$1.69 Million Grant to Help Sustain Programs
DETROIT, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A new $1.69 million grant awarded to the
Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) by the Michigan State Housing Development
Authority (MSHDA) will ensure that the streets of downtown Detroit will
continue to be clean and inviting for residents and visitors, and that
additional disadvantaged and homeless will be helped to overcome barriers to
employment and permanent housing.
"Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been a terrific supporter of our
efforts," said Downtown Detroit Partnership Chairman Roger S. Penske. "The
MSHDA grant is vital to the work of our partner organizations, Goodwill
Industries of Greater Detroit and United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and to
the image and well-being of Detroit's greater downtown." Goodwill trains,
employs and supervises the Clean Downtown workforce, and United Way pioneered
and manages the successful 2-1-1 On the Go! program founded by Strategic
Staffing Solutions CEO and DDP board member Cynthia Pasky. DDP expects to
match the MSHDA grant with private sector funds to sustain both programs as
each provides a path to personal sustainability for the disadvantaged and
homeless populations.
"Since the inception of both programs within the last three years, private
sector contributions have provided more than $5.6 million with an additional
$2 million of in-kind services," said DDP President Ann Lang. "Both programs
have been a tremendous value to our city, Clean Downtown specializes in
litter, graffiti and weed control, power washing and steam-cleaning sidewalks,
and cleaning bus shelters and freeway entrances. The 2-1-1 On the Go! program
moves homeless people from the streets into a Goodwill training program
leading to Clean Downtown employment and job placement." Nearly 350
disadvantaged individuals have completed the Goodwill training program or are
currently employed.
According to Pasky, 83 percent of the homeless approached by the 2-1-1 On the
Go! mobile social worker staff have accepted assistance, 114 homeless have
enrolled in the program, 60 are employed full-time, 30 are in work placement
programs, and 30 are in permanent housing. "The MSHDA grant will enable us to
double our social worker team from two to four to conduct one-on-one
interventions and assist more homeless in need of the program's services,"
said Pasky. 2-1-1 On the Go! will now operate seven days a week.
Last year DDP was honored for Special Achievement in Social Issues by the
International Downtown Association. 2-1-1 On the Go! was specifically
recognized for its innovative approach - proactive rather than reactive - to
addressing homelessness, an issue that affects cities and small towns
worldwide. "We are very proud that 2-1-1 On the Go! was honored after only one
year in existence," said Lang. "Our program is one of a kind and is now being
considered as a model by other cities."
Video link: Produced for the Downtown Detroit Partnership in order to
demonstrate the innovative work of the 2-1-1 On the Go! team in downtown
Detroit. It includes an interview with Joyce James who at the time was a Clean
Downtown employee. James now holds a new position with Goodwill Industries of
Greater Detroit. Click here: www.downtowndetroit.org/211
Downtown Detroit Partnership
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), chaired by Roger S. Penske, is a
private/public partnership of corporate and civic leaders. This includes
Board representation from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit
Renaissance and the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.
DDP's programs include the Clean Downtown program and the 2-1-1 On the-Go!
homeless outreach program. DDP partners with the City of Detroit on public
space maintenance and event support, is spearheading downtown marketing
initiatives, and is providing project support for development of a light rail
line from Downtown to the New Center. DDP also initiates information
exchange, advocacy and networking opportunities on behalf of the downtown
business community.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership engages business, government, and civic
leaders in developing initiatives to strengthen downtown Detroit's employment,
entertainment and residential assets, as well as advancing diversity, vitality
and economic health for Southeast Michigan's urban
core.www.DowntownDetroit.org
Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)
MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical assistance
through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent
affordable housing, engages in building vibrant cities and neighborhoods, and
addresses homeless issues. MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed
through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private
investors, not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA
programs, including the Save the Dream initiative, visit the Web site at
www.michigan.gov/mshda.
Clean Downtown Program
DDP launched the Clean Downtown program in 2006 to sustain the image-change
achieved for Super Bowl XL by making the downtown Detroit environment more
inviting for workers, residents, visitors and investors -- while strengthening
downtown's competitive advantage. The program operates 7 days a week to clean
and maintain downtown's public spaces, to maintain landscaping in public areas
and to provide groundskeeping support to many of downtown Detroit's largest
public events. This initiative is a dynamic collaboration of businesses,
foundations and nonprofits which have supported Clean Downtown with more than
$5.6 million in contributions and $2 million in donated goods and services
since its launch. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit recruits, trains,
supervises and provides mentoring for Clean Downtown's workforce.
www.CleanDowntown.org
Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit (GIGD)
GIGD provides people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment
with opportunities to become independent, self-supporting citizens through
training, work experience and employment in the community. Since 2007 GIGD has
placed nearly 2,700 individuals into full time employment providing nearly $60
million in earned wages to our local economy. For information, visit
www.goodwilldetroit.org
2-1-1 On-the-Go! - Homeless Outreach Program
2-1-1 On the Go! began in 2008 as a DDP partnership with Strategic Staffing
Solutions and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The program, which grew
out of United Way's 2-1-1 On the Go! referral service, employs outreach
specialists who travel downtown streets conducting one-on-one interventions
and offering immediate on-site assistance to homeless individuals. The
caseworkers drive bright yellow vehicles equipped with wireless Internet,
portable computers, scanners, printers and GPS technology to match homeless
individuals with tools to overcome the common barriers to employment and
permanent housing.
Media Contact:
Jenny Schilp -- 248.225.6744
jschilp@mediamattersdetroit.com
SOURCE Downtown Detroit Partnership
Jenny Schilp, +1-248-225-6744, jschilp@mediamattersdetroit.com
