Mayor Parker Announces New Partnership with HUD
Houston Mayor Annise Parker and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary Mercedes Márquez announced a
collaborative partnership to enhance the City’s housing and community
development activities. This joint technical assistance and
capacity-building engagement combines knowledge and resources to
maximize the use of federal funds to revitalize neighborhoods, help the
homeless, and produce more affordable housing.
“We are honored that HUD not only recognizes the great progress the
Department has made, but is also eager to assist the Department in
achieving its ultimate goal of becoming one of the nation’s leading
housing departments,” said Mayor Parker. “This vital partnership is
unprecedented for the City and represents a new positive working
relationship with HUD. We are both on the same team working together for
Houston’s communities and families.”
Upon taking office in early 2010, Mayor Parker concentrated on repairing
the City’s previously strained relationship with HUD and appointed new
leadership at the City’s Housing and Community Development Department
(HCDD) to transform the Department.
Under the engagement, the City and HUD will work with local and national
non-profits to build the management systems and capacity necessary to
successfully carry out comprehensive and sustainable development and
revitalization strategies that target an area’s specific needs. The City
and HUD will work on a variety of capacity enhancement activities, such
as:
● Establishing a first-of-its-kind equity
fund in Houston to leverage private investment in community development
efforts;
● Developing an extensive community
development funding strategy, including the development of a
market-based “revitalization plan” that will prioritize targeted areas
for reinvestment; and
● Designing a thorough organizational plan
to enhance operations and strategically integrate the City’s community
development programs together.
Besides streamlining and furthering the City’s community development
endeavors, the partnership gives the City the tools it needs to tell
“its story” of accomplishments by not only measuring the amount of
assistance provided, but the impact such assistance has on local
communities.
“These difficult times for our cities require all of us to work smarter
and more efficiently to address the critical needs of our citizens,”
said Assistant Secretary Márquez. “HUD is breaking down silos to offer
more training and technical assistance. In the end, we’re working harder
to help communities work better.”
The engagement is part of the One CPD initiative of HUD’s Office of
Community Planning and Development. HUD and Enterprise Community
Partners will work with HCDD on providing technical assistance and
capacity-building that meets the specific needs of the City.
