COMMUNITY
NETWORKING:
EXPANDING STUDENT OUTREACH AND SERVICES
Presented By:
Allison Landrum, Beaumont Housing Authority
Beaumont Housing Authority
• The Beaumont Housing Authority, located in Beaumont, Texas,
serves over 3,000 families through its Affordable Housing
Programs, including Public Housing and Section 8.
Client Services & Communications
• BHA is one of the few agencies in the country that has a fully staffed Client Services team to provide social
and supportive services to the clients we serve.
• Recognized nationally for program creativity and effectiveness
• Over 70 local agencies are part of the partner network serving BHA Clients
•Our programs place great emphasis on self sufficiency and helping families move “in, up and out”
HOPE VI Revitalization Program
•The HOPE VI Revitalization Program is designed to help
more than just the targeted public housing property – it is
meant to spur revitalization throughout the entire
neighborhood.
•The Gloria Ramirez Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC)
is the last piece of BHA’s recently completed $52million
dollar HOPE VI Revitalization Program. This center is
intended to provide information and services to the entire
North End community.
•Events hosted include:
•Health and Wellness Fairs
•Financial Literacy Workshops
•Youth Education and Recreation
•Counseling
•Homeownership Education
•Life Skills Workshops
•Adult Education
Gloria Ramirez Neighborhood
Resource Center
The center features:
State of the Art Computer Lab: The NRC features a computer lab with 10 desktop computers equipped with Windows 7
and Microsoft Office. The computers are networked to a multifunction copier/printer. The lab also features a InFocus
MondoPad with an touchscreen electronic whiteboard, Microsoft Office and video networking capability. Region 5 ESC Adult
Education has full access to all technology.
Meeting Room with Kitchen Space: The NRC includes a large community room that can be kept open, or divided with a
partition wall into two spaces. When open, the space can accommodate up to 100 people. The kitchen area includes a
refrigerator, microwave, sink and a dishwasher.
Office Space for Rent: There are furnished offices for rent to non-profits who are interested in serving the North End
community. Space is provided to the adult education program free of charge.
5
Partnership with Region
Education Service Center
A key part of the success of our program is our
partnership with the Region 5 Education Service
Center.
BHA provides Region 5 with full access to the
NRC every Tuesday & Thursday to conduct ESL,
GED and other Adult Basic Education classes.
These classes are available to anyone – they are
not restricted to just our clients.
5
Partnership with Region
Education Service Center
BHA helps promote the classes through:
• Case Management referrals: Our case
workers conduct full Needs Assessments on all of
our clients. Those who need GED, ESL, or college
or career transition skills, are referred to Region5.
•Door to door marketing: Our staff pay home
visits to our clients living in public housing to
encourage them to walk over to the NRC and join
the classes.
•Social Media and Other Marketing Tools:
BHA has a Facebook page and a recently
redesigned website that receives thousands of
visitors each month. BHA promotes Region 5 as
well as all of its partnership initiatives using these
tools. We also have a system that sends
automated phone calls and texts to remind clients
of services available, and we place additional
reminders on their rent statements.
Success of the Partnership
Since February 2015 , the partnership
between BHA and the Region 5 ESC has seen
documented success, including:
• Serving approximately 75+ students , including
ABE, ESL, GED, and College and Career Transition
• 76% Completion of Level in ABE and ASE
• 100% Completion of Level in ESL
• Two students earned their US Citizenship
• Ongoing college and career counseling is provided
through Region 5’s College and Career Specialist
• Transition to college
• Job procurement by unemployed students
• Student job retention and advancement
• Students function as a team, creating a supportive
and encouraging atmosphere
Social and Supportive Service Partners
Job Training/Employment Services
Workforce Solutions of South East Texas
Christian Women’s Job Corps
Goodwill Industries
Cooper Staffing
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
Education
Region 5 Education Service Center
Lamar University
Lamar Institute of Technology
Elderly Services
Area Agency on Aging
Best Years Center
Beaumont Special Transit
Nutrition and Services for Seniors
Deaf Action Center
DARS
Adult Protective Services
Youth Recreation Services
Power Castle Ministries
Sterling Pruitt Recreational Center
South East Texas Food Bank
Spindletop Center
Case Management/Health Services/Emergency Services
Family Services of South East Texas
Some Other Place
South East Texas Regional Planning Commission
Triangle AIDS Network
Legacy Health Center
Southeast Texas Food Bank
Legal Aid of Southeast Texas
Julie Rogers Gift of Life
Financial Literacy/Homeownership
MobilOil Federal Credit Union
Capital One
Catholic Charities
Dupont Goodrich
Chase Bank
Entergy Texas