BNT is helping Bridgeport homes become healthier -- by leaps and bounds. Empowered by a LEAP (Lead Elimination Action Program) grant, BNT provides community outreach and education to protect those most at risk of lead poisoning: young children. To reach kids directly, BNT enlists Mr. Lead Spot, an interactive puppet show that makes lead education fun and memorable. Performed in pre-school and early elementary classes, the show emphasizes simple steps to prevent poisoning including washing hands, eating foods high in iron and calcium, playing in the grass not dirt areas outside, taking shoes off before entering your home, etc. To help bring the message home, each child is sent home with a lead-education coloring book, brochure and parental information letter.
BNT maximizes lead education opportunities by using existing community events. Recently, at 34 schools and parents' meetings, BNT presented "Lead Awareness," a 30-minute program that explains the hazards of lead and ways to reduce exposure. Developed by Temple University School of Nursing, "Lead Awareness" has proven results: showing that children of parents who participate in the program have a lower incidence of elevated blood lead levels compared to children of parents who do not participate. BNT also uses community events as opportunities to distribute educational materials, including a LEAP brochure developed in both Spanish and English.
Collaboration is a central and successful part of BNT's outreach strategy. To date, 100 percent of the community agencies invited to host group presentations have agreed - and the group presentations themselves (led by high school group Youth Power Partnerships) have reached approximately 1,300 adults and children in 2009.
During National Lead Awareness Week in October, BNT intensified its education efforts, working in partnership with the City of Bridgeport, Bridgeport Library, and ABCD. "What's on your walls" flyers were distributed to thousands of people, and nearly that many attended various events throughout the week.
On the abatement side, BNT completed the first three of the 29 units planned for the LEAP program, and oversaw the abatement of an additional 60 units as managers of the City's Lead Free Families program. Furthering its lead abatement impact, BNT held its first lead worker/supervisor training in August 2009. Twenty-five people participated in the training held at the University of Bridgeport.
Affordable Housing Development
BNT's development work helps families and neighborhoods by creating homes one unit at a time. By focusing on target areas in the East Side and Southend, BNT augments the impact of each home it revitalizes. Every renovated house provides affordable housing for families and removes the blight of abandoned or foreclosed properties, thus helping stabilize the surrounding neighborhoods, which include other properties BNT is managing or developing.
Development News
BNT's latest development project, 12 units on Lafayette Street, will be both renovated and subsequently managed by BNT as affordable housing. Funding for the $2.5 million project will come from a variety of sources, including funds from the City of Bridgeport and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, HTCC Program.
BNT received $500,000 in
housing tax credits: $300,000 for its work on Lafayette Street and
$200,000 for the Pequonnock Replacement units located on Maplewood Ave
and Brooks St.
In addition to the
positive impacts inherent in creating quality affordable housing, much
of BNT's recent development work has had a larger purpose: helping the
city fulfill its obligation to create 60 units to replace the former
Pequonnock Apartment public housing complex. On August 31, 2009 the
final 27 units on Hanover and Norman Streets were acquired and
transferred to the Bridgeport Housing Authority. These units, combined
with 21 apartments already completed and rented, and 12 others in
various stages of development, fulfill the long-awaited Pequonnock
replacement housing settlement.
"The Pequonnock replacement project was the largest project we at Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust had ever undertaken," said Elizabeth Torres, Executive Director of BNT. "There were many challenges, but we worked together as a team to create high-quality affordable housing for those who need it most. We are proud to be a part of the team, and look forward to continued partnerships with the City."
Homeownership Counseling
BNT's homeownership program uses a proactive strategy to increase homeownership and limit future foreclosures. The program's classes and workshops cover all aspects of home buying, as well as post closing concerns such as financial literacy and landlord/tenant relations. With real estate prices making homeownership more accessible, BNT's program is growing fast. In 2008, BNT served 213 families.
As of October 31, 2009, BNT had already welcomed 308 participants in 2009: 106 of these received one-on-one pre-purchase counseling and 202 attended workshops and orientation classes. Of these, 48 participants have now achieved the American dream of owning their own home, 19 are under contract to buy, and another 40 remain mortgage ready. The total amount of mortgage financing closed is $7,211,259
BNT has partnered with the Housing Development Fund (HDF) to provide counseling services to families interested in participating in the City's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
BNT would like to thank those who make the Homeownership Program possible. In 2009, the program received funding from People's United Foundation, Webster Bank, Citigroup Foundation, and HUD totaling over $50,000.
New Office On December 2 at 4:00pm, BNT will
host an Open House to celebrate its new office at 240 Fairfield Avenue -- a
newly renovated building on a vibrant block in downtown Bridgeport. With its
convenient location and state of the art conference/training room, the new
space will accommodate BNT's growing programs and staff, and provide greater
access for clients, constituents and partners.
Newest Addition to BNT Team
Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust would like to welcome its new development assistant, Elizabeth Wilson, who has come to BNT through the Public Allies Program. During her ten month internship at BNT, Lizzie's responsibilities will include: managing the construction of BNT's new website and implementing a new fund development strategy; developing informational resources to showcase BNT's programs to the community; and assisting the Board Committees in their work. Lizzie graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 2007 with dual degrees in International Relations and Philosophy.
Introducing BNT's Newest Board Members: Edward Lomax, ETL Design;
Luis Sanchez, Luis Sanchez Real Estate; and
Edwin P. Farrow, Attorney at Law.
Grants
BNT received $20,000 from City of Bridgeport Advancing Capacity Together Program to increase BNT's capacity through Web site development, fund development consultation, and staff training.
BNT has been selected to receive TD Bank's Housing For Everyone Grant, a competitive grant with only six awards given in Connecticut. BNT will use the funds to identify abandoned and/or foreclosed properties in the Southend and East Side neighborhoods for development and to continue to provide comprehensive homeownership counseling.
Elizabeth Torres, BNT's Executive Director states, "the grant award from TD Bank is both timely and acutely needed in our community. This funding is critical to the work that we're doing in Bridgeport. The results will be neighborhoods that are places people want to live and invest."
Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved. Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust
BNT is helping Bridgeport homes become healthier -- by leaps and bounds. Empowered by a LEAP (Lead Elimination Action Program) grant, BNT provides community outreach and education to protect those most at risk of lead poisoning: young children. To reach kids directly, BNT enlists Mr. Lead Spot, an interactive puppet show that makes lead education fun and memorable. Performed in pre-school and early elementary classes, the show emphasizes simple steps to prevent poisoning including washing hands, eating foods high in iron and calcium, playing in the grass not dirt areas outside, taking shoes off before entering your home, etc. To help bring the message home, each child is sent home with a lead-education coloring book, brochure and parental information letter. 
