2009 Copyright. Re-ward Third Ward, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (713-651-8050)
ReWard Third Ward, Inc.
ReWard Third Ward was organized by the leaders of Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church and concerned residents of the neighborhood in 1995. Reward was incorporated and chartered by the State of Texas on June 9, 1995, as a non-profit community based organization.
With only a few individual donations, and the assistance of local realtors, the board planned its first Homebuyer’s Fair in early 1996. This was a way of informing the community of affordable housing opportunities and pre-qualifying interested homebuyers. Still, with little operating capital, the board began assembling realtors, technical assistance providers, builders, and other necessary players to begin the struggle of providing quality housing at an affordable cost in Northern Third Ward.
After applying for operational funds through the City of Houston’s Department of Housing and Community Development, a $50,000.00 capacity grant was approved on August 15, 1997. This allowed the board to set up an office and hire its first staff member.
In 1999, Reward gained the support of additional grants through corporations, foundations, and other public giving sources. Well on their way, Reward partnered with the city of Houston Planning Department and created the Zion’s Village Master Plan; a three phase comprehensive design plan for the revitalization of Northern Third Ward. Phase I was single family housing, Phase II was a Senior Citizen Unassisted Living Facility and Phase III consist of multi-family housing units for low and low to moderate income individuals and families.
In 2000, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified Reward as a HUD Certified Counseling Agency. It was during this time that Housing Mortgage Approval Program (H-MAP) was established. This opened the door for individuals and families throughout the City of Houston to participate in educational workshops and individual counseling services geared towards first time home ownership, credit counseling, budgeting, post purchase counseling, and some foreclosure prevention counseling. In 2001, Reward joined Covenant Community Capital Corporation (CCCC) in an effort to help provide down payment assistance to qualified candidates. Through CCCC, participants were able to receive $2 to every $1 they saved to be used for down payment of their fist home, secondary education, or small business development. Reward not only maintained the number one program enroller for several years but was successful in assisting several participants in graduating from the program and purchasing new homes, returning to school, and starting their own businesses
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To date, Reward Third Ward has successfully implemented Phase I of Zion’s Village Master Plan which includes several joint ventures with Houston Habitat for Humanity, Tilson Builders, Mayberry Homes, Hearthstone Homes and others and providing decent affordable housing for dozens of families. Since inception of the organization, Reward has purchased and developed over 100,000 square feet of land for affordable housing projects. In 2004, Reward renovated and purchased an existing house from the community and implemented it’s rent to own program which allows qualified candidates a time to restore derogatory credit, save money needed for down payments, , and adequately prepare for home ownership.
In 2005, ReWard began work on Phase II of its Master Plan by submitting its first Low Income Housing Tax Credit application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Phase II consist of developing Senior Multi-Family Housing. Zion Village Senior Contemporary Housing project was award funding in 2008 and began construction August 2008. Zion Village Senior Contemporary Housing is scheduled for completion June 2009.
In Partnership with the City of Houston and Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) ReWard has resumed its Single Family Affordable Housing Program. In the spring of 2009, construction of 10 new affordable houses began.
RELATIVE LINKS
ReWard Third Ward, Inc.
"A HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency"
Since 1995, RWTW has been a pioneer in neighborhood revitalization; addressing the need for low to moderate income housing in the historical minority neighborhood of northern Third Ward, Houston, Texas.
