EDGE Spotlight: The Role Of Non-profits & Faith In Economic Development

Wayne County continues to be a beacon of light given these rough economic times. We are spurring positive change in our local communities by revitalizing neighborhoods, redeveloping vacant and foreclosed properties, and recycling building materials. We are further effectuating positive change through several programs that work closely with and empower local faith-based and non-profit led programs.

One program, Project Saved II, empowers Wayne County to remove selected tax reverted properties off the auction block and sell them to various community-based nonprofit organizations for a minimal fee. Transferring ownership of these properties to these nonprofits accelerates the process of putting them into productive use and gives faith-based and nonprofit groups greater control in shaping the destiny of their community. Through Project Saved II and other programs that work closely with non-profit organizations, the Land Bank has contacted over 300 organizations By the end of the this summer, we hope to convey over 400 properties to these organizations, all in an effort to achieve the Land Bank's primary goal, which is to return unproductive property into productive use.

In addition to Project Saved II, Wayne County works tirelessly to ensure we have clean and safe neighborhoods for our residents. In an effort to achieve this goal, and at the request of organizations and residents, we have filed over 75 nuisance abatement lawsuits to assist in ridding neighborhoods of blighted properties. Over the past year, the Land Bank team assisted over 50 organizations and churches in organizing clean up efforts within Wayne County neighborhoods. In one instance, we provided assistance to a local church that hauled away over 400 bags of debris. Moreover, Wayne County provided the church with the equipment utilized by the clean up crews to assist them in removing debris. All services and equipment were provided free of charge.

Home ownership and home rehabilitation are also among the County's top priorities. Educating homebuyers is a critical component of the purchase of a home, especially as it relates to understanding the financial commitment of home ownership and in preventing future foreclosures. Wayne County's Homebuyer Program partners with the National Faith Homebuyers Program to educate homeowners and identify citizens who may qualify for HOME funds granted through the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development. The individuals that work for National Faith Homebuyer Program are well respected and seen as positive community leaders. Their sincerity in wanting to help individuals obtain the "American Dream" of homeownership reflects their focus on home-ownership as the path to community vitality. In a letter sent to Wayne County and the National Faith Homebuyers Program, a client stated, "We believe that you kept our best interest in mind during this process because of you and your awesome efforts my family will have the opportunity to live in a great home (First home). So, for this and many more things, we would like to say Thank you!"

Revitalizing our neighborhoods requires that we work with organizations that are the most connected to their community and neighborhood. The staff of Wayne County's Economic Growth & Development Engine (EDGE) and the Wayne County Land Bank along with the County's Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention program are working together to develop a holistic approach to protecting and strengthening our neighborhoods. Together with our nonprofit and faith-based partners, we will continue to transform our communities into thriving neighborhoods where residents feel pride and ownership in their economic future.

Amale Booth is a Project Consultant with the Wayne County Land Bank.  Darnella Williams is Assistant Corporation Counsel, and Kimberly Faison is a Community Development Specialist with Wayne County's Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE). All three contributed to this piece.