Award - D Harris & J PattersonFriends
David Harris and ,Toleen Patterson work for Dubuque Housing Services. They
have worked with TSU Extension since lgg3 to help Iow-income families become
successful homeowners in the city of Dubuque.
The first joint project was the bREAM5 Program, a public-private partnership
with a budget of over two million dollars. The DREAM5 Program reclaimed for
the tax roles forl~/abandoned or darelict houses in downtown Dubuque end
provided affordable housing for qualifying families. David and ~Toleen worked
closely with ]:5U Extension to design and present a thirteen-week educational
workshop to prepare prospective families for homeawnershJp.
The bREAMS Project was selected as one of thirty finalists for the 'Ail
American City" Award in ~.995. Under David and ,Toleen's leadership, the
Dubuque Housing Trust Committee has received grants in lg98 & 2000 totaling
more than $580,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for the
Pathways Affordable To Homeowners (PATH). This program provided g~nts to
Iow-income families to help them purchase their first home. All qualifying
families were required to attend ]:$UE's Homebuyer Education Workshop and
receive at least four hours of one-on-one financial counseling from ]:SUE staff.
As a result of the PATH program, 6Z iow-income families have purchased
homes.
The quality of the housing programs in the city of Dubuque and the coalitions
that have been built among cooperating partners have been praised by state
officials from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, the Fannie Mae
Foundation, and the ]:owa Housing Authority. The homeawnership program was
featured at the first ZSU 5tren~henin9 Families to become the/r be~t
community celebration in the fall of 2000.
Due in large part to the leadership and support of David Harris and ~oleen
Patterson, ]:$U Extension has become an important and respected partner in
the housing program in Dubuque. They strOngly advocate for educational
services and play a key role in connecting ]:SUE with community and state
agencies and lenders. This mutually beneficial relationship has greatly benefited
Iow-income families living in Dubuque and at the s~me time, it has increased the
capacity of all partners to reach their go~ls.