Memphis HOPE: Hope, Opportunity, Pride, Empowerment

$7.7 Million Invested for Comprehensive Community Supportive Services

In 2004, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) became a key partner with the City of Memphis and the Memphis Housing Authority (MHA) in securing $42 million in grants from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for community revitalization of two public housing locations – Lamar Terrace/University Place and Dixie Homes/Legends Park. WFGM’s leadership as a collaborator with this initiative has strengthened and positioned the City of Memphis to be awarded a total of $66.2 million in revitalization dollars from HUD. The latest grant was awarded in 2010—$22 million for the Cleaborn Homes redevelopment project.

This collaborative effort birthed Memphis HOPE, a public-private partnership that provides comprehensive, personalized case management services for families from the targeted HOPE VI communities. The Women’s Foundation successfully led efforts and raised $7.3 million over five years to provide a new model for comprehensive case management, Community Supportive Services (CSS). The CSS component was necessary to ensure the Memphis HOPE program provided viable means and expandable approaches to neighborhood revitalization, while improving the standards of living for community residents. WFGM is also responsible for monitoring program goals and evaluations to ensure responsible use of the investments made by our local and national partners. The Cleaborn Homes CSS budget is supported by $2 million in HOPE VI funds, a WFGM match of $1.5 million, and more than $11 million in leverage from partners.

Since 2004, the Women’s Foundations has invested $7.7 million into the Memphis HOPE initiative.

To see pictures from Memphis HOPE initiatives, take a look at our photo gallery.