Building Successful Mixed-Income Communities: A compilation of MPC forums and publications

• By Robin Snyderman, Vice President of Community Development
• January 9, 2009

To explore the many ingredients necessary to promote successful mixed-income communities, MPC and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation co-hosted over a dozen forums, in collaboration with the CHA, showcasing national best practices, local innovation and opportunities to explore how housing developers, policymakers, community-based organizations and other stakeholders  could promote the success of the Plan for Transformation.   Frequently, these forums also provided an opportunity to release relevant publications and data.

• MPC forum highlights Reconnecting Neighborhoods recommendations (December 2008)
• MPC forum explores youth opportunities in CHA communities (October 2008)
• MPC public housing forum introduces new partners in CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher program (June 2008)
• MPC public housing forum revisits the rehabs (February 2008)
• "Supporting residents through workforce development and employment opportunities" (November 2007)
• "Reconnecting neighborhoods through economic development and transit enhancement" (July 2007)
• "It takes a neighborhood to design a mixed-income community" (March 2007)
• "CHA connects residents to employers, education and training programs" (December 2006)
• (August 2006)
• "How to plan for economic transformation" (March 2006)
• "Inspiring stories form Portland and Chicago highlight the importance of coordinating public housing redevelopment and school reform efforts" (November 2005)
• "National and local expert discuss job placement, training and workforce development strategies within the framework of the CHA Plan for Transformation" (July 2005)
• "Forum on community building and mixed-income housing draws more than 200 attendees" (February 2005)
• "Public forum explores the role of parks and community centers in the creation of healthy mixed-income communities" (August 2004)
• "Commercial development and job opportunities, key elements for the success of the mixed-income communities created by the CHA Plan for Transformation" (May 2004)
• "Chicago and Atlanta share lessons learned on education and quality schools" (February 2004)
• "The Future of Public Housing: A National Perspective on Creating Succesful Mixed Income Communities" (October 2003) 
  • Plan for Transformation October 2008 Update (status of community building efforts and resident engagement strategies in mixed-income communities)
  • Plan for Transformation February 2008 Update (development status of renovated family properties, scattered sites, and new mixed-income communities)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation July 2007 Update (importance of transit to the viability of mixed-income communities)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation December 2006 Update (status of workforce development for residents)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation August 2006 Update (status of community building, services and resident engagement strategies in mixed-income communities)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation November 2005 Update  (status of affordable homes development within mixed-income communities)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation July 2005 Update (resident services and self-sufficiency goals)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation December 2004 Progress report (factors for success around mixed-income communities: schools and youth programs, economic development and community space)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation July 2004 Progress report (development status of new mixed-income communities; CHA scattered sites and renovated family properties; and "destination communities" where significant numbers of public housing residents are relocating while their homes are being redeveloped or rehabbed)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation July 2003 Progress Report (status of relocation process and supportive services)
  • CHA Plan for Transformation April 2003 Progress Report (status of redevelopment, demolition and resident relocation and lease-compliance)
  • MPC Fact Sheet #4: Examining the Chicago Housing Authority's Redevelopment Strategy (November 2002)
  • MPC Fact Sheet #3: Examining the Chicago Housing Authority's Relocation Efforts (February 2002)
  • MPC Fact Sheet #2: Examining the Chicago Housing Authority's Proposed Service Connector Model (June 2001)
  • MPC Fact Sheet #1: Chicago Housing Authority Transformation Plan Update (October 2000)
    • "Feeling good in the new neighborhood" (Summer 2007, MPC's Regional Connection newsletter)
    • "Transforming the Chicago Housing Authority"  (March 2007, Urban Land) (link to PDF)
    • "Service Connector agencies offer view of working with housing choice voucher holders" (September 2006)
    • "Service Connector program adds new contracts and expands focus on workforce development" (June 2006)
    • "MidSouth Directory catalogs services available to relocating CHA residents" (March 2006)
    • "CHA boosts funding for Service Connector program up to $20.5 million in 2005" (November 2004)
    • "Mixed-Income Communities in Chicago: New, Attractive Housing in Great Locations" (May 2004)
    • "New Service Connector program serves 11,000 public housing households" (March 2004)
    • "New CHA Web site and Virtual Service Connector launched as Transformation enters fifth year" (October 2003)
    • "CHA stakeholders hear from plan's implementers at quarterly update" (September 2003) 
    • "CHA takes first step to transform service connectors" (June 2003)
    • "CHA unveils new strategy in response to recommendations" (June 2003)
    • "Ground breaking and construction to begin at four CHA sites" (September 2002)
    • "CHA stakeholders explore new possibilities for moves to opportunity" (September 2002)
    • "CHA re-commits to diverse and inclusive communities" (June 2002)
    • "CHA manages expectations at stakeholders meeting" (February 2002)
    • "Chicago Housing Authority Transformation Plan Update" (November 2000)