Building Great Neighborhoods For All
The Center is a catalyst for positive growth in Covington but our role is only one part of the equation. Our most important partner is YOU and the other residents of Covington.
How do we do it? We spark this growth by bringing people together, encouraging them to work with each other, and supporting their efforts to shape the future of their community.
Why do we do it? We are committed to helping people discover and develop their skills, find and use the resources they need, and discover partners who share their concern for the well-being of Covington.
What can you do? Our programs are all designed to help residents build on the great parts of Covington and to develop solutions to both individual and community issues. We need your support now to help us make sure no one is left behind as we work to improve the lives of the people of Covington!
Our work tackles quality of life issues like housing and entrepreneur support, youth development, financial wellbeing, neighborhood and community building, and creating healthy environments. We have accomplished a lot over the last 40 years but there is a lot more we could do if we receive your support today:
What have we accomplished?
- We use the tactic of slow and steady growth to benefit both old and new residents.
- Over the last 15 years, The Center has renovated and completed 2 commercial properties, 5 rental units, and 31 owner-occupied homes in the Westside neighborhood (all of which were formerly vacant and with sales ranging from $90,000 to $372,500).
- This range of prices has allowed us to sell to long-term renters who want to buy but can’t afford a lot, as well as accommodate families who need a bigger space and want to stay in the Westside neighborhood.
- We offer quality affordable rental units for those residents who don’t want or can’t afford to buy, and have 5 of these units online in the Westside.
- We turn vacant and blighted buildings into beautiful and healthy homes, not only to improve the lives of the families who get to live there, but also to make a better community for all - eliminating eye sores that attract crime and raising property values for existing homeowners.
What will we do with your support?
The last 15 years we focused our housing improvements in the Westside neighborhood because we know that concentrating these investments in a smaller area is the best way to see a bigger change. Our work in the Westside has proven successful at reviving a neighborhood and we are ready to take that experience and apply it to other areas. Donating to The Center now will allow us to begin working alongside the residents of a different neighborhood to help them see the quality of life improvements they so badly need.
What have we accomplished?
- We support and develop resident leaders who are the foundation for their neighborhoods.
- We build community by connecting neighbors with each other around improvements desired for their neighborhoods.
- Examples of this work include planning, funding, and executing projects like redevelopment of parks, turning vacant lots into community gardens, installing art and murals to add vibrancy, holding community events, making safety improvements, and advocating for community improvements.
- The outcomes we produce are measured by social capital surveys. In 2019, 77% of respondents from the Westside feel that the conditions on their street are either stabilized or getting better, 70% say they can count on the people in their community, and 77% report feeling safe all or most of the time.
- There was a 50% reduction in calls for service in the Westside neighborhood from 2004 to 2013 and a 23% decrease in the number of individual arrests. Charges for crimes committed in the Westside also dropped by 34% during the same period.
- More recent data is proving that this progress is sustaining. Between 2015 and 2020 the neighborhood saw another 9% drop in calls for service and a 21% drop in arrests.
What will we do with your support?
In addition to continuing to provide support to over 25 resident-led organizations, we will focus our leadership development work in the Eastern corridor of the City, working alongside residents to develop a work plan to enhance the quality of life in this community.