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Fairfield Court Revitalization
Charter Oak Communities (COC) received a grant of $19,579,641 in HOPE VI funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development toward the revitalization of Fairfield Court, a public housing complex built in 1936, and its surrounding West Side neighborhood.
The design of the complex, combined with its age, poor physical condition and deteriorated utility system, resulted in its obsolescence. With its preponderance of one-bedroom units, Fairfield Court unintentionally evolved into housing that was largely for disabled persons. While that helped meet critical local housing needs, the design was inappropriate for this population and there were no facilities appropriate for delivery of intensive service programs.
The disabled population could not achieve maximum self-sufficiency without redevelopment. . In addition, chronic neighborhood conditions including high crime rates and low educational achievement have been traced, in large part, to the negative impact of Fairfield Court and other public housing complexes in the area.
The Fairfield Court revitalization plan has produced a total of 275 housing units by replacing the existing 144 low-income units on the basis of one-for-one and creating 131 new affordable rental, market-rate rental and homeownership units. It has incorporated supportive services and occupational initiatives that will increase resident economic self-sufficiency and independence. By its infusion of over $89 million into Stamford’s West Side, the Fairfield Court HOPE VI revitalization is stimulating broad community reinvestment, leading to an increase in commercial activity and an upswing in property values. This activity is improving the general quality of life in that traditional neighborhood. The plan has received significant support from the City of Stamford in the forms of land for off-site housing, development capital and support for a West Side Economic Development Initiative. In all, the Fairfield Court revitalization plan leverages the HOPE VI funds with another $70 million in public and private financing.
Extensive planning with residents and housing experts in the field has contributed to a supportive services program design which will help meet the special and urgent needs of the large disabled population as well as the needs of other more independent families. The primary objective is to enhance personal and household independence. The program streamlines resident access to the rich array of service providers in the City of Stamford so that they will voluntarily participate in and achieve maximum benefit from these services. The $13 million supportive services program consists of 1) A Mental Health Peer-to-Peer Network Program modeled on the internationally renowned Clubhouse model; 2) A Case Management Program for those with special intensive needs; 3) Basic Education Enhancement Programs for children, youth and adults; and 4) Job Training and Placement Programs for both disabled and non-disabled adults.
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