This past Wednesday, the Regional Director of HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Joe DeFelice came to Wilmington to designate a new HUD EnVision Center in the City of Wilmington. From the HUD news release: “HUD’s EnVision Center demonstration offers assisted families support to help them achieve self-sufficiency and, thereby, making limited federal resources available to others awaiting assistance. It is premised on the fact that financial support alone is insufficient to solve poverty. Intentional and collective efforts across various organizations are needed to realize a more holistic path to foster lasting self-sufficiency.” EnVision Centers are focused on four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership Development. With the designation also came a grant to hire service support coordinators.
As the Chair of the Board of the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA), I am thrilled that HUD would recognize the progress WHA has made with this honor, and that now we will be able to do even more for our residents. During my remarks I said, “It’s very easy right now in this country to focus on what divides us. When we talk about self-sufficiency, we’re talking about something that unites us. No matter your political affiliation, we are united here to help Wilmington.” I also touched on the Riverside project, and how we are raising millions of private dollars to bring a better quality of life to underserved communities.
Photo cover: L to R: Mayor Michael Purzycki, Senator Christopher Coons, WHA Chair James Spadola, WHA Executive Director John Hill, Resident Services Director Irmina Williams, HUD Field Office Director Maria Bynum, HUD Regional Director Joe DeFelice
