West Elmwood Housing Development Corp.

Street Address:
392 Cranston Street
Providence, RI 02907


Phone: 401-453-3220
Fax: 401-453-3222
Website: www.westelmwood.org

Sharon Conard-Wells, Executive Director

Contact Name: Sharon Conard-Wells
Phone: 401-453-3220x12
Fax: 401-453-3222
Email: sharon@westelmwood.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 24    Part Time: 2

Background
Residents founded West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation in the 1970's. As a community-based, resident led agency, WEHDC has a strong history of community advocacy and liaison activity. WEHDC established an agency that has been anchored in enabling people for homeownership and community building. Over the years WEHDC has organized meetings and activities to involve West End residents in: • Crime Prevention and Crime Watch meetings • Leadership West Elmwood in cooperation with Opportunity Knocks • Youth Development through programs within the West End Community School • Youth Leadership Development through the West End Ambassadors Program • Economic Development through the Urban Ventures Youth Entrepreneurship Program and Summer Sweeps Youth Employment Programs • Environmental issues through Annual Community Clean-ups and Tree Planting Projects • Community/Police Relations through the Respect Program and our annual "Taking It to the Hoop" Basketball Competition • Community Pride through our annual "Beautiful Yard Contest" and "Holiday Lights Contest" and Fall Festival WEHDC is the first nationally certified Full Cycle Lender in the state In 2001 the US Department of Treasury acknowledged WEHDC as a Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) West Elmwood NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center opened in the summer of 2003. The HomeOwnership Center offers first time homebuyers homebuyer training, landlord-tenant training, certified HUD counseling, homebuyer technical assistance and foreclosure prevention. West Elmwood HomeOwnership Center Making dreams a reality. In 2003 WEHDC completed our first Section 8 to Homeownership purchase.

Mission
West Elmwood Housing’s mission is to strengthen communities through housing construction, rehabilitation and repairs and to grow the economy, primarily in the West End, by working with the diverse people who live, work and invest in our communities. “Together we build houses, we build community, we build lives.”

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $1,315,918

 Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 128 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 5 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 52 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 123 rental units.
  • Invested $592,350 in the community through West Elmwood Housing Development Corp.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $8,311,913 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $8,904,263.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    7/15/2009 Provided 214 families with pre and post purchase housing counseling and 460 families with foreclosure counseling from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09. Constructed 7 rental and 1 homeownership unit from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09. Assisted 26 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, down payment and closing cost assistance from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09. Owned or managed 126 rental units from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09. Invested $898,050.00 in the community through West Elmwood Housing Development Corp.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $4,311,563.00 from conventional lenders and other sources from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09. Total direct investment in the community $4,897,199.00 from 5/1/08 to 7/15/09.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Clean-up Project

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  •  Small Business Development

  •  Tenant Organizing

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Job Training / Youth Employment Project

  •  Youth Group Organizing (Issue Oriented)

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  •  Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

  •  Reverse Mortgage

  •  Tandem Lending

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Indoor Environment Quality

  •  Lead Poison Prevention

  •  Sustainable Site Planning

  •  Water Quality and Conservation

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club

  •  Rental Housing


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Eulogio AcevedoBoard MemberResident  
    Maryelyn AcevedoBoard MemberResident  
    Barbara AdamsBoard Vice PresidentResident  
    Donna CarrereBoard MemberOther  
    Edgar CarrereBoard PresidentOther  
    Joseph CostagliolaBoard MemberResident  
    Carol DavisBoard MemberResident  
    Yvette KennerBoard Member  
    Mishell LillyBoard SecretaryResident  
    Pilar McCloudBoard MemberNon-Profit InstitutionA Sweet Creation 
    Claudia McConaghyBoard MemberFinancial Institution  
    Cecilia MedeirosBoard MemberResident  
    Xzavia MilesBoard MemberResident  
    McArthur RanceBoard Assistant TreasurerResident  
    Rui RosaBoard TreasurerOther  
    Pamela RossBoard MemberResident  
    Lt. Luis San LucasBoard MemberProvidence Police Department 
    Capt. Anthony SauroBoard MemberOther  

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  New England
    Name:  Frances Cinicola
    Phone:  617-585-5027
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  617-450-0427
    Email:  fcinicola@nw.org