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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />a• Establish and regularly maintain inventory of properties within the <br />neighborhood. The inventory would include ownership, rental status, <br />and condition of property. <br />b. Identify those properties ripe for acquisition and rehabilitation in <br />advance of their decline and disinvestment. <br />C. Initiate Recruitment/Marketing, Education and Screening program in <br />conjunction with financial institutions and REWARD program. <br />d. Program will focus its recruitment and education efforts on existing <br />renters and soon -to -be displaced residents within the neighborhood <br />for placement in newly constructed homes and substantially <br />rehabilitated existing homes. <br />e. Marketing and recruitment can expand to include other South Bend <br />families once the Southeast area market has been covered. <br />How Does the Strata Address the Goals? <br />Stabilization of the neighborhood's housing stock through active rehabilitation <br />of homes and increased homeownership is essential to the survival of the <br />neighborhood. Traditionally, home ownership leads to a greater sense of <br />Personal investment and ownership within a neighborhood. The individual pride <br />and commitment gained from personal home ownership is a foundation for a <br />strong neighborhood. By increasing opportunities for individual homeownership <br />through assistance for new homeowners and those interested in rehabilitation, <br />and by continuing construction of new single-family character homes within the <br />neighborhood and especially north of Broadway, the Southeast side can <br />reinforce its foundation as a strong neighborhood. Further, housing is more <br />than a physical issue. Becoming a homeowner can be an exciting and <br />overwhelming experience. By increasing homeowner support and/or teaching <br />basic skills to new home owners — ranging from the basic "how to's" of owning <br />and maintaining a home to assistance in budgeting and financial decisions -- the <br />foundation for a strong neighborhood is further strengthened. <br />Also related to stabilization of the neighborhood is ensuring a quantity of quality <br />rental properties. Rental properties serve an important function in <br />neighborhoods. Often, potential homeowners will establish themselves within <br />a neighborhood by residing in a rental unit while saving for a down -payment on <br />a home within that neighborhood. Attractive rental units help attract potential <br />newcomers to the neighborhood. However, ill -maintained rental properties with <br />absentee landlords decrease the overall attractiveness of the neighborhood to <br />potential newcomers and often attract negative influences on the neighborhood. <br />Methods to maintain a limited quantity of high quality rental units were <br />addressed by the Housing Task Force. <br />25 <br />