Physical  Transformation


How Builders of Hope is Changing W.D.

Economic Transformation is vital for a community under siege. Our economic model for transformation is Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation. This organization serves West Dallas which has a population of 22,000, made up of 42% African-American and 58% Hispanic. The medium price of homes in this area is $47,167 compared to $160,000 city-wide. Most of the housing stock in the area was built in the 1940's.

Currently clients of Builders of Hope earn between 40-80% of the Dallas area medium income. The typlical client is a minority family of five, with an average income of around $28,000 for homes built in current communities, and $33,000 for the new subdivision of Eagle Ford.

 

Slum properties key site for Criminal Enterprise

In 2005 a study by Strategic Justice Initiatives found that a increasing amount of crime was being committed on properties owned by slum lords in West Dallas.

With this information, SJI approached investors who committed $500,000 to Builders of Hope, Inc to begin purchasing properties from land lords.

Crime has been significantly reduced where slum properties have been bought out and replaced with affordable housing with strongly healthy families.

The average slum house can be bought for $30,000. The removal of slum houses which are used by drug dealers, burglary rings, etc. profoundly impact neighborhoods. Crime has been down 14% in West Dallas over recent months due to these type of initiatives.

 

Landscape Changing in West Dallas by Key Partnerships

A recent grant by the Rees-Jones Foundation has allowed three major partners- Habitat for Humanity, Builders of Hope, and the Dallas Faith Communities Coalition to address physical transformation in West Dallas. This is being achieved by funding housing and employment needs. These two projects are impacting thousands of current and future residents lives. Changed neighborhoods, to the children who attend local schools, and churches are all strenthened by the presence of new and renovated homeowners.

These partners are involved in four specific areas to bring physical transformation, they are:

  • .
  • Urban Land Bank Lots
  • Landlord Buy Outs
  • Foreclosed Homes
  • General Homebuilding

 

Builders of Hope Leads Physical Transformation of West Dallas

 Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation (BoH) evolved from Voice of Hope Ministries, an organization with a 25-year history in the West Dallas community.  Voice of Hope’s board of directors created a separate Community Development Corporation, known as Voice of Hope CDC to help facilitate affordable housing and community development.  The name was later changed to Builders of Hope CDC to create a clearer identity for the new corporation. 

      Today, BoH is recognized as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) by the City of Dallas. It’s also a Homebuyer Counseling Agency certified by the state of Texas, City of Irving and City of Dallas.  The organization provides homebuyer training, builds and sells new affordable homes, provides mentoring and job training for ex-offenders living in the West Dallas community and offers leadership development for community residents.

      In its short existence the City of Dallas, local funders and the banking industry have recognized it as an effective CDHO. President Bush in a 2003 speech in Dallas said “Builders of Hope CDC is an example of a faith-based CDC that is effectively using federal funds to provide affordable housing for low-income families.  Current programs include affordable housing, homebuyer education and counseling, family support services and community mobilization. 

 

Accomplishments


  • 82 new single family homes in the West Dallas area; 19 renovations; currently, BOH has 16 homes in various stages of construction or closings.
  • Formed West Dallas Weed and Seed Program and received Federal Grant of $175,000 per year for at least three years; purchased/demolished five drug houses; reduction in crime through law enforcement partnerships. Hired full-time administrator to oversee program.
  • $8 million re-investment in Eagle Ford; architect designed homes with custom options; homeowners association; developing playground and community center
  • Helped bring about tremendous increase in West Dallas tax base; lot value has gone from $1,000 to $12,000; existing home prices have gone from $24,000 to $96,000.
  • Offered homebuyer education and counseling to 467 families
  • Established Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity partnership in West Dallas
  • Modeled a new (to the city of Dallas) holistic approach that involved social and political engagement, worked with or created neighborhood associations, spurred civic involvement, built relationships and social capital, addressed economic issues.
  • Assisted Westmoreland Heights Neighborhood Association in acquisition of land, design, and construction of community center in partnership with JPI
  • Developed code enforcement strategic plan for every slum lord in the community
  • Served as catalyst for change regarding specific crime and enforcement issues
  • Worked with City on creation of the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP)
  • Development, engagement of leaders and positive impact have kept residents that would have left for the suburbs .
  • Worked with faith-based community partners to utilize their expertise in people transformation strategies to keep people believing that they are part of the economic system and provide relevant training and counseling to ex-offenders.
  • Realized that changing youth and children without impacting their surroundings was impossible.
  • Created programs that help young men to be productive and provided positive channel and motivation for use of God-given talents .
  • Provided job training and mentoring to 12 ex-offenders with 92% success rate
  • Impacted Dallas City Probation Department by providing personalized life skills and case management; case load for area probation officer has been reduced by 1/3. The Construction Jobs Program is a model that the County would like to duplicate.
  • Provided funding through West Dallas Weed and Seed to youth organizations like Voice of Hope, YMCA, and others for after-school programs to provided scholarships for low-income children to attend their summer programs.
  • Developing collaborations with other groups to eliminate service duplication in housing.
  • Providing advocacy for systemic change; no affordable housing absent public policy.
  • Increased the number of people involved in civic activities; people are hopeful and there is a positive atmosphere for believing change can happen.

 

How Can you make a difference?


Consider becoming a partner with local organizations like Builders of Hope CDC and/or Strategic Justice Initiatives, Inc in grants or donations to help job training, business start ups, construction supervisors, home buyer seminars, homebuilding, community revitalization, resource development, etc. 

Representatives with West Dallas organizations will be glad to meet with you at your convenience to discuss how you can become involved. Please contact our organization at skinner.randy@gmail.com for more information.