The Mon Valley Initiative

THE MON VALLEY INITIATIVE IS A GRASS-ROOTS, REGIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ORGANIZED TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION OF MON VALLEY INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS THE MON VALLEY REGION BY RESPONSIBLY INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND PLACES"

REAL ESTATE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THE PURPOSE OF MVIS REAL ESTATE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS TO HELP REBUILD THE FABRIC OF MVIS MEMBER COMMUNITIES, THEREBY STABILIZING BOTH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PROPERTY VALUES, MAINTAINING THE TAX BASE, AND PROMOTING A CULTURE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE. MVI PROVIDES DIRECT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGH EXISTING PROGRAMS INCLUDING REHAB FOR RESALE (ACQUISITION, RENOVATION AND RESALE OF EXISTING BLIGHTED AND VACANT PROPERTIES), NEW CONSTRUCTION HOUSING IN TARGETED AREAS, OWNER-OCCUPIED REHABS, RESIDENTIAL RENTAL DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC COMMERCIAL SPACES IN TARGETED BUSINESS DISTRICTS, AND VARIOUS COMPLEMENTARY INITIATIVES IN COMMUNITY PLANNING, ZONING AND MARKETING OUTREACH. MVI AND ITS LOCALLY-BASED PARTNERS HAVE NOW COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OR REDEVELOPMENT OR TRANSFER OF 625 UNITS OF HOUSING, WITH ANOTHER 57 UNITS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT AND ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AND GATHER VITAL GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK, ENSURING THE MVI REMAINS DEEPLY ENGAGED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE PROGRAM STAFF PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, COORDINATE SPECIAL EVENTS, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE OTHER MVI PROGRAM AREAS. MVIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY A VOLUNTEER BASE OF APPROXIMATELY 135 INDIVIDUALS IN 2020.

HOUSING COUNSELING THE MON VALLEY INITIATIVE NATIONAL INTERMEDIARY IS A HUD-APPROVED NATIONAL HOUSING COUNSELING INTERMEDIARY THAT PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, HOUSING COUNSELING FUNDING, AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING SERVICES TO A NATIONAL NETWORK OF SUB-GRANTEE AGENCIES. THE AGENCIES IN TURN PROVIDE ELIGIBLE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS. DURING THE 2020 HUD FISCAL YEAR, THE AGENCIES PROVIDED HOUSING COUNSELING TO 9,806 HOUSEHOLDS. MVIS HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM IS A SUB-GRANTEE AGENCY OF THE MON VALLEY INITIATIVE NATIONAL INTERMEDIARY. THE PURPOSE OF MVIS PRE-PURCHASE HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE AND ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, WITH LOW AND MODERATE INCOMES, IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING AN AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF A HOME. MVI PROVIDES CREDIT AND BUDGET ANALYSES, AND HUD- AND PHFA-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING ACTION PLANS TO BRING PARTICIPANTS TO MORTGAGE-READINESS. MVI ALSO COORDINATES SERVICES WITH SEVERAL OTHER HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES IN OUR AREA. DURING 2020, MVIS HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 594 PARTICIPANTS AND 226 OF THESE PARTICIPATED IN PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING SERVICES. OF THOSE RECEIVING PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, 95 WENT ON TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL COACHING THE PURPOSE OF MVIS WORKFORCE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE INCOME LEVELS AND FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH EFFECTIVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND FINANCIAL COACHING, ASSISTING THE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDER-EMPLOYED TO ADVANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS, THE TEAM WORKS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR HUMAN RESOURCE NEEDS. MVI PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS THROUGH BASIC CAREER COUNSELING, FINANCIAL COACHING, CLASSROOM WORK, SEMINARS, AND PRE- AND POST-EMPLOYMENT CASE MANAGEMENT. MVI ALSO WORKS WITH MON VALLEY EMPLOYERS TO IDENTIFY SKILL REQUIREMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO MAKE CONNECTIONS ON BEHALF OF MVIS PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT RECRUITMENT AND JOB FAIRS, EMPLOYERS VOLUNTEER PRESENTING IN CAREER EXPLORATION WORKSHOPS AND DOING PRACTICE INTERVIEWS WITH PARTICIPANTS. IN 2020, MVI SERVED 517 PARTICIPANTS (62% OF WHOM WERE OVERCOMING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND ISSUES). SERVED IS DEFINED AS MEETING A PROGRAM MILESTONE: ENROLLED, COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT, OR MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. DURING THE YEAR, 217 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN MVIS CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS, WITH 123 PARTICIPANTS GAINING EMPLOYMENT. DURING THE YEAR, 45 DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS AND TRAINERS PARTICIPATED IN JOB CLUBS AND HIRED OUR PARTICIPANTS. WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT 70 PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR NET INCOME. BECAUSE MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE DEALING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND ISSUES, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN RESEARCHING ISSUES FACING RE-ENTRANTS AND ADDRESSING THEM WITH OUR VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS