City, partners launch new Land Contract Buyer Guide to assist Detroiters on path toward homeownership

• City received a grant from Center for Financial Empowerment and teamed up with UM Poverty Solutions and Enterprise Community Partners to develop resources, guidance and steps for land contract purchasing process.

• Information available online at detroitlandcontracthelp.com 

A new Detroit Land Contract Buyer Guide launched in conjunction with National Homeownership Month offers step-by-step guidance for housing counselors and prospective and current buyers on how to connect with resources, identify predatory or fraudulent situations, and successfully purchase their home. Land contracts are a valuable tool to achieve homeownership, but buyers often lack the support they need to navigate the purchasing process successfully.

The City of Detroit, Enterprise Community Partners, and University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions co-authored and published the buyer guide. The guide includes information, do-it-yourself checklists, and guidance on risks for before signing, at signing, after signing, and after paying the land contract in full. The guide and additional resources, including materials in Spanish, are available at detroitlandcontracthelp.com.

These resources are the result of a grant from Center for Financial Empowerment to the City of Detroit to support consumer financial protection issues in the city.

For more information, read the full story on the City’s website at Land Contract Buyer Guide (detroitmi.gov)

City of Detroit provides information on closures, parking and transportation for June 27 Ford Fireworks

• Viewing Areas, Closed Parks and Curfew Information also announced

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the shores of the Detroit River to enjoy the Ford Fireworks June 27. To make it an enjoyable experience, the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan will enforce access restrictions to Hart Plaza and Belle Isle. In addition, a number of riverside parks will be closed June 27.

VIEWING AREAS 

These locations will be CLOSED:

• Spirit Plaza, Woodward at Jefferson
• RiverWalk in its entirety
• A.B Ford Park, 100 Lenox
• Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
• Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
• Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
• Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
• Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight
• Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale
• Mt. Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott
• Riverside Park

The following locations have been identified as the best viewing sites:

• Hart Plaza
• Belle Isle (viewing from the MacArthur Bridge will not be permitted)

For more information on the youth curfew, street closures, parking and transportation, visit the City’s website at City of Detroit June 27 Ford Fireworks (detroitmi.gov)

Mayor, MSHDA announce $38M in LIHTC funding to create 183 new units of deeply affordable housing for Detroit residents

• All affordable units are below 60 percent of area median income with more than half at 30 to 60 percent

• Conversion of former St. Matthew’s School project marks first time City has offered new rental subsidy program to create even deeper affordability for Detroit residents

• Projects located in Old Redford, Midtown, Woodbridge and MorningSide neighborhoods

Historic St. Matthew’s School, built in 1930, will be turned into 46 units of deeply affordable housing.

Mayor Mike Duggan was joined by Councilmember Latisha Johnson and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) officials this week to celebrate the development of 183 units of new deeply affordable housing for Detroit residents with $38 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Detroit received the most LIHTC awards of any city in Michigan.

The projects represent a total investment of $60.9 million across four city neighborhoods and will bring high-quality affordable housing for lower-income Detroiters and those most at risk of homelessness, as well as 20 market-rate apartments.

All 183 affordable units will have rents considered affordable to households earning no more than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).

For more information, read the full story on the City’s website at Affordable housing for Detroit residents (detroitmi.gov)

City of Detroit Opens Cooling Centers to Provide Relief from Extreme Heat

With extremely high temperatures expected this summer, the City of Detroit is offering residents relief by expanding the use of seven recreation centers to serve as cooling centers.

Residents and staff are required to wear a face mask and observe social distancing. Staff will also conduct temperature checks. High-touch areas and restrooms will be disinfected every two hours, and maximum capacity limits at each site have been lowered. PPE and bottled water will also be provided.

The following centers are open to provide residents relief from the heat:

• Adams Butzel Complex, 10500 Lyndon (M-F, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
• Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive (M-F, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; not open Saturdays)
• Lasky Recreation Center, 13200 Fenelon (M-F, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.; not open Saturdays)
• Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere (M-F, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
• Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort (M-F, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
• Crowell Recreation Center, 16630 Lahser (M-F, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.; not open Saturdays)
• Heilmann Recreation Center, 19601 Crusade (M-F, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

The Detroit Public Library has seven branch locations to offer relief from extreme temperatures.  All branches are open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday. Capacity is limited to 50 precent and visitors are limited to two hours to slow the spread of COVID-19:

• Main Library, 5201 Woodward Avenue
• Campbell Branch, 8733 W. Vernor Hwy.
• Edison Branch, 18400 Joy Road
• Jefferson Branch, 12350 E. Outer Dr.
• Parkman Branch, 1766 Oakman Blvd.
• Redford Branch, 21200 W. Grand River Avenue
• Wilder Branch, 7140 E. Seven Mile Road

The Detroit Health Department recommends the following to stay safe during times of extremely high temperatures: drink more water, limit outside activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., be on the lookout for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, such as nausea, confusion, rapid or slowed heart rate.

For more information, visit the City’s website at City of Detroit Cooling Centers (detroitmi.gov)

Mayor, DDOT announce proposal to allow bus drivers to earn up to $4,000 per year in bonuses

• Drivers can earn $1,000 per quarter if they meet minimum job attendance milestones

• Proposal to be considered by City Council for approval

• Bus driver incentives also was strongly supported in recent community engagement meetings

All Department of Transportation bus drivers would be eligible to earn up to $4,000 per year in bonuses if they meet minimum attendance requirements under a proposal announced this week by Mayor Mike Duggan, DDOT leadership and the head of the bus driver’s union.

With many transit agencies, including DDOT, struggling with worker attendance issues and retaining front-line employees, the City has submitted a Memorandum of Understanding to City Council that would amend the current collective bargaining agreement with ATU Local 26 to allow bus drivers to earn a $1,000 bonus every quarter if they are at work and on the job a minimum of 480 hours that quarter.

The estimated cost of the incentive would be up to $2 million, which would come from existing revenues.  If approved by City Council, the MOU would be in effect for one year, starting July 1. At that point, it would be evaluated to determine whether to continue the incentive or to modify it.

The performance bonus is something that received widespread support during a series of recent community engagement meetings conducted by DDOT to learn more about transit users’ wishes and priorities.

Read the full story at DDOT proposal bus drivers to earn up to $4,000 per year in bonuses (detroitmi.gov)

As COVID lockdown rental assistance ends, City announces 3-part Immediate Intervention Plan for those facing eviction

• Detroit renters facing eviction who need a lawyer can get one provided by City

• City’s rapid job placement service is available to those who need a job or more income

• City partners helping to place residents in emergency shelters and connect to housing services

• State will stop accepting new applications for CERA rent and utility assistance on June 30. Aid will continue for those approved until Sept. 30 or funding runs out.

With news that the State is winding down the federal COVID lockdown rental assistance program, Mayor Mike Duggan today laid out a three-part Immediate Intervention Plan to help those who may still face eviction.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program was a short-term plan to get through the COVID lockdown. With most Michiganders having gone back to work, the federal funds are ending and the State will stop accepting new applications for COVID rental aid June 30.

For more information, read the full story on the City’s website at COVID 3-part Immediate Intervention Plan (detroitmi.gov).

Detroiters can apply for Neighborhood Beautification Fund grants to further improve their corner of the city

• Grants can be used for neighborhood clean-ups, community gardens, public space activities

• The second informational session will be held June 30 at 6 p.m.

Detroiters can apply for Neighborhood Beautification Program (NBP) grants ranging from $500 to $15,000 to help improve their communities.

The NBP grants provide funding for Detroit-based neighborhood associations, block clubs, faith-based organizations and nonprofits that currently own the property where they want to carry out a project in the community. The Neighborhood Beautification Program was created to support three types of projects:

• Clean-up activities
• Community gardens
• Public spaces/activities

Organizations can apply at waynemetro.org/neighborhood-beautification-grant. Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro) also will conduct a second virtual informational session from 6 to 7 p.m. on June 30. Detroiters can register here.

The City’s Department of Neighborhoods has also been sharing information about the program during its regular DON Cast meetings to prepare block clubs and neighborhood associations on how to apply for the grants.

Detroiters can get Google certificates through free program

Detroit at Work is teaming up with Google to offer free access to Google Certificates in various IT fields.

Detroit residents can now pick from six different courses and attain various Google Certificates to increase their skills and pursue a career in Information Technology.

For course listings, eligibility requirements, and information on how to take part, call (313) 962-9675, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit detroitatwork.com/google