Community Transformation

Our Community Building department focuses on transforming neighborhoods and civic engagement. We engage people from all walks of life in activities that will increase their leadership skills and connect them to the community.

We infuse new life into neighborhoods through carefully designed strategies to address physical, economic, and social issues by collaborating with residents, local churches, businesses, government agencies, and other nonprofits.

The Renewables, Resiliency, and Energy Efficiency Loan (RREEL)

This program allows income-eligible families to implement RREE measures in their homes using low-cost loans from NHSSF.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) assists low-income homeowners with making their homes energy efficient through the installation of cost-saving measures.

Civic Engagement

NHSSF works to develop the skills of local leaders through our Community Leadership Training Program.

Community Leadership Forum (CLF): This program is a compressed two-day version of the national NeighborWorks® Community Leadership Training Program. The goal of this program is to allow for a large group setting where residents from diverse neighborhoods come together to learn, exchange ideas and experience the leadership development process. The CLF can serve as a precursor for participants who wish to further develop leadership skills in the seven-week  Community Leadership Institute.

Community Leadership Institute (CLI): This seven-week institute guides a cohort through an in-depth leadership development process. Building and expanding on the skills from the CLF, the CLI invites local leaders to teach classes on such topics as effective communication, working with community leaders, business development, and more. The CLI frames these skills through the lens of asset based community development.

Comprehensive Community Development

79th Street Corridor - Change In Motion   (click to view map)

The 79th Street Corridor has suffered from blight and disinvestment for over 30 years. Partnering with the 79th Street Corridor Neighborhood Initiative we brought together a cross-sector of over 25 organizations to form the 79th Street Coalition for Change (79StCFC).

The 79StCFC conducted an area market study and created a Community Action Plan to drive socio-economic progress in the area under six strategic pillars:

Housing & Supportive Services
Built Environment & Transportation
Economic Opportunity & Vitality
Health, Safety, & Quality of Life
Education
Community Engagement

79th Street Corridor Coalition for Change Structure