Downtown Detroit Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2009

CLEAN DOWNTOWN AND 2-1-1 ON THE GO! SUPPORTED
FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS BY MSHDA
$1.69 Million Grant to Help Sustain Programs

DETROIT, MI – June 15, 2009 – A new $1.69 million grant awarded to the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) will help ensure that the streets of downtown Detroit will continue to be clean and inviting for residents and visitors, and that additional disadvantaged and homeless will be helped to overcome barriers to employment and permanent housing.

"Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been a terrific supporter of our efforts,” said Downtown Detroit Partnership Chairman Roger S. Penske. "The MSHDA grant is vital to the work of our partner organizations, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit and United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and to the image and well-being of Detroit’s greater downtown.” Goodwill trains, employs and supervises the Clean Downtown workforce, and United Way pioneered and manages the successful 2-1-1 On the Go! programfounded byStrategic Staffing Solutions CEO and DDP board member Cynthia Pasky. DDP expects to match the MSHDA grant with private sector funds to sustain both programs as each provides a path to personal sustainability for the disadvantaged and homeless populations.

"Since the inception of both programs within the last three years, private sector contributions have provided more than $5.6 million with an additional $2 million of in-kind services,” said DDP President Ann Lang. "Both programs have been a tremendous value to our city, Clean Downtown specializes in litter, graffiti and weed control; power washing and steam-cleaning sidewalks, and cleaning bus shelters and freeway entrances. The 2-1-1 On the Go! program moves homeless people from the streets into a Goodwill training program leading to Clean Downtown employment and job placement.” Nearly 350 disadvantaged individuals have completed the Goodwill training program or are currently employed.

According to Pasky, 83 percent of the homeless approached by the 2-1-1 On the Go! mobile social worker staff have accepted assistance, 114 homeless have enrolled in the program, 60 are employed full-time, 30 are in work placement programs, and 30 are in permanent housing. “The MSHDA grant will enable us to double our social worker team from two to four to conduct one-on-one interventions and assist more homeless in need of the program’s services,” said Pasky. 2-1-1 On the Go! will now operate seven days a week.

Last year DDP was honored for Special Achievement in Social Issues by the International Downtown Association. 2-1-1 On the Go! was specifically recognized for its innovative approach – proactive rather than reactive – to addressing homelessness, an issue that affects cities and small towns worldwide. “We are very proud that 2-1-1 On the Go! was honored after only one year in existence, “said Lang. “Our program is one of a kind and is now being considered as a model by other cities.”

Video Link -- Produced for the Downtown Detroit Partnership to demonstrate the innovative work of the 2-1-1 On the Go! team in downtown Detroit. It features an interview with Joyce James who at the time was a Clean Downtown worker. She now holds a new position with Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. Click here: www.downtowndetroit.org/211

Downtown Detroit Partnership
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), chaired by Roger S. Penske, is a private/public partnership of corporate and civic leaders. This includes Board representation from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, the Detroit 300 Conservancy, and the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.

DDP's programs include the Clean Downtown program and the 2-1-1 On the-Go! homeless outreach program. DDP partners with the City of Detroit on public space maintenance and event support, is spearheading downtown marketing initiatives, and is providing project support for development of a light rail line from Downtown to the New Center. DDP also initiates information exchange, advocacy and networking opportunities on behalf of the downtown business community.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership engages business, government, and civic leaders in developing initiatives to strengthen downtown Detroit’s employment, entertainment and residential assets, as well as advancing diversity, vitality and economic health for Southeast Michigan’s urban core.
www.DowntownDetroit.org

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)
MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engages in building vibrant cities and neighborhoods, and addresses homeless issues. MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA programs, including the Save the Dream initiative, visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.

Clean Downtown Program
DDP launched the Clean Downtown program in 2006 to sustain the image-change achieved for Super Bowl XL by making the downtown Detroit environment more inviting for workers, residents, visitors and investors -- while strengthening downtown’s competitive advantage. The program operates 7 days a week to clean and maintain downtown’s public spaces, to maintain landscaping in public areas and to provide groundskeeping support to many of downtown Detroit’s largest public events. This initiative is a dynamic collaboration of businesses, foundations and nonprofits which have supported Clean Downtown with more than $5.6 million in contributions and $2 million in donated goods and services since its launch. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit recruits, trains, supervises and provides mentoring for Clean Downtown’s workforce.
www.CleanDowntown.org

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit (GIGD)
GIGD provides people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment with opportunities to become independent, self-supporting citizens through training, work experience and employment in the community. Since 2007 GIGD has placed nearly 2,700 individuals into full time employment providing nearly $60 million in earned wages to our local economy. For information, visit www.goodwilldetroit.org

2-1-1 On-the-Go! – Homeless Outreach Program
2-1-1 On the Go! began in 2008 as a DDP partnership with Strategic Staffing Solutions and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The program, which grew out of United Way’s 2-1-1 On the Go! referral service, employs outreach specialists who travel downtown streets conducting one-on-one interventions and offering immediate on-site assistance to homeless individuals. The caseworkers drive bright yellow vehicles equipped with wireless Internet, portable computers, scanners, printers and GPS technology to match homeless individuals with tools to overcome the common barriers to employment and permanent housing.

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