Opportunity Neighborhood

TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES, THROUGH COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.

SOCIAL SERVICES - OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD PROVIDED AND COORDINATED SOCIAL SERVICES AT THREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES. THE SITE LOCATIONS INCLUDED POLYNESIAN VILLAGE IN NEW BRIGHTON, EDEN PARK APARTMENTS IN BROOKLYN PARK, AND AMES LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAINT PAUL. THE GOALS OF OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY SAFETY, INCREASE HOUSING STABILITY, AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY SUCCESS. THESE GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, COURTESY PATROL, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. 2021 AGENCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS CREATED A HYBRID OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM FOR RESIDENT YOUTH LIVING AT AMES LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD ON ST. PAUL'S EASTSIDE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 89% OF YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE LITERACY PROGRAM DURING AMES LAKE SUMMER CAMP INCREASED OR MAINTAINED THEIR READING FLUENCY. ASSISTED OVER 300 HOUSEHOLDS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AVOID EVICTION AND POSSIBLE HOMELESSNESS THROUGH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S COVID-19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE AGENCY CONTINUED TO BE FINANCIALLY STABLE DURING PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL UNREST DUE TO THE FLEXIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF PARTNERS AND FUNDERS, AS WELL AS AND NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. THE COURTESY PROGRAM GREW TO 14 RENTAL COMPLEXES PROVIDING OVER 15,000 HOURS OF COURTESY SERVICES. (HTTP://WWW.SMARTGIVERS.ORG/CHARITY/REVIEW/OPPORTUNITY_NEIGHBORHOOD) AND GUIDESTAR'S 2019 PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY (HTTPS://WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG/PROFILE/41-1923622) . THE AVERAGE RESIDENT TURNOVER AT ALL SERVICE SITES IS 32% COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 54% (NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, 2014).