Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
During 2018, Opportunity Neighborhood achieved the following outcomes:
Received a Minnesota State Arts Board Partners in Arts Participation Grant to host an 8-day breakdancing residency with world-renown breaker MN Joe and BRKFST Dance Company at Ames Lake Neighborhood.
Decreased the number of police calls to Garden View Apartments to only 83. That’s an 85% decrease since we began providing Courtesy services at the property in 2000.
Thanks to increased literacy efforts and the addition of a literacy intern, 88% of Ames Lake 1st-5th grade students increased or achieved grade level reading skills as measured by pre/post literacy assessments.
The average resident turnover at all service sites is 31% compared to the national average of 54% (National Apartment Association, 2014).
183 community events were provided at two affordable housing communities in order to build community and forge new positive relationships between residents.
The agency continues to earn recognition of quality programming and sound governing practices as demonstrated by receiving: Great Non-Profit’s 2018 Top-Rated Non-Profits designation
(http://greatnonprofits.org/org/opportunity-neighborhood), CharitiesReview Council’s Accountability Standards (https://www.smartgivers.org/Charity/Review/opportunity_neighborhood) and GuideStar’s 2018 Platinum Seal of Transparency (https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-1923622) .
Current Goals
Opportunity Neighborhood has 3 consistent goals we work to achieve each year at the affordable housing communities we serve. They are:
1. Increasing community safety
2. Increasing housing stability
3. Increasing opportunities for family success
Community or Constituency Served
Large affordable housing communities throughout the Twin Cities metro.
Geographic Area Served
Ames Lake Neighborhood, St. Paul, MN
Garden View Apartments, New Brighton, MN
Hyde Park Apartments, New Brighton, MN
Wilder Square, St. Paul, MN
