WFIR-AM 960, 11/20/2020, Gene Marrano, VA

Its not just about helping people from lower-income backgrounds - often living in public housing - to find jobs. Its about Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, character and leadership. More on the EnVision Center getting off the ground in Roanoke, from WFIR’s Gene Marrano.

WSET ABC13, 11/18/2020, Ida Domingo, Roanoke, VA

Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge and the City of Roanoke Redevelopment Housing Authority (RRHA) announced Wednesday, Nov. 18 that they have been awarded a $55,000 grant from the Roanoke Women’s Foundation. They say the grant will support the new EnVision Center located in the old Melrose Library. The center will serve as a comprehensive center to meet the employment, education, health, and supportive service needs of the Northwest Roanoke community. Residents will be able to visit the center to access multiple services at once.

Bristol Herald Courier

A request to allow the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority to establish a community resource center sailed through the Planning Commission on Monday but not before commissioners voiced support for a homeless day center no longer included in those plans. The commission voted 6-0 to recommend the City Council approve the authority’s request for a special exception to allow the EnVision center at 712 Oakview Ave. The center would be a federal Housing and Urban Development-designated facility offering educational classes, job search assistance and health care services. An exception is needed since the property is zoned R-2 for single and two-family residential and doesn’t currently allow a community resource center. The authority’s original request in August included space for a day center for the homeless, but that component was removed from the plans after some concerns arose. "I was very pleased with the outcome, and I was also pleased with the comments about the day center that I heard today," BRHA Executive Director Lisa Porter said. "We may revisit that at some point." Asked if another request to establish a homeless day center might come forward, she said, "We’ll have to see, but the most important thing today is the EnVision center got the approval." The authority owns the 3,000-square-foot building located adjacent to Johnson Court and the former Douglass school.

WDBJ7

The EnVision Center, part of Roanoke’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority, now has its own food pantry. The food pantry began two weeks ago and has everything from non-perishable food to toothbrushes and toothpastes, thanks to donors. Forest Park Church and Delta Dental have made contributions so far. The pantry is open to everyone, but the center is hoping to target the senior population.

“We’re trying to target a majority of our senior and elderly folks who live in the area, because especially with COVID, they may not be able to get out to the store and get what they need, but it’s for everyone. We don’t want to turn anyone away, so if you need a toothbrush, some granola bars, cereal, we’re obviously going to try and help you,” said Greg Goodman, Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s family self-sufficient coordinator. Scratch Biscuit in Grandin Village has a donation box for the pantry. In case you would like to donate supplies, the pantry is always looking for paper towels and toilet paper.

Bristol Herald Courier

The Bristol Virginia City Council will conduct a public hearing tonight about a revised proposal for a Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority resource center. The authority is seeking a special exception and wants to establish an "EnVision center" at 712 Oakview Ave. The center is a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development designation of a facility offering "Educational classes, job search assistance and health care services." The project originally included a proposed day center for the homeless, but that has since been deleted. "We wanted to make sure the EnVision center does get approval, and we thought, with the day center attached to it, it put that [approval] at risk," Lisa Porter, BRHA executive director said Monday. Last week, the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority in Lebanon announced it is establishing an EnVision center to serve low-income residents in that area. "The EnVision center’s services are similar to what we’ve always done, but we’re going to be able to offer it to non-BRHA clients," Porter said. "This will connect us with resources that we didn’t have before." The services to be provided at the EnVision center include "educational classes, such as GED, financial literacy and parenting, job search assistance, health services and substance abuse counseling. The services will be available to anyone in the area and not exclusive to BRHA residents," according to the city’s preliminary staff report.

NBC12 Online

One Hopewell center is helping individuals attain self-sufficiency and financial independence through a holistic path. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development developed a new EnVision Center that will offer support services for residents. It is built on the principle that poverty cannot be solved through financial assistance alone.

"We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center," stated Joseph DeFelice, mid-atlantic regional administrator for HUD. "Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency-who no longer require assistance from our programs-who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy their own homes."

The demonstration is at the Davisville Community Center on 913 Rev. CW Harris St. in Hopewell and located near public housing developments. The center focuses on four pillars: economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness, and character and leadership.

Business Journal of Tri Cities

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-9) was on hand this week to cut the ribbon for a new Department of Housing and Urban Development facility in Lebanon, Va. HUD’s EnVision Centers are tasked with offering support for assisted families to help them achieve self-sufficiency and, thereby, make limited federal resources available to others awaiting assistance. The centers are premised on the idea 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. "We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center," said Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice. "Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency-who no longer require assistance from our programs-who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy their own homes." The announcement was made at the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority in Lebanon. The agency serves residents in Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell and Buchanan counties. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub to access support in the following four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership.

WRIC TV

A new effort in Hopewell to help low-income families get out of public housing and live independently kicked off Tuesday. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development has partnered with the city of Hopewell to announce a new designated HUD EnVision Center demonstration with the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The effort is in unison with 60 communities across the country working to offer support services for the benefit of its residents. It’s the first of its kind in Central Virginia.

The idea is to empower youth and adults with the tools to transform their lives. "Don’t be a statistic to your surroundings," said Deralla Brown, a single mother of six who lives in Hopewell’s public housing community. She told 8News she is determined to one day, buy a home of her own. Brown says she now runs her own business, crediting her success to the local non-profit: STORY. She said Story gave her the tool and support to work toward her dreams. The non-profit even helped her with a critical need like child care. "They help to get my kids off the bus safely," she said. "By the time I got to them at 6 o’clock, they already did their homework." Brown said she couldn’t be more excited to learn STORY is the main partner in Hopewell’s new HUD EnVision Center. Inside the Davisville Community Center, low-income residents will have access to economic, educational, health and leadership support, all under one roof. “The EnVision center will help them,” Brown said. “It will help them to push you, you know, give them motivation.”

Joe DeFelice, Regional Administrator with HUD, says the move puts people on the road to self-sufficiency. “What this is about today is breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty,” he said.

HUD AND LOCAL OFFICIALS KICK OFF ENVISION CENTER DEMONSTRATION IN HOPEWELL

HOPEWELL, Va. - To help low-income residents increase their income and gain self-sufficiency, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice joined City of Hopewell Mayor Jasmine Gore in announcing a new designated HUD EnVision Center demonstration with the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA), joining 60 communities across the country taking this vital step to offer support services for the benefit of its residents.

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.

“We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center,” stated DeFelice. “Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency—who no longer require assistance from our programs—who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy their own homes.”

The announcement was made at the Davisville Community Center on 913 Rev CW Harris Street in Hopewell. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub to access support in the following four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Congressman Donald McEachin (D-VA-4th District) were on hand for the event.

“HRHA is grateful and energized by the opportunity to participate as an EnVision Center provider. This will enhance the efforts already being taken by the authority to facilitate economic self-sufficiency for our residents and our community. Our mission is to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination,” stated HRHA Chief Executive Officer Steven A. Benham, Sr. “A core value of HRHA is to provide exceptional customer service both internally and externally. Through responsible leadership, teamwork and collaboration we are a catalyst for positive change in the community.

The EnVision Center is a perfect complement to existing efforts to improve the quality of life of all low-income persons in Hopewell. We are fortunate to have great community partners at the table working to provide Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership. We are very excited to move our efforts to a higher level via the EnVision Center concept.”

“I am incredibly excited about this new opportunity that the HRHA was able to create for their residents!” exclaimed Mayor Gore. “Community advocates have known that equitable resources within the community is key to help everyone have the ability to reach their fullest potential. It is critical now more than ever to invest in human capital. The HRHA has demonstrated that they can leverage economic investment with economic mobility to ensure that residents can improve their quality of life.

In order to do this, services much like what will be offered in the EnVision Center are a necessity. The City is currently in the process of mirroring a similar layout to support Hopewell residents and promote cross-department collaboration. I look forward to seeing the positive results from the EnVision Center serve as a shining example throughout the City of Hopewell.”

On hand for the announcement was Kathryn Thompson, Executive Director of Southside Transformation Opportunities for Residents and Youth (STORY), HRHA’s nonprofit partner in the new venture.

"I am very excited about the opening of the Hopewell EnVision Center,” added Thompson. “The Partnership for Healthy Public Housing Communities is committed to systems level change to benefit public housing and other low-income citizens of Hopewell. We are very excited about the potential for new federal, state and local partnerships and opportunities that will enable us to offer programs that rewrite the stories of these families. We are very proud of our work thus far and will continue to focus on trauma informed schools and communities as we expand into workforce training and development.”

To learn more about HUD Secretary Carson’s EnVision Center demonstration, please visit HUD.gov/EnVision Centers.

WCYB-TV NBC 5 Bristol

Regional leaders paid a visit to Lebanon Monday, bearing good news. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development continues expanding its nationwide EnVision Center program. The latest addition is now open and ready in the Fox Meadows community. The Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority covers Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell Counties. The public housing agency is working to bridge its families and residents with local, state and federal resources for help. This can range in sectors involving economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness and character and leadership.

"You hit those four pillars, which they are doing here through testing, job training, the community college, art classes and things like that," said HUD Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice. "They’ve set the stage and now we’re going to help them expand upon that and it’s not just HUD, it’s working with our other federal agencies. This just gets the federal government in the building so that people don’t have to go to the [Small Business Administration], the Department of Labor and then go to HUD, they can come here, work with our team," said DeFelice. "Our team both out of Philadelphia and Washington has direct line here."

GRIFFITH JOINS HUD AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO KICK OFF ENVISION CENTER DEMONSTRATION IN LEBANON

LEBANON, Va. - To help low-income residents increase their income and gain self-sufficiency, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice joined U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Nelson A. "Tony" Dodi, Mayor of Lebanon in announcing a new designated HUD EnVision Center demonstration with the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority (CPRHA), joining 60 communities across the country taking this vital step to offer support services for the benefit of its residents.

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.

"We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center," stated DeFelice. "Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency—who no longer require assistance from our programs—who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy their own homes."

The announcement was made at the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority, 35 Fox Meadow Drive in Lebanon. The agency serves residents in Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell and Buchanan counties. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub to access support in the following four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership. On hand for the announcement were leaders from partnering organizations, Southwest Virginia Community College and Southwest Virginia Workforce.

"The new EnVision Center in Lebanon will be a great support for people who need assistance on the path to self-sufficiency," said Congressman Griffith. "It brings together in one place the economic, educational, health, and community engagement resources that help those who now rely on government aid move beyond it. I appreciate the commitment of the Trump Administration and HUD to the people of our region who may need a bit of assistance in achieving independence."

"We are ecstatic to receive the Department of Housing and Urban Development designation of HUD EnVision Center. This designation provides us with additional opportunity to foster our partnerships with Federal, State, and Local agencies in fulfillment of our mission statement—commitment to excellence in providing quality housing and an environment that will ensure all residents opportunity, access to resources, and the expectation that our communities will be a safe, secure place to live and realize their potential," added Keith Viers, Executive Director of the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority.

"On behalf of myself and the Lebanon Town Council, we would like to congratulate Keith Viers and the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority for being selected for an EnVision Center that will greatly benefit our HUD residents in achieving self-sufficiency," added Mayor Dodi.

To learn more about HUD Secretary Carson's EnVision Center demonstration, please visit HUD.gov/EnVision Centers.

Roanoke Times

The former Melrose library building is slated to become a community hub where citizens can improve their financial outlook, their educational opportunities, their health and even their character. On Aug. 17, the Roanoke City Council agreed to sell the empty building to the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority for $10, so that the authority can then convert the old library into an EnVision Center with help of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. EnVision centers bring local nonprofit agencies together to provide opportunities for mostly low-income individuals and families. According to HUD, the centers’ mission is founded on four pillars: economic empowerment, educational advancement, health/wellness, and character and leadership. The city’s current EnVision Center will move from the Villages at Lincoln to the Melrose building when renovations to the old library are complete, said Frederick Gusler, the housing authority’s director of redevelopment and revitalization. "We’re in the process of getting started renovating the building and making some much-needed repairs," Gusler said. Gusler added that the housing authority is working with local agencies about providing services when the EnVision Center opens in its new location. One of the center’s primary goals will be to help low-income citizens improve their economic well-being. The services will be open to all Roanokers, not just residents of the authority’s housing facilities.

A new center to assist families in public housing will be established in Bristol, Virginia by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority. HUD’s "EnVision" center will offer assisted families support to help them achieve self-sufficiency, according to a written statement. EnVision centers provide a centralized hub to access support in economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness and character and leadership.

"We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision center," Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice said in the statement. "Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency - who no longer require assistance from our programs - who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy, their own homes." Lynn Pannell, the authority’s family self-sufficiency director, will oversee the program, which will be housed at the current Find A Way office.

To help low-income residents increase their income and gain self-sufficiency, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice joined Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority Executive Director Lisa Porter, City of Bristol, Virginia Mayor Neal Osborne and City of Bristol, Tennessee Mayor Margaret Feierabend in announcing a new designated HUD EnVision Center demonstration in the City of Bristol, Virginia, joining dozens of communities across the country taking this vital step to offer support services for the benefit of its residents.

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.

"We will not measure success by the number of people who enter this new EnVision Center," stated DeFelice. "Success will be measured by the number of individuals who achieve greater self-sufficiency—who no longer require assistance from our programs—who gain the financial independence to be able to rent, or even buy, their own homes."

Regional Administrator DeFelice made the virtual announcement through a twitter posting @JoeDeFeliceHUD this morning.

The announcement, which can be seen in its entirety on the HUD Mid-Atlantic YouTube Playlist, includes interviews with Mayor Osborne, Mayor Feierabend, Director Porter and one of the primary partners in the venture, the United Way of Bristol’s Executive Director Lisa Cofer. BRHA Resident Services Manager Lynn Pannell leads a virtual tour at the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (BRHA) Find a Way Office which will become the new EnVision Center. Ms. Pannell will oversee the agency’s assistance to residents at the Center. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub to access support in the following four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership.

"The EnVision Center designation will allow us to expand and enhance our case management offerings to BRHA clients as well as to those in need throughout the greater Bristol communities. Under a nonprofit umbrella, we plan to work with our partners to be a ‘one stop’ resource combatting a generational cycle of poverty," said Director Porter. "This fits with our long-range plans for the Authority as we reposition ourselves for the future."

"This designation is an important advantage for Bristol and will provide a streamlined approach to resources for residents working to achieve self-sufficiency," stated Mayor Osborne. "EnVision Centers offer valuable training that delivers educational opportunities, leads to future employment, and improves health outcomes by eliminating barriers to access. We’re excited to receive this designation and to begin the process of providing services to Bristolians on both sides of the state line."

"Many agencies within Bristol collaborate to offer services to residents wanting to develop their work skills, gain more in-depth education, and reach greater levels of independence," added Mayor Feierabend. "We’re grateful to know that agencies and organizations can now come under the roof of the EnVision Center to offer these essential resources in one centralized location, making it easier for all Bristolians—whether from Virginia or Tennessee—to achieve a greater quality of life."

The Hampton Roads Community Action Program has been serving people who are in need throughout Hampton Roads for over 50 years. Now, the program has come up with news ways to continue to serve in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Directors of the community action program say they will now be offering and expanding services to individuals and families in the community with outdoor mobile showers for the homeless and free Wi-Fi services for people trying to apply to different job opportunities. Volunteers also say they will help support parents who are now home-schooling their children during this pandemic. The Workforce Development Director for the program, Steven Brown, says although the building (Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authorities’ Lift and Connect EnVision Center) that usually houses the services is closed due to the coronavirus - opportunities for the community are still open and available. "We are providing portable showers, providing clothing for job interviews, food, and transportation. Whatever the homeless population needs during this time, we are providing and practicing social distancing," said Brown, HRCAP.

If you ask Shanequa Battle her favorite subject, she more than likely will not say it’s math. "Take me back to that math, oh my god! It’s hard, it’s hard! It’s not at easy as I thought it was going to be," said Battle, a resident at the Villages at Lincoln. Battle has lived at the Villages for the last three years. For the last several weeks, she’s participated in a student success program, to get ready for a pharmacy tech program. "A lot of times people don’t really know what’s out there. So I think this is kind of bringing it to them and educating them on how they can receive help if needed," said Greg Goodman, the family self- sufficiency coordinator for the neighborhood. This past November, the Department of Housing and Urban Development picked Roanoke to have an EnVision Center. The pharmacy tech program is the first 14-week class the EnVison Center is offering. "When that light hits and you see oh I get it, this is what I want to do and just seeing them reach goals, even if they’re small goals, but you know they’re building up and reaching something big, and that’s just great to see," said Greg Goodman. For Shanequa, her goal in completing the course is to provide for Amira, her two-year-old daughter. [Editorial note: consult source link for video]