MDS Resident Initiatives

The role of the neighborhood and/or public housing resident as an emerging leader and "partner-for-change" is critical to the reversal of high crime, high employment, and a sense of futility which robs communities of its most valued assets-its residents.

MDStrum Housing Services has developed training programs in support of the efforts of these neighborhood change-agents.  These programs have been offered to community groups in both a small and large scale learning environment.

 Field-Tested Training Modules Include:

• Leadership Recruitment, Development, and Retention
• Strategic Planning and Organizing for Success
• Principles of Community Organizing and Community Development
• Financial Development for Community-Based   Organization
• Legal Considerations for Non-Profit CDCs
• HUD Regulations Governing Tenant Participation and Tenant Opportunities in Public Housing
• Regulatory Requirements Governing Conduct and Activities of Resident Management Corporations
• Calculating Tenant Rent for Public Housing Residents              
• Competing for Federal Funds and Proposal Writing

MDS has provided related technical assistance to PHAs in the form of:

• Feasibility Studies for homeownership of public housing
• Feasibility of resident management of public housing
• Development of Tenant Participation Policies
• Development of agency plans for promoting resident owned businesses
• Development of strategies to achieve an “A? in PHMAP Indicator #7
• Grants applications to support resident training and resident owned businesses
• Plans to provide jobs training and jobs placement of residents
• Resident satisfaction surveys and recommendations to improve customer service

Partial listing of Past and Current Resident Leadership Development Participants have included Representatives of:

• Cabrini-Green Local Area Council (Chicago, IL)
• READY, Inc. (Yonkers, NY)
• Saginaw Tenant's Organization (Saginaw, MI)
• Lowden Homes Resident Council (Chicago, IL)
• Atherton East Resident Association (Flint, MI)
• Dearborn Homes RMC (Chicago, IL)
• Rowney Terrace RMC (Indianapolis, IN)
• St. Thomas Tenant's Organization (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• St. Croix Tenant's Organization (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• City-Wide Resident Advisory Board (E. St. Louis, IL)
• Family Councils (Joliet, IL)
• City-Wide Tenants' Council, Inc. (New Orleans, LA)
• Guste Low-Rise Resident Management Corporation (New Orleans, LA)
• LeClaire Courts RMC (Chicago, IL)
• Kenilworth-Parkside Resident Management Corporation (Washington, DC)