Pathway Inc. was officially designated an EnVision Center by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Thursday, becoming the fifth center in the state to carry the designation created as part of a federal initiative aimed at connecting vulnerable families to services that build “self-sufficiency.”
HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson has now opened 48 “EnVision Centers,” across the U.S. He opened the first in his hometown of Detroit in 2018. Upon announcing the initiative in 2017, Dr. Carson described the centers hubs for four key pillars of “self-sufficiency,” described as: character and leadership, educational advancement, economic empowerment, and health and wellness.
Presenting a certificate of designation to Pathway Inc. interim CEO Robert Jordan Thursday was HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan, who was appointed by President Trump in 2017 and operates out of Chicago.
Mr. Galvan said the centers are a “joint effort” to connect low-income households to a variety of resources “offering paths to economic opportunity and self-sufficiency.”
“The one thing that we are all here about is making sure the fabric of Toledo is woven together,” Mr. Galvan said at the ceremony inside Pathway Inc., 505 Hamilton St., Thursday. “We all have different skill sets, gifts, programs to help better serve the residents.”
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz applauded the designation, pointing out that Toledo is only the 75th largest city in the country, but was chosen as one of 48 cities to become an EnVision Center.
“There are several dozen cities larger than Toledo that aren’t getting this opportunity,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said.
The mayor pointed to the city’s downtown development and what he calls “excitement” happening throughout the city, but said attention has to be placed on people and the neighborhoods they live in, in order for the entire city to thrive.
“Neighborhoods are where people live,” he added. “We’re excited about the momentum elsewhere, but it has to happen in the neighborhoods for Toledo to truly turn that corner.”
The designation received praise from Mr. Kapszukiewicz, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken and Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO Joaquin Cintron Vega at the ceremony Thursday. But, Dr. Carson’s initiative hasn’t come without criticism.
Last year, critics of the program who were offered an opportunity to participate but ultimately chose not to, characterized it as a “failed program” presented only to give the appearance that the federal government was taking action on the issue.
"No one actually knows what they are supposed to do," Chad Williams, the executive director of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, told NBC News in 2019. "I was approached to run one, and I said: 'What does it do? Where's the funding?'"
“It sounded great on paper," added Shawn Wilson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan to NBC News. "But after the due diligence and understanding what resources were needed to make it successful, we decided not to pursue it."
Mr. Galvan said the goal of the program is to assist families until they are in a position to become self-sufficient, therefore no longer needing federal assistance.
Mr. Jordan said HUD’s designation will equip the nonprofit to provide more resources to vulnerable families in the county.
“As the designated community action agency of Lucas County, the HUD EnVision Center designation will add an additional value to the agency’s umbrella, allowing us to expand on our efforts in providing over 40,000 households a year with supportive services that provide hope to individuals and families,” Mr. Jordan said.
First Published July 16, 2020, 10:20 p.m.
