Eaton Target Investment Neighborhood (TIN) Success
Feb 19th, 2009
The Eaton TIN exceeded half a million dollars in investment since its inception in 2007 while other comparable TIN’s, or those which have run the same duration, garnered an average of $95,000 at the end of 2008. Eaton TIN residents also contributed $130,000 of their own monies toward home improvements not necessarily covered by the program.
Safe & Sound contributes a large part of this success to repeated door-to-door contacts year round to inform residents and promote the TIN program. Moreover, homeowners need confidence in their neighborhood to invest. Orientation meetings, walks with elected officials, neighborhood beautification projects, and block clubs are organized through outreach improve resident communication and perceptions and add to the overall success. Another highly visible project is the implementation of the Milwaukee Foundation grant in 2007 and 2008. It has provided tangible safety related fixes for homes, including lighting improvements and improved garage and home address identification, contributing to more efficient response from police, fire and city services.
Four TIN orientation meetings involving owner occupied property owners and landlords were held in 2007 and 2008. Last year, two walks with Alderman Hamilton, one Milwaukee Foundation project, and one neighborhood beatification event were organized. Monthly block club meetings and landlord compact meetings make all of this possible. In addition, Paula Butler of Safe & Sound has attended over 45 community meetings in the past two years to promote the TIN and Safe & Sound’s anti-crime efforts.
Since 2007, 105 residences were issued written warnings for deteriorated housing, to remove junk vehicles or clean-up debris. The warnings inform residents of potential consequences and fines of failing to maintain their properties while providing housing resources specific to their neighborhood. Since 2007 more than 200 referrals have been made to residents in the Eaton TIN for available home owner resources including: TIN program information and applications; Minor Home Repair program; Community Warehouse non-profit housing supply store.
Together, these strategies reach residents, identity those that are eligible and in need, and help them work through the process of receiving the benefits of programs and information that lead to an improved neighborhood and quality of life.
PHOTOS: Community Day on 25th & Hope was a great success with many residents coming out to join in the festivities. The Milwaukee Foundation provided funds and residents in the Target Investment Neighborhood determined how they should be spent.
