GICH helps communities improve their quality of life and economic vitality through the development of locally-based housing and revitalization strategies. This is achieved through:
Technical assistance
Collaboration
Expert presenters
Training
Facilitation
Consensus building
Networking
Mentoring
What you'll do
During the three-year program of technical assistance and cross-community sharing, participating community housing teams will:
Attend two retreats a year with other participating communities
Identify issues and needs, available resources, and potential obstacles
Develop new ideas about meeting local housing needs and enhancing community development
Learn about best practices and available resources and funding for housing and community development
Produce a community housing plan with objectives and goals
Begin implementation of the action plan
What you can achieve
The following are some examples of initiatives that have been undertaken by communities as a result of their participation in GICH:
Targeted a distressed neighborhood for revitalization
Developed multi-family tax credit apartments
Redeveloped a failed subdivision
Revised out-dated codes and ordinances and adopted new ones
Increased code enforcement
Removed abandoned or dilapidated homes
Created a Land Bank Authority or Community Land Trust
Obtained first CDBG and CHIP grants
Developed a rehabilitation program
Provided housing counseling and down payment assistance
Completed sewer/water infrastructure improvements
Wrote and adopted an Urban Redevelopment Plan
Created a Redevelopment Authority
Obtained Opportunity Zone designation
Conducted a housing assessment and windshield survey
Partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, Work Camp, churches
We planned and toured and learned together. Our community assessment showed the need for affordable housing for our senior citizens. Although it took two years, we now have senior apartments currently under construction that fit right in with our city. The entire city has benefited from the GICH experience - our planning department, our codes and enforcement officer, our team. This is a vital program to all cities.
