The City Wide Resident Council of the City of St. Paul (CWRC) consists of elected officers (residents) from each of the four family councils. Each council represents the family site residents and serves as the link between the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) staff and their community. Each council is relatively independent, but receives guidance, support, and encouragement from the PHA.
CWRC meets every two months on the 4th Tuesday from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at. Mt. Airy Community Center. (During the Pandemic meetings are held via Zoom)
Here are some things CWRC does:
- Advises the PHA on issues related to family areas.
- Partners with the PHA and Presidents Council on a diversity of projects.
- Receives resident participation funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the PHA for activities and efforts that benefit all family areas.
- Applies for public and private grants that can be used for activities and efforts that benefit all family areas.
Mission
The principal purpose/mission of CWRC is to: advocate for residents before the PHA and other agencies; encourage programs and activities designed to promote leadership, self-sufficiency, safety, and education, and encourage good working relationships between residents and PHA staff. Revised and approved at the February 26, 2019 Council Meeting.
Vision
A resourceful community which builds self-sufficiency and independence. Approved at the February 26, 2019 Council meeting.
History
CWRC was incorporated in October 1997 to give residents a voice in the community and to act as the representative of all residents of three of the family sites (Roosevelt Homes, Mt. Airy Homes, and Dunedin Terrace) under the PHA. Its main office is located at 555 N. Wabasha St. Saint Paul, MN 55102, Suite 400.
Since its establishment, CWRC receives funding from HUD and the PHA to promote resident participation. CWRC follows HUD regulation strictly. Funding is used for activities benefiting residents in all PHA family housing areas.
Throughout the years CWRC has made many things possible for residents. With the HUD’s ROSS Grant which ended in 2018, CWRC opened up four computer labs (only two are currently running) for residents in family sites to use for accessing services, looking for jobs, and connecting with others. CWRC also offered employment and training services and digital literacy to residents.
CWRC also received the SHIP Mini-Grant in March 2018, which was used to encourage community engagement and healthy drinking at the McDonough Homes site. Youth were engaged to learn about sugar shock and educate their peers about the benefit of increasing water intake.
Every year CWRC requests donations of free tickets to the Minnesota State Fair and distribute them to residents in family sites, who could not otherwise afford to attend. CWRC also offers financial support for the National Night Out event at a designated PHA family site.
In December 2018 CWRC officially launched its first website to inform the public about the Council and improve communication among officers.
On January 1, 2020. the PHA converted to the Rental Administration Demonstration (RAD) Project Based Housing, which gives housing authorities the ability to leverage public and private debt and equity in order to reinvest-preserve and improve public housing stock.
Current Board
- Jennifer Ray, Chairperson
- Vacant, Vice-Chairperson
- Christian Poe, Treasurer
- Alma Williams, Secretary
- Vacant, Member-at-Large
- Jewara Hussein, Member-at-Large
City Wide Resident Council 