Hope VI Grant

I would support applying for a Hope VI Grant because, other than the cost of preparing the submittal, there is no apparent downside to applying for the grant. Additionally, if the grant submittal is successful it will give the city the funds, outside of the current budget, to construct or restore much needed low-income housing. As highlighted in the video about the Matthew Henson Homes project undertaken by the City of Phoenix, the grant allowed the city to rebuild the housing project within the same area of the city, upgrade the efficiency of the homes and retain the resident’s sense of community. The film did not say if the restoration project could have or would have been done without the grant, however, the grant certainly facilitated the reconstruction project.

The impact of the grant on the community was significant. It allowed the homes of the low-income residents to be substantially upgraded without displacing them from their historical roots within their neighborhood. Because the application process was initiated by City Councilmen that were once residents of the projects it provided the politicians with a sense of giving back to their community and it showed the residents of the community that, despite their socioeconomic status, the city was there to look out for their well being.