MHP has many green projects underway as we celebrate Earth Month 2019. One of these is the annual Long Branch Cleanup of Sligo Creek in Silver Spring. A big crowd of volunteers removed many bags of trash and recyclables, and also removed invasive species from the banks of the creek. MHP’s Paul Grenier talks about why the community cleanup project is important:
The Montgomery County Council’s budget deliberations are in full swing and we need you to be a champion for programs that support affordable housing in the county. Access to quality, affordable housing serves as an important source of stability for our neighbors who face economic challenges.
On Wednesday, April 24, the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) committees will take up the budget for the County’s housing trust fund, known as the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF). The County Executive has recommended a total of $27 million for housing production, a decrease of $1 million from last year. Even more concerning is that approximately 75% of the funds have already been committed to projects, leaving the county with very few resources to build or preserve affordable housing in the coming fiscal year. To ensure preservation and creation of affordable housing remains a top priority in Montgomery County we are requesting the County Council increase funding for the HIF by $8 million.
At the local level, emails from residents often prove to be the deciding factor in budget decisions. It is critical that Councilmembers hear from YOU on this issue before Wednesday as the committee’s recommendation will carry substantial weight with the full Council.
We want all Montgomery County residents to have the chance to flourish. Expanding affordable housing in mixed income, high opportunity areas provides access to better economic, educational, and health outcomes for community members who have been historically shut out of thriving neighborhoods.
Please email the Council to let them know that you care about residents having access to affordable housing and support additional resources for the HIF.
TAKE ACTION:
We’ve made it easy for you; all you have to do is click here and a pre-populated email will open. Simply add your name and address to the bottom of the email and press ‘Send’!
Residents of The Bonifant, MHP’s quality, affordable senior housing in downtown Silver Spring, have access to a wide array of activities and celebrations that help create a sense of community. Residents recently celebrated National Sing Out Day with a rousing karaoke session:
MHP President Robert Goldman asked the Montgomery County Council to provide more funding for acquisition and preservation of affordable housing in the FY2020 budget. He also asked the council to consider supporting MHP’s Play & Learn preschool program, which he noted “directly aligns with the county’s goal of ensuring that all of our children enter school ready to learn.” Goldman made his comments in April 10 testimony before the Montgomery County Council.
Read the complete text of his testimony here.
MHP Robert Goldman, a member of County Executive Marc Elrich’s transition team, talked with Bethesda Beat about the transition team’s recommendations to increase residents’ access to affordable housing in Montgomery County.
Parkview Manor Apartments, MHP’s only property in Prince George’s County, is undergoing a full renovation with exciting new features and upgrades. These include brand new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring. The 53-unit Hyattsville property will be more inclusive, with two accessible units as well as an accessible management office and community room. Parkview Manor will have an artistic flare too: an artist has been commissioned to create sculptures for the property’s courtyards to provide a unifying effect and connect it aesthetically with the nearby Hyattsville art district. Parkview Manor is in an attractive, convenient location about a mile from the Metro and within walking distance to amenities that include a grocery store, pool, and restaurants. Stay tuned! We will announce a date for a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this year.
MHP Community Life staff regularly schedule meetings with parents of students in our preschool and afterschool enrichment programs to share information. Two recent meetings highlighted a high level of parent engagement and underscored great community partnerships that provide important resources to parents and students.
Emmanuel Jean-Philippe, principal at Arcola Elementary in Wheaton and a member of the MHP board, met with more than two dozen parents of pre-kindergarten students. He walked them through the kindergarten registration process and answered questions. Cleydi Pacheco, MHP Community Life Senior Programs Manager, said parents were very grateful for the opportunity to understand the process better, and the conversation seemed to lift some of the anxiety that can come from that big transition, not just for the student but for parents as well.
Parents of elementary students in after-school enrichment programs at MHP Wheaton properties participated in a fun, educational evening with help from MHP partners Amerigroup (special thanks to Robert Martin) and Manna Food Center. Amerigroup presented information about living a healthy lifestyle and provided a short Zumba class for parents (see photos). The Manna “Manny” bus — a mobile pop-up food pantry — was parked in the parking lot, and parents were invited to stop in a pick up a bag of vegetables to take home. Partnerships like these are a crucial part of MHP’s strategy to provide enhanced programming and information-sharing to empower families who live in MHP residences.
As part of MHP’s work helping strengthen neighborhoods, we once again are collaborating on an Earth Day cleanup in the Long Branch community on Saturday, April 13. The Long Branch Earth Day cleanup has become a local tradition, bringing together neighbors to pick up trash that pollutes a tributary to the Anacostia River. This year there also will be the opportunity to help remove invasive species (under the guidance of a trained weed warrior). Free gloves and bags supplied on site, as well as snacks. Hurry to register if you want a free Earth Day t-shirt!
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019, from 9 a.m. – noon
Where: Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring
Registration: anacostiaws.org or by email to pgrenier@mhpartners.org
Note: You can also just show up without registering, but please let us know in advance so we can have enough supplies on hand. To reserve a free t-shirt, you must register at the anacostiaws.org website.
Character education is a key component of MHP’s Community Life enrichment programs, which are offered to preschool, elementary and middle-school students at locations across Montgomery County. Lead Instructor Kyle Brown, who works with young students at Arcola Elementary in Wheaton, talks about the importance of the after-school program and the impact it has on his students. You can learn more about MHP’s Community Life programs here.
MHP has been preserving and creating quality affordable housing for 30 years. Montgomery Community Media talked with MHP President Robert Goldman about the organization’s history, mission and vision.
