News - Press Releases            

(For more information or clarification, please contact Adline Clarke, Mobile Housing Board communications officer, at 434-2238. or email:   )

NOTICE TO HOMEOWNERS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF MOBILE

Beginning January 7, and running through January 11, 2008, the Mobile Housing Board will accept applications for its Home Repair Loan/Grant Program for qualified low- and moderate-income homeowners who reside within the City Limits of Mobile. Examples of maximum income eligibility:
Household Annual
Size Income Limit
1 person $27,700
2 persons $31,700
3 persons $35,650
4 persons $39,600

Annual income limits are increased by approximately $3,100 for each additional household member.
Applications will be prioritized under special needs categories. Qualified homeowners who apply for this program may be eligible to receive a loan/grant of up to $25,000 to be used for the rehabilitation of their home. Program funding will allow the Mobile Housing Board to provide loans/grants to approximately 15 homeowners in this initial application period. Subsequent periods will be announced at later dates if all funding has not been allocated.
Preliminary application forms may be picked up at the James M. Seals, Jr. Community Center (formerly the Texas Street Recreation Center), at 540 Texas Street from January 7, 2008 and continuing through January 11, 2008 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Staff will be on hand at this location to answer any program questions. After January 11, 2008 no further applications will be accepted. Prospective applicants with program questions or special needs may call (251) 434-2207 or 1 (800) 545-1833, Ext. 824 TDD/TTY to arrange for assistance in completing the form.

Mobile Housing Board accepting summer job applications from youth

The Mobile Housing Board will accept applications for its summer jobs program for youth through February 15, 2008.

The program - the Summer Work Employment Experience Training Program (SWEET-P) - is a 10-week program that is tentatively set to begin on May 30, 2008.

In order to participate in the program, youngsters must be ages 16 to 21 and live within the city of Mobile, which is the area served by the Mobile Housing Board.

Students must be enrolled in high school, college, trade school, or in classes that prepare them to take the GED (General Educational Development) Test. They must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Or, they must have a combined GPA of 2.0 for the spring 2007 and fall 2007 semesters.

Applications are available at the city's public high schools and at offices of the Mobile Housing Board. Agency offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, including the central administrative office at the corner of Claiborne and Church streets downtown and the Clinton L. Johnson Center for Economic Development at 1655 Eagle Drive.

Applications are available at the property manager's office in each public housing development of the Mobile Housing Board.
SWEET-P is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about different types of careers and work environments. Students complete two weeks of basic job skills training and then spend eight weeks gaining actual on-the-job training either in the public or private sector.

Companies that are interested in participating in the program may call SWEET-P Coordinator Sonya Curtis for more information at 470.0226. SWEET-P is funded by area companies, the Mobile Housing Board and the city of Mobile.

Waiting List Open for Roger Williams Homes

Roger Williams Homes will open its waiting list for 1,2,3, and 4 bedroom apartments effective Monday, June 4, 2007. The application period will close on July 30th. All applications must be picked up and/or returned to the Roger Williams Management Office at 308 Simington Drive, on the following days and times: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Applications returned after July 31, 2007 will not be accepted.

For more information or to request an application by mail, call the Management Office at (251) 434-2287.

Waiting List Open for Orange Grove Homes

Lucille Overby (center), a resident of Central Plaza Towers, won the YWCA's 2007 Women of Achievement Award for Public Service. She was nominated by the Central Plaza Towers Residents' Association for the volunteer work she does for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). In 2006, she received the President's Lifetime Award for volunteering 4,000 or more hours. Among other things, Ms. Overby crochets hats and booties for premature babies at the University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital and items for hospice patients. She is vice president of the Central Plaza Towers Residents' Association and treasurer of the Community Action Group at Central Plaza Towers.

Senior team wins 'People's Choice' at cook-off

A team composed of senior residents of the Mobile Housing Board won the "People's Choice Award" at Volunteer Mobile's 4th Annual Shrimp Cook-off.
The team was lead by Charles Bailey and included Helen Beamon, Mary Hightower and Louise Perry. They cooked one of Bailey's recipes - one he calls "Shrimp and Crawfish Clemeneau." If it sounds like a meal on the menu of a New Orleans restaurant, it's probably because that's where Bailey was working when he created and named the seafood dish.
For many years, Bailey worked as an executive chef in New Orleans and Atlanta before retiring. Central Plaza Towers, one of four Mobile Housing Board apartment complexes for senior citizens, became his new home after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans in August 2005. A year later, Bailey moved to Central Plaza Towers on Bayshore Avenue in Crichton.
With a bit of encouragement, he dug out his chef's hat and apron and said he would represent the Mobile Housing Board in the April 21 Shrimp Cook-off. The three women - with some food preparation experience of their own - agreed to help.
Judging from the sweet smell of shrimp dishes that filled the air as the teams were cooking, it must have been difficult for judges to select winners. The Mobile Housing Board team did not win the vote of the judges, but jumped for joy when the "People's Choice Award" winner was announced.
The Mobile Housing Board's team of volunteers won the people's popular vote and had lots of fun helping to raise money for another community service organization in the process.

The Mobile Housing Board’s team won the People’s Choice Award at Volunteer Mobile’s annual Shrimp Cook-off on April 21. From left to right are team assistant Pamela Powe, Mary Hightower, Charles Bailey,  Central Plaza Towers Manager Nancy Wilson, Louise Perry, Helen Beamon and team assistant Adline Clarke.

5 complete 1st H.O.M.E. Program

Five people completed the Mobile Housing Board's 1st H.O.M.E. Program on March 27, 2007. Calvin Benjamin, Maggie Houston, Erica Lett, Michelle McCall and Jo Perryman received plaques for finishing the six-month Home Ownership Made Easy Program, called the 1st H.O.M.E. Program. They attended two-hour classes once a week from October through March to learn about the home buying process. In addition to handsome plaques, each of the 1st H.O.M.E. participants received an engraved brass door knocker for the homes they plan to purchase. Ms. McCall, who was class orator, wants to purchase a house with "no neighbors and plenty of land to build on." She was injured twice in car wrecks and is now disabled. Formerly, she was a manager for a wholesale operation. Even when you are disabled, you want to spend your money wisely, Ms. McCall said. She considers purchasing a home a wise investment. According to Preston Denagall, property agent in the Real Property Services department of the Mobile Housing Board, Ms. McCall often came to class in pain, but had good attendance. "It was a challenge," she said. "Some people tell you what you can't do, but you can if you just put your mind to it," she said. Guest speaker Stephanie Johnson of Whitney Bank said that one of her greatest joys is closing (or granting) mortgage loans because of the excitement it generates for homebuyers. Ms. Johnson was among those who helped to teach the 1st H.O.M.E. class. Representatives of many companies, including financial institutions, real estate firms and insurance companies, teach parts of the class as a community service. For more information about the 1st H.O.M.E. Program, visit Family Services at 1509 Plaza Drive, off Michigan Avenue, or call that department at 434-2229. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2007 SWEET-P Applications Are Available

The 2007 application period of the Mobile Housing Board's Summer Work Employment Experience Training Program (SWEET-P) is December 4, 2006 through February 16, 2007. Applications are available at local high schools and Mobile Housing Board sites - Central Office (151 S. Claiborne Street at Church Street downtown), property managers' offices, Section 8 Office, Clinton L. Johnson Center for Economic Development, HOPE VI Office and Family Services Office. You can also print an application and applicant checklist by clicking here.
Applications and all pertinent documents must be returned by the February 16 deadline to any of the Mobile Housing Board sites (not schools) mentioned above.
For more information regarding the application process, call SWEET-P Coordinator Sonya Curtis at 251.470.0226.

World Changers repair 20 homes in Mobile in July

About 475 participants in the World Changers program repaired homes of 20 families in the city's fourth district in mid-July. Work crews included about 400 volunteers from across the country and about 75 Mobile area volunteers. The homes that they repaired belong mostly to elderly and disabled people. Two homes on Cooke's Lane in Cottage Hill were among those that were repaired. This is the twelfth year that the World Changers home repair program has been sponsored here by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, the City of Mobile and the Mobile Housing Board. The volunteers put on new roofs and made other exterior home improvements for the homeowners. The workers were mostly teens, who signed up to be World Changers through their churches. They leave the comforts of home behind to spend a week helping others. They brought sleeping bags and spent their nights at Theodore High School. Rev. Clay Lewis is construction coordinator of the World Changers Program in Mobile. Other adults helped to supervise the youth. Previously, World Changers have done home repair work in other districts of the City of Mobile. The district is selected at the beginning of each year. Applications from homeowners are usually accepted in February. The homeowner must be the occupant, and World Changers must be able to complete the scope of work within four days, among other requirements. For more information, call the Rehabilitation Department of the Mobile Housing Board at 434-2275.

Inventor speaks at 10th summer jobs program ceremony

The inventor of one of the most popular toys on the market today – Lonnie G. Johnson, formerly of Mobile – was keynote speaker at the 10th annual awards ceremony for participants of the Mobile Housing Board's summer jobs program for youth. The ceremony was held August 3, 2006 at the Baker-Gaines Central Campus of Bishop State Community College. Eighty-four participants of the Summer Work Employment Experience Training Program, called SWEET-P, received certificates for completing the nine- week job training program. Nearly 1,000 students have participated in SWEET-P since its inception in 1997.

Thirteen student workers were recognized for having perfect jobs program attendance. They were Gerald Biggs, Twanna Boone, James Cooley, Bria Crawford, DeAnn Gaston, Willie Gardner, Nevilita Gratton, Shareca Hawthorne, Betty Jones, Christopher McMeans, Leonard Populus, Ashlee Ross and Ivan Washington. The "Top Prospect Award" was presented to Napoleon Clausell for receiving the most summer job offers at the SWEET-P Jobs Fair in June. Dr. Keflyn Reed, scholarship coordinator for Bishop State Community College, presented scholarships to Bilqis Assad, Randy Crosby, Ashley Edwards and Kia Ross. This year's major SWEET-P investment partners were Alabama Power Co., Alec Naman Catering, AmSouth Bank, Ball Healthcare Services, Inc., Bell and Adams, P.C., Kimberly Clark, Lights Express, Mobile Fair Housing Center, Mobile Civic Center, Mobile Convention Center, Mobile Gas Service Corp., Regions Bank, Spherion, University of South Alabama, Wachovia Bank, WALA/WBPG and Whitney National Bank. In addition to helping to fund SWEET-P, most of these companies provided on-the-job training positions for students. Other funding for the program is provided by the City of Mobile and the Mobile Housing Board.

Angela Jackson wins second scholarship

Angela Jackson, a junior at New York University, was top winner in the 2006 scholarship > competition of the Alabama Housing Authorities Education and Enrichment Fund. Eight students won AHAEEF scholarships this year. They were recognized at the annual convention of the Alabama Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities in Panama City, Fla., in August. Miss Jackson won a $2,500 scholarship, while seven other college students won $2,000 each, according to Donald B. Belle of Mobile, president of the board of the AHAEEF. Belle, who is tenant relations coordinator for the Mobile Housing Board, said that 47 students from throughout the state of Alabama applied for AHAEEF scholarships this year. Miss Jackson won her first AHAEEF Scholarship in 2004. She did not apply in 2005. Her major is psychology. She graduated from Murphy High School in 2004. She is a former participant of the Mobile Housing Board's Summer Work Employment Experience Training Program for students ages 16-21. Her parents are Velma and Andrew Jackson, residents of Thomas James Homes.

City Wide Residents' Council awards 6 scholarships

The City Wide Residents' Council of the Mobile Housing Board awarded scholarships to six students at the Council's meeting on July 27. The council awarded $1,000 scholarships to the following five students: Krystle Brown, Sheadrian Houlsen, Arleasha Jones, LaToya McCoy and Michelle Thomas. A sixth student, Randy Crosby, won a $500 scholarship.

This is the second year that the Council has awarded scholarships to public housing residents using funds raised at its annual "Tea of Holidays." Each scholarship winner received a mounted certificate and an Olympic-style medal from the CWRC. The presentation was conducted by CWRC President Ruby Lang and Stevens Gregory, executive director of the Mobile Housing Board. Brown, a Vigor High School graduate, will attend Bishop State Community College. She plans to major in nursing. Her parents are Andrea Brown and Virguse Lee, Jr. She resides in Josephine Allen Homes. Houlsen plans to attend the University of South Alabama to study pharmacy. The LeFlore High School graduate resides in Gulf Village Homes. Her parents are Michael Antalan and Joyce Houlsen. Jones is the daughter of Marilyn Jones and a resident of R.V. Taylor Plaza. She will attend Talladega College in Talladega, Ala. She plans to major in history and pre-law. She is a Vigor High School graduate. McCoy is also a Vigor High School graduate. She is the daughter of Rosa Fossett and resides in Josephine Allen Homes. She will attend Spring Hill College, where she plans to pursue a double major in studio art and graph design. Thomas plans to pursue a double major in psychology and business at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville. The LeFlore High School graduate is the daughter of Carolyn Thomas and Michael Wright. She resides in Roger Williams Homes. Crosby is a graduate of Williamson High School. He plans to attend Bishop State Community College to study computer science. His parents are Pamela Crosby and Randy Crosby. He resides in R.V. Taylor Plaza. For more information about CWRC Scholarships, call the CWRC's office at 438-2192 or call Community Services at 434-2209.

Agency sponsors Youth Education Computer Program

The Neighborhood Technology Access Center of the Mobile Housing Board conducted a "Youth Education Computer Program" this summer. The program gave children ages 8 to 13 an opportunity to learn computer skills. They played educational games on the computer and also learned how to use the internet. Additionally, students participated in arts and crafts and took field trips. They visited the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile, where they saw "Mummy: The Inside Story," an exhibit from the British Museum that featured more than 90 artifacts. The students who participated in the computer program used the computer to find facts about mummies and the Nile River. The Neighborhood Technology Access Center also offers computer training for adults. Instructors also help public housing residents write resumes and obtain high school equivalency diplomas. The center is open Monday through Friday. For more information, call 434-2357.

Josephine Allen wins Bay Bears Rookie League title

Josephine Allen Homes defeated R.V. Taylor Plaza to win the 2006 Bay Bears Rookie League championship on July 21 at the Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club. Members of the championship team are Antonio Grimes, Montrez Whitsett, Michael Edwards, Raymond Crandle, Darius Philon, Al Sims, Bobby Grimes, Hakeem Whitsett, Elijah Denson, James Young and Lavon Grimes. Their coach is Bradley Craig. Six area teams competed in championship games. Approximately 170 area boys and girls played in the summer league, including youth from Mobile, Prichard and Baldwin County. The Bay Bears Rookie League is sponsored by the Mobile Housing Board, the Prichard Housing Authority, Mobile Area Sports Commission, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama and the Mobile Bay Bears.

5 scholarships to be awarded by City Wide Residents' Council

The City Wide Residents' Council of the Mobile Housing Board will award five $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who reside in public housing developments or in households that receive Section 8 Housing Assistance.

Scholarship applications are available at the CWRC Office, located at 273 4th Court in Orange Grove Homes. Also, applications are available in Community Services at the corner of Beauregard and Jackson streets downtown. The application deadline is June 5 at 4 p.m.

The City Wide Residents' Council held its second annual "Tea of Holidays" on April 22 to raise money for the CWRC Scholarship Fund, established in 2005. The event was held at the Dearborn Community Center.

The Emerson Gardens Residents' Association won both top awards at the tea. It won a trophy for raising and contributing the most money to the scholarship fund this year. Also, it won first place for its Easter table decoration.

Ann S. Crawford, president, accepted the awards on behalf of the Emerson Gardens Residents' Association. The awards were presented by CWRC President Ruby Lang, who noted that the resident associations comprised of seniors - persons ages 60 years and older - raised the lion's share of the scholarship funds.

Emerson Gardens, Boykin Tower and Central Plaza Towers are the Mobile Housing Board's three apartment complexes designated for senior citizens.

The Thomas James Place Residents' Association placed second in the fundraising effort, while the Boykin Tower Residents' Association placed third and the Central Plaza Towers Residents' Association placed fourth.

The presidents of these three associations are Mrs. Lang, Rev. A.T. Days, and Rosie McKeel, respectively.

Officers and members of the resident associations sold ads and solicited patrons for a program booklet to raise scholarship funds.

Others associations that won trophies for their holiday table decorations were the Josephine Allen Homes Residents' Association for its Father's Day table, second place; Thomas James Place Residents' Association for its Independence Day table; third place; and R.V. Taylor Plaza Residents' Association for its Thanksgiving table, fourth place.

The presidents of these associations are Glender Montgomery, Mrs. Lang, and Maime Thomas, respectively.

The judges were Cpl. Zandra Jackson of the Mobile Police Department and Kenneth Carter, owner of "Kenneth Carter, Master Tailor".
Entertainment was provided by the Maryvale Star Dancers and Maryvale Star Steppers.

For more information about the scholarships, call Mrs. Lang at 438-2192 or Wayman Grant, tenant and community services officer for the MHB, at 434-2211.

Stroll & Roll set for May 12

The Mobile Housing Board will hold its third annual Stroll & Roll on May 12 at Central Plaza Towers on Bayshore Avenue near Springhill Avenue.

Area senior citizens are invited to attend the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration will be conducted in the 304 building from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

The Stroll & Roll around the walking trail will begin at 10 a.m. Caps and ribbons will be awarded to seniors who complete the walk. Seniors with wheelchairs and walkers are encouraged to participate.

Other activities will include Bingo, Bid Whist, Checkers, Chinese Checkers and Dominoes.
Also, refreshments will be served.

Emerson Gardens President Crawford wins YWCA award

The YWCA of Mobile presented its Public Service Achievement Award to Ann Crawford at its annual Women of Achievement Awards Benefit Luncheon on March 28, 2006.

Mrs. Crawford is president of the Emerson Gardens Residents' Association and also serves as president of the Emerson Gardens Community Action Group.

Among the other nominees for the award was Shirley Kelly, who is president of the Central Plaza Towers Community Action Group.

Emerson Gardens and Central Plaza Towers are two of the Mobile Housing Board's three apartment complexes for seniors. The third is Boykin Tower.

YWCA awards were given in five other categories - Lifetime Achievement, Professional Achievement, Industry Achievement, Rising Star Achievement and Beating the Odds Achievement.

Mrs. Crawford is serving her second three-year term as president of the Emerson Gardens Residents' Association. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the City Wide Residents' Council, Inc. of the Mobile Housing Board. Recently, she served on the Recreation Subcommittee of the Quality of Life Task Force of Mobile Mayor Samuel L. Jones.

In 2004, Mrs. Crawford competed in the Ms. Senior Mobile County Pageant.  Contestants were judged on poise, their philosophy on life, and talent.  Mrs. Crawford won the "Ms. Congeniality Award" and the "Best Overall Fashion Award".

She is a graduate of Central High School, where she received her diploma at the tender age of 14.   She attended Royal School of Cosmetology in Mobile and became a beautician.   She also later worked for the City of Mobile's Recreation Department.  In 1979, she moved to New Jersey and became a production worker.  After only 14 months on that job, she was promoted to shop steward.  She retired at age 55 and moved back to her native Mobile.

Seven years later, Mrs. Crawford went to work for the Gulf Coast Exploreum as a docent.  One of her proudest accomplishments at the Exploreum was encouraging the Exploreum and the City Wide Residents' Council to co-sponsor a Summer Science Program for children who live in public housing developments.  Thousands of children have participated in the program since its inception in 2003.
  
Mrs. Crawford has received many awards and honors for her public service work, including the City Wide Residents' Council Shining Star Award in November of 2005. She is a member of Rock of Faith Church, where she is a member of the Belle Choral Ensemble.

R.V. Taylor team wins state basketball championship

The R.V. Taylor Plaza Boys & Girls Club won a state basketball championship in Enterprise on March 12. The team of boys age 14 and under defeated a team from Monrovia 53-33 in the  Alabama Parks and Recreation Association's annual tournament for the division title.

JaWarren Hector was the R.V. Taylor Plaza team's leading scorer in the championship game  with 11 points. In the opening round of the tournament, R.V. Taylor Plaza defeated Athens by a score of 66-14. In that game, Cornelius Brown and Kirk Edwards scored 15 points each.

Anniston fell prey to R.V. Taylor Plaza 46-30 in their second game, with Brown scoring 13 points.
Afterward, R.V. Taylor Plaza beat Childersburg 69-60. Recardo Perdue contributed the Mobile team's tournament high score of 21 points.

Other team members are La Anthony Coleman, Terrance Coleman, Kirk Edwards, Brandon Jones, Marcus Jones, Travis Woodard, Myron King, Jimmy Panell, Welsey Pettway, Jonathan Smith, Lorenzo Sullivan and Andrew Williams.

Lindsey Blunt is head coach. The assistant coaches are Loretha Douglas and Juan Patterson.

Josephine Allen team wins third program straight title

The Josephine Allen Boys & Girls Club won its third straight "Boys 18 and under" club basketball program championship on March 9 at the Daphne Boys & Girls Club.
     
The Josephine Allen team defeated Roger Williams Boys & Girls Club 49-41.

Members of the winning team are Spencer Atkins, Tyrone Battles, Latrenton Barnett, Seal Craig, Mark Frazier, Tebiarus Gills, Alvin Holifield, Gregory Holifield, Kenneth Holifield, Jarred Lewis, Jarrod Lewis, Cecil Robbins, Deuntray Robbins, Edward Shinn, Bruce Williams and Kenny Williams.

Tavares Jones is the team's head coach. The assistant coaches are Bradley Craig and Michael Rembert.

Residents' Council names essay contest winners

Trez Montgomery and Travis Woodard were first-place winners in an essay contest sponsored by the City Wide Residents' Council. The council sponsored the contest in February. The theme was "Why is Black History Month Important to You?"

Montgomery won the high school category of the contest. He is in ninth grade at C.F. Vigor High School.  Angelica Torrence, a student at John L. LeFlore High School, placed second.

Both students are members of the Josephine Allen Boys & Girls Club.

Woodard, winner in the middle school category, is a member of the R.V. Taylor Plaza Boys & Girls Club. Second-place winner Nicholas Welch is also a member of the R.V. Taylor club. Andrea Torrence and Wesley Pettway tied for third place. She is a member of the Josephine Allen club and he is a member of the R.V. Taylor club.

Shanoya Harden named Youth of the Year

Shanoya Harden, 14, was named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama.
Miss Harden will represent Mobile in the state Youth of the Year Program in Montgomery.
She has been a member of the Roger Williams Boys & Girls Club for about seven years. The club is based at the community center in Roger Williams Homes, a public housing development of the Mobile Housing Board.
Miss Harden attends Most Pure Heart of Mary School, where she is in eighth grade. Her favorite subjects are English and mathematics. She wants to study medicine and become a physician because she “wants to learn about surgery and diseases.”
Miss Harden enjoys being a member of the Boys & Girls Club “because it’s fun” and gives youngsters something positive to do. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball at the Roger Williams Community Center. Also, she enjoys tutoring younger children there.
            She likes watching movies, going to the mall and talking on the phone.
            She is the daughter of Shenevia Harden.
Reader’s Digest Foundation has sponsored the Youth of the Year Program since 1947 to recognize outstanding contributions that youngsters make to their families, schools, and their Boys & Girl Clubs. Academic excellence, personal challenges and obstacles that youth overcome are also considered.
Each state winner of the Youth of the Year Program receives a $1,000 college scholarship and is considered for regional honors. Regional finalists win $10,000 scholarships. A national winner is chosen from among the four regional honorees.

HUD Awards $20 Million HOPE VI Grant to Mobile to Transform Public Housing, Help Residents

BIRMINGHAM – The U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development today awarded a $20 million HOPE VI Revitalization grant to the Mobile Housing Board that will be used to replace aging public housing with new housing for 387 families.

"I was part of the Congressionally-appointed commission that created the HOPE VI program a little more than 10 years ago," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "I’m pleased that Mobile is one of the 24 cities that will get funding this year to revitalize this community and improve the lives of its residents."

Mobile was selected from a pool of 56 applications HUD received from public housing authorities (PHAs) for the 2003 funding. The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District has received two HOPE VI Revitalization grants totaling over $24 million, including this award.

These PHAs were competitively selected with an emphasis on the effectiveness and project readiness of their public housing revitalization plans. HUD policy provides local housing authorities the flexibility to develop revitalization plans that meet their local needs. A team of HUD public housing and revitalization specialists score applications based on several revitalization rating factors, including:

Capacity: The ability of the housing authority or developer to administer and manage completion of 
the  revitalization effort.

Need for Revitalization: The severity of physical distress of the development.

Match/Leveraging: The ability of the housing authority to supplement the HOPE VI grant with funding from other sources – private, state or local government.