. Neighbors who witness such commitment by a
newcomer know that these homeowners are here to stay.
Homebuyer Education Classes
The Homebuyer's Club helps people, many who are
first-time buyers, to secure the home of their dreams.
The program offers clear information about home-buying
readiness, mortgage financing, budget and credit,
do-it-yourself projects, and addresses complicated issues
that arise during the search for the perfect home.
Funded in part through a grant from
Urban Enterprise
Association and area lending institutions, this new
program started in April 2001. In 2006,
Neighborhoods Inc. received a grant from the Legacy
Foundation to offer these classes in Spanish as well.
Neighborhoods Inc. Days
Neighborhoods Inc. Days is the newest way to get
the word out about our programs. Neighborhoods Inc.
visits businesses and institutions with significant foot
traffic, or over 50 employees, to offer information
about our programs. There have been twenty Neighborhoods
Inc. Days, resulting in an increase in demand for
services. We will continue to partner with businesses
and institutions to offer our resources.
We're Neighbors!
Whenever neighbors want to focus on positive solutions,
Neighborhoods Inc. will support them with its resources.
Part of the plan for a healthy neighborhood is getting
residents to "get involved". When residents take
ownership of their block, it becomes a symbol of
strength and commitment. Blocks become more attractive,
safer, and cleaner.
Though there is much to be done, the commitment from
neighbors is encouraging. Through block clubs, neighbors
look out for one another, enjoy
block parties sponsored
in part by Neighborhoods Inc., and lend a helping hand
when needed. Since the inception of the We're
Neighbors! program in 1999, block clubs have emerged
in the Calumet area, organizing nearly 60 block club
meetings with more than 800 people in attendance. In
addition, 125 people participated in self-help block
projects and 100 people became involved in leadership
training.
If you are interested in the above projects, you may learn more about some of our completed projects via the: Operation Restoration, rehabs, and new construction sections.