Through community building, Hope VI works to reduce the isolation of public housing. The program is more than just bricks and mortar. It creates and supports communities where children can grow up in safety, parents can find meaningful employment, and residents, for so long cut off from opportunity, can succeed. Community building confronts the isolation and poverty associated with public housing by increasing skills of individuals so they can take better advantage of mainstream opportunities strengthening public housing communities so they can better support self-sufficiency efforts of individuals and families developing partnerships with institutions in the city to provide access to resources and opportunities. There is no cookie-cutter approach to achieving these goals.
Every community is distinct.
We had to start fresh in every city because not all are the same. A high-rise building located on a central circle is designated for the elderly. We wanted to get the housing to a point where people could no longer point out that this was obviously public housing,' continued Ozdinec. Once people have a safe, clean, decent place to live, then they can have a life. You can get an education and find a job, but first you need a place to sleep at night.