Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative?
The HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CN) employs a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. The program helps communities by revitalizing distressed public (and/or assisted) housing while investing and leveraging investments in:
Well-functioning services and public assets
High quality public schools/education programs
High quality early learning programs/services
Public transportation and mobility
Improved access to jobs
The CN will ensure that current residents will be able to benefit from this transformation by preserving affordable housing or providing residents with the choice to move in to affordable and accessible housing in another existing neighborhood of opportunity.
The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is focused on three core goals:
Housing: Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long term.
People: Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target developments and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents’ education, health and recreation, safety, employment, and mobility; and
Neighborhood: Transform distressed neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.
Where does Steubenville fit in?
The City of Steubenville and JMHA are required to develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. This Plan will become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public housing units while simultaneously directing positive transformation of the surrounding neighborhood. To successfully develop and implement the Transformation Plan, JHMA will work with John F. Kennedy Apartments and Elmer White Family Units residents, Bridgeview Apartments residents, public and private agencies, community and philanthropic organizations, neighborhood residents, and other identified individuals and stakeholder groups to gather and leverage resources needed to support the strategic and financial sustainability of the Plan.
What happens now?
The planning process kicked off in early 2023, and will be completed in late 2024. Following the completion of the Plan, the City and JMHA will apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to help fund proposed changes.
Why is the Steubenville North community so important?
The Steubenville North neighborhood was selected for this grant because of multiple factors, which includes the proximity of the two public housing facilities within the neighborhood, the demographics and exhibited need of the community, and the alignment with both the City’s and JMHA’s goals and priorities. A focus on the housing infrastructure, which is severely distressed and has not seen any revitalization since its founding in the 1960s and 1980s, alone could lift the bar for Steubenville North. Despite the challenges faced by the community, there is momentum and drive to create change for the residents of the community.
What do we hope to achieve with the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant?
The grant will be used to bring the community and planning partners together to create a viable and actionable Transformation Plan for the Steubenville North community, which can be implemented utilizing a variety of local, state, and national resources. The grant will also be utilized to develop and construct a catalytic early action project that will benefit all residents of the community.
John F. Kennedy Apartments includes 150 units of low-income housing built in 1966. Elmer White Family Units include 56 units of low-income housing. Bridgeview Apartments, which includes 112 units built in 1972, is in the process of being purchased and renovated by a private owner and will not be considered part of the replacement housing program. Between the two JHMA properties there are 206 units of low-income housing. The CN Plan will seek to replace 100% of those housing units within the neighborhood, or in other areas of opportunity as part of new mixed-income developments.
How will we work with the community?
When residents are genuinely at the center of a planning process, a unique outcome unfolds. Relationships become the focal point of the work. This is because for residents, planning is personal – it’s about their children, their families, their homes, their neighbors and their streets. It is about making their day-to-day lives better in real time. As we envision, design, and seek to implement the investment and physical changes necessary to revitalize the community, local residents will be engaged from day one, so that they can help to assume a leadership role in the process.
How can this benefit the neighborhood in the short-term?
The planning team will dedicate approximately $100,000 to identify and build an “Early Action Project” in late 2023 - early 2024 that will have an immediate positive benefit for the community. We need your involvement to help come up with these important ideas!
Does the planning process include construction of new housing?
No, this process ONLY involves planning and the implementation of smaller “Early Action Projects.” Construction of housing, retail, and other larger improvements would happen later based on community input and available resources.
What is the CN Implementation Grant?
Following completion of the CN Plan, the City of Steubenville and JMHA will be eligible to apply for a CN Implementation Grant, which could provide between $30 and $50 million towards Housing, People, and Neighborhood Initiatives.
Are there resident hiring opportunities as part of this process?
Yes, we are looking to identify a set of Community Ambassadors to assist with resident engagement, data gathering, and Plan feedback. Ambassadors will be provided a stipend for their effort.
