July 26, 2024 | Articles Homepage News The Pistons
Tom Gores-backed Future of Health project selects two non-profits to oversee $2.5M in Detroit housing assistance
DETROIT – Henry Ford Health, Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons, and Michigan State University identified today two non-profit organizations that will administer a $2.5 million sleeve of funding dedicated to home repair and rental assistance for neighboring residents of the new Future of Health development anchored by a new hospital, residential, commercial and related facilities.
The funds are part of an estimated $604 million in community benefits associated with the development plan.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation will receive and administer $2 million in connection with the home repair funding benefits, distributed over five years. Black Family Development, Inc. will receive $500,000 distributed over five years as a part of the rental assistance funding benefits.
The funding will coincide with commencement of construction for the initial residential project, scheduled for 2025. The development team, in collaboration with its newly selected non-profit partners, will coordinate efforts to establish and publicly message programs and mechanisms for distributing funds to eligible homeowners and renters in the impact area.
The selections were made by the Future of Health Development team after extensive research and consultation with the Neighborhood Advisory Council and the City of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department.
“These two organizations have documented expertise in managing these types of funding programs and are like-minded community partners who share our vision to positively affect residents of the broader impact area,” said Richard Haddad, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Detroit Pistons, one of the key development partners.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation is a non-profit striving to help individuals to reach their highest potential while transforming the community to be a place of Shalom (peace and wholeness). The funds received as a part of the CBA will be used for making home repair grants to qualifying owner-occupied homes. Eligible neighborhoods include New Center, New Center Commons, Virginia Park, Virginia Park Community, Tech Town, Elijah McCoy, Piety Hill, LaSalle Gardens and NW Goldberg.
“Central Detroit Christian CDC is excited for the opportunity to bring home repair services to our communities,” said Lisa Johanon, Founder and Executive Director for Central Detroit Christian CDC. “Home repair is one of the greatest challenges facing many Detroiters today and this endeavor will bring households one step closer towards stabilization and the ability to stay in their homes.”
Black Family Development, Inc., established in 1978, is a private, non-profit comprehensive family counseling agency whose mission is to strengthen and enhance the lives of children, youth, and families through partnerships that support safe, nurturing, vibrant homes, schools and communities. The organization will receive funds to be used for rental assistance for qualifying renters within the development project’s designated impact area.
“Black Family Development, Inc. is honored to serve as the resident-accessible fiduciary providing housing stabilization funding for Detroiters in partnership with the Detroit Pistons, Henry Ford Health, and Michigan State University,” said Kenyatta Stephens, CEO of Black Family Development, Inc. “We are proud to partner with this team to carry out an extension of the ‘human touch’ components of this Detroit revitalization project. Annually, approximately 70% of our intake line calls are seeking housing support. Providing Detroiters with rental assistance funds helps fulfill a major community need, while advancing BFDI’s mission.”
Henry Ford Health, Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons, and Michigan State University announced the Future of Health partnership in February 2023. It represents a community development and investment of $3 billion over the next decade which aims to positively transform Detroit’s New Center neighborhood into a vibrant, walkable community with state-of-the-art health care, residential, commercial, retail and recreational components.
The development will be anchored by a major expansion of Henry Ford Hospital that features a brand new one-million-square-foot-plus facility and patient tower. It also includes a new, cutting-edge medical research facility for Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, part of the two organizations’ 30-year landmark partnership.
For more information on the Future of Health development, visit futureofhealthdetroit.com.