Tuesday, March 25, 2008

McKinney celebrates National Community Development Week March 24-29

By Pegasus News wire

MCKINNEY — McKinney celebrates Community Development Week, a national celebration during the week of March 24-29. Using the theme On the Right Road, the McKinney Community Services Department will celebrate with two fun events this week.

Featured activities include a Kid Council session with Wolford Elementary on Wednesday, March 26, as part of Youth and Education Day. Third grade students come to the Council Chambers in City Hall, 222 N. Tennessee Street, to learn about the role of city government. The activity, starting at 10 a.m., is sponsored by the Neighborhood Services Office.

On Saturday, March 29, interested residents can attend a free session on housing rehabilitation and affordable housing to learn more about the city's Home Repair program through the Community Development Block Grant program, known as CDBG. The session includes information on emergency repairs and major housing rehabilitation and lasts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Settlers Recreation Center, 1201 Louisiana Street.

CDBG is the arm of Community Services that works to help local governments tackle some of the most serious challenges facing their communities. Enacted into law in 1974, the CDBG program is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"We continue to use CDBG funding as one of the principal sources in developing flexible and comprehensive neighborhood strategies for the purpose of building suitable living environments and providing decent affordable housing," said CDBG Administrator Shirletta Best. "The CDBG program has made a difference in the lives of millions of families and individuals across the nation."

Currently, the City of McKinney is receiving $517,013 in CDBG funding for various projects. Activities receiving funds are:

CASA of Collin County receives funding to offset the costs of staff responsible for the training and supervision of advocates representing abused or neglected children in McKinney, as required by the court-mandated program.

Community Lifeline Center provides a homeless prevention program, assisting McKinney homeowners and/or renters with up to three months of emergency housing expenses.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County (McKinney Branch), receives funding to support teen programs utilizing the national Boys and Girls Clubs curriculum.

Collin County Committee on Aging provides evening and weekend meals to McKinney seniors through the Meals on Wheels program.

Community Dental Care provides basic quality dental care to McKinney youth.

Crossroads Family Services is implementing a Youth Intervention Program to assist McKinney at-risk youth and first time offenders in a crime prevention program, to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

The Collin County Children's Advocacy Center receives funds to help offset the salary of a counselor providing therapy to abused children from McKinney.

Habitat for Humanity receives funds to assist with lot acquisition for the benefit of building a home for a low-to-moderate income family.

Holy Family School will receive funds this summer to provide tuition assistance to low-income children.

Hope's Door receives funds to offset the salary of domestic violence counselors. Hope's Door provides emergency shelter for abused women and their children living in McKinney and the other areas of Collin County.

LifePath Systems is receiving funds to provide emergency housing assistance to mental health and mental retardation clients in McKinney.

Samaritan Inn receives funds for child-care and transportation to assist residents of Gateway Apartments, a transitional housing complex.

The Salvation Army - McKinney Corps, offers a homeless prevention program, assisting McKinney homeowners and/or renters with up to three months of emergency housing expenses.

Housing Rehabilitation is a city-administered program assisting low and moderate-income homeowners with home repairs.

For more information on this program, please contact Shirletta Best at 972-547-7524 or visit the Web site.

Source: City of McKinney

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