FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Hawes, Lee County Human Services

(941) 656-7930

TWO LEE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS EARN NATIONAL HONORS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 11, 2000) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have singled out two of Lee County’s community programs for national recognition. Lee County’s Human Services Department administers both programs.

The Florida State Office of HUD recently selected the Department of Human Services as a local Best Practices Award winner for its Neighborhood Building Program.

The program empowers residents of Lee County's Neighborhood Districts to work with staff in making decisions on how to allocate resources in order to resolve unmet needs. This coordinated approach provides a neighborhood the ability to plan for and prioritize its social and infrastructure needs.

The pilot for this program in Charleston Park included surveying residents about the neighborhood’s assets, concerns and needs, then putting in place partnerships that use community resources to address those concerns and needs. Some of the results in Charleston Park included: creation of a part-time Resident Coordinator to facilitate programs, activities and events; an increase in grants and involvement by community agencies; more youth activities; and increased participation by residents in neighborhood meetings and activities, and home ownership.

Human Services also has received the NACo 2000 Achievement Award for its Partners for Good Deals on Wheels program. The award recognizes innovative programs that modernize and streamline county government and increase its services to its citizens.

The Good Deals on Wheels program is a joint effort of social service agencies, private citizens, automobile dealerships and governmental entities to provide nontraditional car loans through local banks. The loans enable low-income, working families to purchase dependable vehicles, maintain employment and build a good credit history.

Payments are less than $100 a month and there is no down payment or credit check. A revolving loan fund is set-up as a guarantee to enable eligible applicants to purchase used vehicles from participating dealerships. To date, 24 families have received automobiles through this program.

Lee County Human Services incubated the program, which is now being run by Goodwill Industries. For more information call Debbie McKee at Goodwill Industries at 995-2106, ext. 213.

NACo serves as a national advocate for the 3,066 county governments in the United States. It also is a resource for innovations in government.