Community Development Partners
Row House CDC
Row House Community Development Corporation (RHCDC), formed in August 2003 as a sister organization to Project Row Houses, is based in Houston 's historic Third Ward. The Row House Community Development Corporation development plan envisions mixed-income housing, green space, public facilities, artists' living/studio spaces and historic preservation.
Creative community housing
- Housing for low and moderate income households
- Building a sense of pride
- Historical and cultural preservation
Mission
“To develop housing for low to moderate income residents, public spaces, and facilities to preserve and protect the historic character of the Third Ward.”
Our goal is a planned community, which will include new and rehabilitated housing, pedestrian amenities, neighborhood stores and service businesses that will unify the district's artistic and historic appeal.
RHCDC is purchasing vacant lots to build housing affordable to our neighbors living in Third Ward.
Our dream is to relocate some tenants from substandard housing into new affordable units, while acquiring more lots for home ownership. We anticipate starting a Home Ownership Training class in the first quarter of 2005, with the goal to prepare long - time renters for the purchase of their first home. With street and pedestrian improvements and increased capacity building among our residents, we hope to retain the unique character of Third Ward while improving the home ownership rate for existing residents. Additionally, to ensure a strong, viable community, we wish to attract middle - income families to the Third Ward as well.
Tejano Center
Brief History
Tejano Center was incorporated in the State of Texas on June 24, 1992, with its mission being to improve opportunities for Hispanic children and their families in Houston's East End through the provision of housing and community development initiatives, as well as, educational, social, and health services. Goals laid out by Directors for the new community - based entity were to arrest and reverse conditions of social and economic deterioration through the revitalization and redevelopment of its residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors; to empower residents to function as a major force in the stabilization of the community through programs that provide them with opportunities to have a long - term stake in its future; and to foster and promote an environment in the community that will be conducive to attracting private sector investments.
Within a few weeks after incorporation, Tejano Center began its relatively new history by initiating a number of social and educational programs with ample assistance from community volunteers. Development activities began with the converting of a neighborhood eyesore into a vibrant community service center at 6901 Brownwood . Other undertakings successfully completed during the early years included the providing of emergency home repairs for 30 tornado victim families; a paint and repair project targeting 25 owner - occupied elderly homes; and a paint and repair operation that impacted 20 deteriorating residences in the Port Houston neighborhood. The efforts were totally dependent upon volunteer labor and donated materials. The first major development which received financial support was a 24 - bed Foster Group Home and Shelter to serve homeless, throwaway, and runaway children. Inaugurated in 1994, it was a collaborative effort with property donated by the O'Brien Corporation and the new facilities built with a City of Houston grant in the amount of $450,000.
Simultaneously, the organization initiated the Tejano Child Placing Agency, which provides for the placement of abused and neglected children in culturally and language appropriate foster homes. The Tejano Health Clinic opened its doors in 1995 with volunteer doctors and nurses providing outpatient primary care services for indigent families. That same year the organization also launched an Early Childhood Development Program to serve three and four year old children from low - income families in the Denver Harbor/Port Houston community. The Raul Yzaguirre Charter School for Success, targeting high - risk public school children, began operations at the Latino Learning Center in 1996, with an enrollment of 100 students. In 2001, the Community Learning Center opened its doors to adults seeking ABE, GED, and ESL classes.
Tejano Center 's homeownership initiative is the cornerstone of its housing operations. While it does plan and undertake other affordable housing activities, the organization's primary focus is promoting home ownership opportunities. The emphasis is premised on the knowledge that low and moderate minority homeowners, can be the single, most significant stabilizing force in the service area's declining, older neighborhoods. Tejano Center built its first home in 1993 at 1021 Hahlo Street and started offering Basic Home ownership Counseling services in 1995. Tejano Center made available Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance to low and moderate income families in 1999. Credit Counseling and Homebuyer Education classes followed as additional services in 2001.
Projects and activities that have been spawned and completed by the organization over the last 10 years include the Youth Violence Prevention Program, which operated as a demonstration project from 1994 to 1997 and attempted to reduce weapons and gang violence in three Middle Schools. Others were the Denver Harbor/Port Houston Gang Prevention and Intervention Program in 1995; Emergency Assistance Services from 1993 to 1999; and a Port Houston Citizens Patrol in 1996.
Community Impact
There is no doubt that Tejano Center has had a positive impact on the neighborhoods in its service area. A holistic approach defines its service delivery strategy. It has been highly successful because the organization recognized early on that services cannot be delivered to a large segment of the community in a vacuum. It could not just deliver housing services without being concerned about food, or employment, or education, or health care. As well, by finding and cultivating talent and resources in its own neighborhoods, it could be highly effective with the implementation of its delivery systems.
Tejano Center 's programs, initiatives, and projects have served to improve the quality of life for its predominately low - income, Hispanic constituency. The organization has halted, and in many cases reversed, the social and economic deterioration of no less than two neighborhoods. Its real estate developments and investments have promoted the revitalization of the service area. Activities have contributed to improved literacy levels, an important factor in inducing private sector investments in the district. As well, Tejano Center 's advocacy and leadership have prompted municipal authorities to engage street, drainage, recreation, and beautification improvements.
Tejano Center has made many significant social and economic contributions to the East End community. In addition the development of the Homeownership Center at 6901 Brownwood and the new construction of the Foster Group Home and Shelter at 5300 Sunrise , known as El Hogar de Ninos, the organization acquired and remodeled a 7.5 acre tract at 2950 Broadway, representing an investment of over $4 million. The property is the home of the Raul Yzaguirre Charter School for Success, the Tejano Health Clinic and the Community Learning Center . The tract is also the site of the Nueva Vida Project, a 66 - unit affordable housing development for low - income elderly families and individuals.
Tejano Center contribution to the area has also been spurred by its role as builder and developer of affordable, single - family homes for purchase by low and moderate income families. Forty (40) homes have been built and sold to date, with a total value exceeding $3.0 million. The projects are eliminating blight and transforming neighborhoods. Every home built has had a ripple effect in the immediate vicinity of the new construction site. Almost immediately neighbors begin to clean, paint, remodel, and/or otherwise spruce up their own homes. As well, through the organization's counseling and homebuyer education programs, many others have had the door of opportunity to homeownership opened to them. This past year alone, Tejano Center , through one program or another, successfully assisted over 50 families to become new homeowners.
Tejano Center 's social intervention programs have served to reduce violence and gang activity in the service area. Port Houston saw gang activity cut to zero upon the advent of the organization's Gang Intervention Project. Weapons and violence in the three middle schools were drastically lessened after the Houston Youth Violence Prevention Project exerted three years of counseling and guidance efforts. The Tejano Health Clinic has provided primary medical care to the area's medically indigent since 1995, logging over 1500 visits a year. Annually, the Tejano Child Placing Agency takes 300 children and youth off the streets and provides them with a safe, decent, and healthy environment. GED, ABE, and ESL programs have not only prepared adults with improved survival and job market skills, but as well, have raised the literacy level of the East End, an essential element for attracting new job creating business and industrial ventures. Thirty individuals have now received their GED Certificates and over 100 have been awarded Technology Diplomas by Monterrey Tech through its long - distance learning program.
Through its Raul Yzaguirre Charter School operations, the organization has awarded 73 diplomas to students, who in all likelihood would not have been able to complete their high school studies. Each and every graduating student has been awarded at least one scholarship. The combined scholarship amount given to all students exceeds $48,000. Eighty - five (85) percent, or 62, of the graduates are enrolled in a college or university. Despite the background of the youth, there has been only one major incident involving drugs, gang, activity violence or weapons on campus. The school emphasizes the building of self - esteem, self - discipline, teaching of the core subjects, and individualized instruction. Its mandatory extended day program keeps students off the streets until 5:00 p.m., a time when at least one parent, or an older sibling returns home.
Resident Participation
The ties between Tejano Center and East End residents are interwoven into the organization's management and operating structures. Residents are involved in Tejano Center affairs from the highest levels of decision - making to planning, problem - solving, and implementation. Community residents constitute a majority of the Directors and are involved in all Board committees and subcommittees. The organization's holistic approach is a direct result of residents' pleadings for addressing the multitude of concerns that residents identified. Since 1992, it has been their voices that helped shape the direction the organization would take in providing services and improving life opportunities.
Community service centers located on Broadway, Sunrise , and Brownwood Streets have maintained, indeed nurtured, a “mi casa es su casa” environment. As well, from the President on down, an open door policy is maintained. Residents are comfortable in coming in and expressing their opinions and/or needs. In every instance possible, residents are encouraged to become part of the solution and to take ownership in helping resolve a concern or challenge that must be addressed. The whole RYSS mandatory parental involvement component is premised on learning to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers hampering their effective participation in the education of their children, not just at RYSS, but in the public schools as well. It is in effect a prep course for their active participation in, not just Tejano Center activities, but as well, in a much a broader community involvement context.
Organizational Structure
Tejano Center is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who hire and delegate to a President, authority and responsibility for day to day operations. Housing programs are administered by a Housing Programs Manager who answers to the President of the organization. The Housing Programs Manager is assisted by the Assistant Manager for Development Services and a Homeownership Counselor. An Administrative Assistant is supervised by the Development Services Assistant Manager and an Assistant Homeownership Counselor provides staff support to the Homeownership Counselor. A Loan Origination Services Counselor has been hired and is expected to commence performing duties in early November. Housing operations are also being supported by an intern assigned by the University of Houston 's School of Business . An Americorps volunteer is expected to join the staff in mid - November.
Service Area
The organization has deep and firm ties to Houston 's East End . In actuality, Directors did not set out to formally select a particular geographic area. Rather, the defining of the service area was the outcome of a natural evolutionary process. The origins of Tejano Center sprang from the clamor of disenfranchised East End residents for a greater voice in the deliberations and decisions of local public bodies affecting social, educational, and economic conditions in their community. Since those early days, the organization has had a long - standing commitment to barrio residents to strive to provide opportunities and essential services to its predominately low - income, Hispanic constituency. An overwhelming number of products and services have been sculpted as a direct response to the needs of East End residents.
Houston 's greater East End is a relatively large urban area comprised of neighborhoods that are predominately low - income and in a state of social and economic deterioration. Serious social problems afflict the district, particularly drug, alcohol, and inhalant abuse among children and youth. Homelessness, blight, vandalism, and break - ins are commonplace. Violence and weapons in the schools pose a major challenge. Overcrowding and dilapidated housing are an accepted fact of life. Poverty remains on the upswing, as job losses continue and per capita income stays at less than 50% of Houston 's median income. Educational levels have stabilized, but numerically, are still disproportionately lower than those for the city as a whole.
The East End is a very large and fluid homogeneous community where commonalities amongst residents abound. In addition to neighborhoods sharing many similar characteristics such as low income and low literacy levels, there is a common language, ethnicity, and culture. Residents depend on jobs from the same industrial base and reflect like employment patterns. The extended family thrives. It is not uncommon for one family member to live in Galena Park , another in Magnolia, and another in Channelview and yet remain quite tight knit. By retaining intact the integrity of its community, Tejano Center has built on the area's positive elements to promote its objectives.
Barriers to homeownership stem from the status of the existing housing stock in the service area. With little new housing being built, the number of homes available for purchase has become extremely limited. Large numbers of residential structures are dilapidated or in a state of severe deterioration. Most houses are extremely old. Thirty - seven (37%) percent of the homes are 55 years or older and another thirty - one (31%) percent are 45 - 55 years old. Fifteen percent (15%) are 35 - 45 years old. Only seventeen (17%) percent of the homes are less than 35 years old and of that ratio, only three (3%) percent have been built since 1990. From 1990 to 1998, 110 single - family homes and 102 multi - family units have been constructed. However, 412 units were demolished or 5.6% of the inventory. The net housing unit inventory decreased between 1990 and 1998 by 200 units, or 3%. One result has been that housing has become scarcer. Vacancy rates have gone down from 12% in 1990 to 4% in 1998. Serious challenges loom on the horizon as the region's sizzling construction industry begins to impact the priority development area and cause a price escalation of both new and used homes.
Homeownership Products and Services
Tejano Center 's homeownership programs have been planned to operate among a client base that faces severe barriers to homeownership. Specific obstacles are poverty; low - income levels; low literacy levels, with large numbers of families possessing little or no knowledge of the English language. There is limited information in the community on the homeownership process or of opportunities for homeownership, or typical mortgage company requirements and procedures. Most neighborhoods are comprised of households with large families and limited capital assets. The organization has structured its programs to facilitate communication and bridge the many social, economic, language and cultural barriers. ‘All facets of the programs reflect serious consideration of he conditions and circumstances of the target population.
New Construction of Single - Family Homes. The goal of the initiative is to build new single - family homes at prices that are affordable to the organization's target market which is overwhelmingly low and moderate income. Tejano Center focuses its building efforts in the northeast sector of its service area, along the East I - 10 Freeway corridor. Among the targeted communities are Port Houston, Denver Harbor, Groveland Terrace, Galena Park, Jacinto City, and Cloverleaf. The initiative is the cornerstone of the organization's revitalization and redevelopment efforts. Specific projects seek to enhance the quality of the residential environment and to provide families with a long - term stake in their neighborhood. Objectives include the elimination of blight and the overcoming of barriers to homeownership through the dissemination of information that is culturally and linguistically relevant. To date a total of 40 homes have been built, ten in Port Houston, five in Denver Harbor, three in Galena Park, two in Jacinto City, eleven in Groveland Terrace, and eight in Cloverleaf. Three are presently under construction, The houses are pre - sold to low and moderate - income families who have been pre - qualified for home mortgage loans by Tejano Center counseling staff. Families select from four (4) floor plan models and are normally eligible for down payment assistance funds under HOME - supported City or County programs.
Basic Homeownership Counseling. Tejano Center is currently providing basic homeownership counseling services to over 100 low to moderate - income families residing in the East End. The goal of the services is to empower families with skills and knowledge that will enhance their ability to convert their homeownership aspirations into reality. Objectives include the qualification of families for affordable home mortgage loans from a reputable local financial institution or mortgage broker; the qualification of families for any available down payment assistance funds; the resolution of the family's budget, money management, and credit issues; conveying a good solid understanding of a homebuyer's responsibilities at closing and as future property owners; and the elimination of language, cultural and literacy barriers to homeownership opportunities. Activities are normally focused in the qualification of families for home mortgage loans, as well as, for financial support under local down payment assistance programs. The counseling in conducted one on one and covers such areas as (a) problem solving; (2) managing credit; (3) budgeting; (4) identifying a home; and (5) issues that could surface during the loan application process and at closing.
Homebuyer Education. The organization is currently sponsoring and facilitating six - hour homebuyer education classes. The goal of the service is to provide families with the opportunity to gain essential information, resources, linkages, and other tools that will enable them to realize the dream of homeownership. Objectives include creating an educational venue in the neighborhood that provides learning opportunities for low - income families that would not otherwise exist; developing an educational environment that is sensitive to the unique learning experiences of the predominately minority population of the area and conductive to breaking down language, literacy, and cultural barriers; providing a neighborhood - based medium for families to meet the minimum educational requirements imposed by local HOME - funded down payment assistance programs; inject into the participating households sufficient self - confidence in all aspects of the homeownership process as to propel them to move forward on their own; provide participating families with the opportunity to identify key players in the homeownership process and their respective roles, and provide households with information on sources of continued assistance and support, including the Tejano Center's Homeownership Center. Classes are held every Saturday, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter weeks. While the classes target low to moderate - income homebuyers, they are open to all residents of the target area, including those in higher income brackets. At day's end, a Certificate of Completion is given to successful participants. The Certificate enables clients to meet educational requirements of local HOME - funded down payment assistance programs. Classes are conducted alternately in English and Spanish. There are no fees for attendance.
Incubation Counseling. Tejano Center is currently providing incubation counseling services to households needing more time to attain their homeownership ambitions. The goal of the program is to assist families in improving the household's financial management practices. Objectives include the preparation of a viable and realistic budget for each participating family; the preparation of an Action Plan for each family; the periodic monitoring and adjusting of each family's Action Plan; and the attainment of measurable improvement in the money management practices and credit ratings of the participating families. The service is provided to households who have had problems meeting their debt obligations in the past, had derogatory information placed on their credit record, but now desire to improve their financial management practices. Most of the participants are heads of households presently experiencing difficulty with securing approval for a home mortgage loan.
Post - Purchase Counseling. Tejano Center makes post - purchase counseling services available for all of its homebuyer client families. The goal of the program is to provide direct assistance and support to households facing problem situations, as well as, guidance in handling their recently developed relationships as new property owners. Objectives include providing assistance and support with home repair and building deficiency issues; providing guidance and direction in dealings with banks and/or mortgage companies; providing advise and guidance with respect to transactions and decisions involving or affecting escrow funds; providing assistance and support with Appraisal District issues, as well as, with issues involving city and public school services; providing guidance to client families in obtaining competent legal advise when the situation is such that doing so is their best interest; and the referral of families for services provided by agencies specializing in mortgage default counseling.
Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance. Down payment and closing costs assistance is made available through the organization and offered to low and moderate income families who are under contract to purchase a new, Tejano Center - built home. The primary objective of the program is to make new home purchases more affordable to the service area's low and moderate income families. Funds are utilized to defray expenses for down payment and closing costs, with the remaining monies utilized to reduce the home mortgage loan. Households, who have selected future homes in Cloverleaf, Galena Park, or Jacinto City are eligible to receive $12,000 in down payment assistance monies. The organization performs the screening and the qualification of the families. Such funds are essentially HOME program monies made available by the Harris County Commissioner's Court through a contract with Tejano Center.
Other Housing Services
HUD 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. Construction has been initiated on a 66 - unit development funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program. The goal of the Project is to provide affordable rental housing to low - income elderly families and individuals. It is being built on a 1.29 - acre tract of land located at the intersection of Kimble and Dover Streets. The location is convenient to the center of public facilities such as medical clinics, hospitals, social service agencies, transportation, shopping, recreation and places or worship. As Project sponsor, Tejano Center intends to provide a number of social services on - site to the tenants. These will include Meals on Wheels, transportation to out of the way shopping areas, such as medical and dental clinics, as well as, to places of worship. The Project will also have a Community Center, which will include a recreational area, hobby classes, and planned trips to the city library, the zoo, and other educational venues. Additionally, a Social Services Coordinator will be responsible for the providing of support services on a one - to - one basis and for referrals to other public and private social service agencies. Lastly, an intergenerational project is currently being planned. These mentoring and educational activities are to be undertaken in conjunction with at - risk students attending the Sponsor's Raul Yzaguirre School for Success located adjacent to the facilities.
El Hogar de Ninos. El Hogar de Ninos, a 24 - bed Homeless Shelter and long - term facility, serves abused, runaway, throwaway, and homeless children ages 2 - 17. It was designed specifically to meet the unique and special needs of Hispanic children in Harris and surrounding counties. It is the first shelter of its kind, a culturally sensitive and language appropriate facility for Hispanic children, many or whom speak only Spanish. In addition to its primary objective of providing safe temporary shelter, the Center also provides 24 - hour supervision, food, clothing, education, counseling, medical, and dental services. Children who are referred to El Hogar de Ninos are assessed for a variety of essential services geared toward achieving and improving their quality of life during their time of crisis. All of the children are given full medical and dental check - ups, psychological assessments, and educational needs assessments. Subsequently, they are provided with essential services as determined by the evaluations. The staff is fully bilingual and the food served is prepared according to Hispanic orientation and Hispanic culture. The Shelter provides many services catered to help transition the child and become assimilated with the dominant culture. Among the services are ESL classes, culture awareness, identity consciousness, and role modeling. Other services include remedial education, individualized tutoring, intensive individual counseling and group counseling.
Support Services
Raul Yzaquirre Charter School for Success. The Raul Yzaquirre Charter School for Success (RYSS) became one of the first twenty charter schools in the state of Texas to be approved by the State Board of Education. It is the only charter school in the State that has as its primary objective, the targeting of high - risk students in the public schools. The RYSS currently serves 900 students on two campuses, with 650 pupils enrolled in one of its three Houston academies, and 250 attending classes at the Brownsville site. Ninety - five percent of the students enrolled are on the free or reduced lunch program. Highlights of the RYSS include individualized education plans, self contained classrooms, uniforms, and twenty to one student - teacher ratio. It also has a mandatory parental involvement component and an extended day program, featuring leadership and character development activities. These include student council, cultural arts, boxing, karate, dance, public speaking, conflict mediation, basketball, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, a ROPES course, and JROTC.
Tejano Child Placing Agency. The goal of the Tejano Child Placing Agency is to provide for the placement of abused, neglected, and homeless children in culturally and language appropriate private foster homes. All of the children processed through the Placing Agency are referred to the organization by the Children's Protective Services. Major objectives include the training of current and aspiring foster parents and the inspection and licensing of the homes, which includes the evaluation of the capacity of the foster parent to provide for the physical and psychological needs of the child. The organization assumes responsibility for the monitoring and supervision of the foster parents and the licensed homes.
The Tejano Health Clinic. Located at 2950 Broadway, the Tejano Health Clinic has operated since April 1996. The clinic's objective is to provide outpatient primary medical care access for the medically indigent. It is open once a week under the direction and supervision of Dr. Jorge Guerrero. Volunteer assistants provide nursing and clerical support. There is a minimal fee of $2 for children and $5 for adults. Children's immunizations are provided free of charge, courtesy of the City of Houston's Health Department.
Avenue Community Development Corporation
Avenue Community Development Corporation revitalizes our community by developing affordable housing and economic opportunities, while preserving our area's historic, cultural, and economic diversity.
Avenue CDC provides services in Harris County, Texas, with a particular focus in the Washington Avenue and Near Northside Communities just North and Northwest of Houston’s Downtown. A majority of the population living in Avenue’s target area earn less than 50 - 60% of median income. Gentrification in several of Avenue’s neighborhoods is pushing up housing prices and displacing lower income households.
In 1991, residents of the Old Sixth Ward founded Avenue CDC in order to develop affordable housing and preserve the historic architecture of the National Register Historic District. Old Sixth Ward Community Development Corporation, as it was then known, worked with the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance to rehabilitate two historic homes for low - income homebuyers in 1993. At the request of civic associations in the surrounding neighborhoods, Avenue CDC’s target area was expanded in 1995 to include the entire Washington Avenue community, a 2.6 square mile area directly northwest of Houston’s downtown. The organization changed its name to Avenue CDC to reflect the expanded target area in 1996. In 1999, Avenue CDC again accepted an invitation to expand its boundaries - this time by the civic organizations in Near Northside, the community of 4.3 square miles directly north of downtown. Avenue CDC operates a variety of housing, economic development, and service programs designed to revitalize our community while preserving its diversity.
Since 1991, Avenue Community Development Corporation has been working to revitalize our community by developing affordable housing and economic opportunities for low - income households. Avenue CDC has leveraged over $18 million in investments in our community in the last seven years. These investments include our development of 44 single - family homes and 188 rental units. Our sustained, targeted investment strategy has resulted in visible, lasting improvements in the community we serve. And the revitalization we have spearheaded has snowballed, as neighbors have followed our lead and improved their properties as well.
Avenue CDC has helped to stabilize our community. We have stabilized the population base by providing quality affordable housing to allow low - income residents to remain in our area. And we have encouraged compatible development patterns by strategically developing vacant lots - particularly corner lots - with single - family homes. In the First Ward, this strategy has helped to discourage outside developers from assembling parcels by demolishing existing homes in our community. Avenue CDC has preserved historic architecture in our target community - both through our development strategy referenced above, and through our program of rehabilitating homes for purchase by low - income buyers.