A couple of weeks ago I drove around the corner from the office to visit with the volunteer group from Pennsylvania that was working on one of our houses. What I witnessed left me speechless, as I saw not only the volunteers hard at work, but countless residents working on their own properties. In 13 years of this work I had yet to see what I saw that day. Let me elaborate just a bit as its so fresh in my mind. One of our tenants was busy landscaping her property, she takes great pride in her work, and rightfully so as her home looks beautiful enough to receive an award.

City trucks were busy repaving Cushing Street, the THIRD street to be repaved in recent weeks.  Down the street, more city trucks were demolishing houses that we had lobbied for many months to have removed. And, of course, the big buzz in the neighborhood is about the community park and the new Early Childhood Education center opening August 6th

A few houses down Eastburn there was a man sitting on his porch waving at me while beaming with excitement.  I waved back while yelling "lots going on today" over noise. He then pointed to the sky and said “I guess blessings are raining down from above”. He then went to visit with another cheerful neighbor a few houses away. As I looked up and down this block, I realized that the reason the residents were all so joyful was because their common vision was being realized. These people stuck it out through the worst of times in this community, and now were seeing the fruit of their perseverance. These people are my heroes.

Just a few minutes later a man was driving by, he stopped to ask if we had any homes for sale because this was a community he wants to be a part of. The neighborhood is looking so incredible these days it is quite apparent that something is happening here that can’t be explained apart from God.
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Hope in our case looks as simple as a smile, sounds like praise to the Lord for all He is doing, and is manifested in residents beginning to participate in the great work God has started.  
God is revealing Himself in countless ways.  With God all things are possible. Today’s Regent Park is a testimony to God’s love and wonder working power in the face of what seemed like impossible odds.  

”lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”   Psalm 121:1

“How our community is setting the standard for community re-development in Detroit.”

“I’m constantly reminded as I work in the community of how our work stands out; everything about it,” says Mike Agrusa, LifeBUILDERS Operations Manager. “I’m here because of that high standard. All of us here are about the residents of Detroit. We are committed to restoring dignity and bringing hope where there wasn’t any for such a long time.”

The quality and consistency of LifeBUILDERS’ work has inspired many to invest in us, and our work here in Regent Park. Residents have decided to stay. The vacancy rate is decreasing. There is far less blight. The community is seeing greater involvement by residents. 

Realtors are referring to “a newly redeveloped park nearby” as part of this neighborhood’s amenities. The park in the center of Regent Park was restored through LifeBUILDERS’ work. This summer, the work will be completed and that park will come to life as it was 20 years ago. 

Our task is to maintain that momentum we've begun and encourage a “zero” tolerance for anything sub-standard that reflects a lack of respect for our tenants and the community in general. We delight in the City’s new enforcement policy on landlords because we take pride in the work that we’ve done to raise the standard over the past 12 years.

We know it will not be easy and it will take time to enforce these standards on those who don’t believe in supporting the community, and the people who live here, the way we do. All of these efforts are worth it when we see families coming together in safe homes in Detroit once again. The Bible says, “do not grow weary in doing good” and “do all of your work as unto the Lord.” With the help of the Lord, we are doing just that.

We are pressing on. We ask you to join us with your prayer, your financial support, and your involvement. When you read stories about unsettling rental conditions in Detroit, and you feel little hope for our City, tell people about what’s happening here in this Detroit neighborhood.  We are raising a standard of hope.

We’ve done this work with little fanfare and have decided to continue at a manageable pace, giving God all the glory. Our main focus will continue to be on the children and families of the Regent Park community as dignity is restored and hope is revived.

Stay tuned for more information about our Summer Day Camps. We will be announcing tangible ways to offer your prayer support to nearly 150 kids, counselors and volunteers this summer. 

If you’re not following us on Facebook or Instagram, that’s another great way to connect with LifeBUILDERS and see photos and updates throughout the year. 

Our main focus will continue to be on the children and families of the Regent Park community as dignity is restored and hope is revived.

LifeBUILDERS is thrilled to announce that we are one of ten Michigan communities that will benefit from MSHDA Neighborhood Enhancement Program grants this summer. LifeBUILDERS has received a $30,000 grant that will allow us to continue improving the Regent Park community. Find out more below and please reach out to us directly if you'd like to be a part of one of our summer community beautification projects.

"This grant from NEP allows us to further work on projects to clean up our community and restore homes for our residents," said Larry Johnson. "This is such a vital part of this incredible work that God continues to allow us to do in Regent Park."

Read Full press release below or click here to read the article posted on WDIV's Click on Detroit.

MSHDA awards $275,000 in neighborhood enhancement grants

Ten Michigan communities will benefit from Neighborhood Enhancement Program grants this summer that will generate high-impact projects directly tied to enhancing and stabilizing the area.

“These grants are awarded to local groups with innovative ideas that addressed specific needs in their neighborhoods,” said MSHDA Executive Director Earl Poleski. “The projects that have been selected are highly visible, housing-oriented projects that will improve the quality of life for the people living in these communities.”

NEP grants require that the projects and activities align with one or more of three core components: beautification, neighborhood public amenity enhancements and/or infrastructure enhancements. Funded projects should be completed by the fall and make a noticeable difference within the community.

“The goal of this funding is to help – and eventually showcase – model Michigan neighborhoods where residents are engaged and facilitating change,” Poleski said.

The grant awardees are:

Global Detroit, Banglatown, Detroit
Grant Amount: $30,000
Homeowner rehabilitation projects of owner-occupied homes in the East Davison Village Neighborhood.
 
Arab American & Chaldean Council, Northtown, Detroit
Grant Amount: $29,400
The Arab American and Chaldean Council will utilize NEP grant funds to provide murals and signage as well as beautification improvements including landscaping in close proximity to the ACC campus and 7 Mile Road.  The project will also provide assistance for beautification within the opportunity zone to improve the overall physical appearance and safety of the area. 
 
Bridging Communities, Detroit
Grant Amount: $30,000           
Homeowner rehabilitation projects of owner-occupied homes in the Chadsey Condon Neighborhood.
 
Life Builders, Detroit
Grant Amount: $30,000                
Beautification and cleanup of the Greater Regent Park Neighborhood and minor homeowner rehabilitation projects to owner-occupied homes.
 
Focus HOPE, Detroit
Grant Amount: $11,538
Upgrades to the Cool Cities Park (also known as the HOPE Community Park) to facilitate the artesian/farmer’s market.

Bay Area Housing, Bay City
Grant Amount: $30,000
North Grant Street, Bay City, MI 48708
Homeowner rehabilitation projects within the Grant Street project area which is central within the city’s Center Avenue Historic District.

Gogebic Range Health Foundation, Ironwood
Grant Amount: $30,000
Construction of a non-motorized pedestrian trail connecting the Ironwood Housing Commission’s Apartment Complex to the Little League Field and the 167 acre Miners Memorial Heritage Park.

Vibrant Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo
Grant Amount: $30,000
The Eastside Gateway Project will create a park with native plantings and landscaping installations.

Allen Neighborhood Center, Lansing
Grant Amount: $29,579
Foster Park Enhancements will include improving access by the creation of a multiuse path and entrance upgrades, the addition of benches and public art in the park, as well as improvements to the basketball courts and the Greater Lansing Food Bank Garden Project Resource Building.

Dwelling Place, Muskegon Heights
Grant Amount: $24,483                
Bethlehem Park renovations including fencing and safety improvements, pavilion and pump house as well as playground improvements. This park is on the grounds of a new 50-unit MSHDA housing development, Roosevelt Apartments, formerly Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

 The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.*

*MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda.