ASC Community Partnerships offers HOPE (09-22-2009)
The Adams State College Community Partnerships Center will launch a HOPE, a home-owner preparedness program, through a new grant of $600,000 from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Adam State is one of only ten Hispanic-serving colleges and universities across the country sharing in nearly $6 million offered through HUD's Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities (HSIAC) Program. This is the fourth grant Adams State Community Partnerships has been awarded by HUD's Office of University Grants over the past decade, for a total of about $4 million, including leveraged and matching funds, Hoffman said.
Announcing the grant award, U.S. Congressman John Salazar said, "I am proud to have helped bring this funding to Adams State College. The HOPE program will be an innovative three dimensional program that will help our young people and the disabled community reach the American dream."
Mary Hoffman, executive director of ASC Community Partnerships, explained, "We'll be partnering with a variety of organizations to fulfill the goals of this program, including Vocational Rehabilitation, the EPA Regional Office, and community financial professionals." Community Partnerships works to connect college and grant resources with the community in order to increase the quality of life for all residents of the San Luis Valley.
"The HSIAC HUD Grant is indicative of the hard and real work Mary Hoffman has done both for ASC and the local community over the last few years," said Adams State President David Svaldi. "I am very pleased that current activities will continue in these hard budget times. Kudos to Mary and her staff!"
HOPE entails three separate, but related programs:
- The "Financial Development" program is aimed at providing youth with financial skills in order to better their chances of obtaining higher education and homeownership.
- The "Ability" program works with disabled individuals who want to learn life, job, and business skills.
- The "Eco-org " project supports green industry, job development, and community organizing around environmental issues. All activities involve education and training related to economic and community asset development.
The Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Program is one of several initiatives administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships (OUP). Eligible colleges and universities must have a student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. Adams State's student body is more than 29 percent Hispanic, with a total of 38 percent from diverse backgrounds.
By Julie Waechter
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