People First Team Offices Open in Tidewater Gardens
Initiative launched in August 2018 provides one-on-one support
NORFOLK, VA – The People First team is expanding its operations with three offices conveniently located in Tidewater Gardens. The offices located at 447, 453 and 461 Walke Street will provide residents with easy access to People First team members, from 8:30am until 5:00pm, Monday-Friday.
The People First initiative launched at the St. Paul’s Area Redevelopment community meeting on August 22, 2018. Comprised of a large network of partners, the People First initiative provides a range of support services customized to meet the needs of residents. Participation in People First is completely voluntary.
Barbara Hamm Lee, spokesperson for the St. Paul’s area transformation project, said, “The St. Paul’s area project is first and foremost about transforming the lives of those who live there. People First is a key way to support the change. St. Paul’s residents are provided with personal family coaches who can connect residents with job training, educational opportunities, personal finance management, jobs, and other coaching that helps residents achieve self-sufficiency. The aim of People First is to provide choices and opportunities to live healthy, fulfilling, self-sufficient, productive, happy lives.”
Currently the team is providing one-on-one support to 187 Tidewater Gardens families in the first move-out phase. Tailored financial classes, rent ready and housing choice voucher workshops are underway and more are planned.
People First services reflect residents’ needs. People First is a robust suite of services informed by significant community engagement, which includes:
• 42 meetings with direct community participation just since the summer of 2017
• 75 meetings since 2013 where community members and stakeholders were included
• 1000s of hours of staff engagement with residents
• Numerous one-on-one meetings with residents and stakeholders
• Multiple Pastor Roundtable meetings
• Four editions of the community newsletter have been published
• Information hotline
• Facebook page
• Dedicated web site
• Multiple needs assessment surveys
Residents with questions about the St. Paul’s Area redevelopment should call 757-314-2000. Additional information is located on the project website at
www.stpaulsdistrict.org
For the facts about the People First initiative – watch
https://youtu.be/OVHJ1EhYeDw