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About Us

“Our mission is to empower residents to impact the future of Detroit’s eastside.”

About U SNAP BAC

U-SNAP-BAC (United Streets Networking and Planning; Building A Community) was incorporated in 1987 by a consortium of seven (7) neighborhood organizations and four (4) business associations to revitalize the east side of Detroit. The Board of Directors is derived from representatives from each of its member organizations. The mission is “to empower residents to impact the future of Detroit’s eastside. Through coalition building, resource development, joint planning and programming, we will promote economic growth and neighborhood improvement”.

 
Advocacy
Economic Mobility
Equitable Housing
Housing Stability
Resource Center

Our History

U-SNAP-BAC has a rich history of serving the community. The organization was formed in 1985 by residents with a collective commitment to improve the quality of life in communities through collaboration, neighborhood improvements and community cohesiveness. Through this commitment, a consortium of 11 community-based organizations on the eastside of Detroit were drawn together to implement positive community change. The organizations were diverse in nature ranging from residents, block clubs, small businesses, neighborhood organizations, and business associations. While the members were diverse, the belief was firm; working together creates solutions to strengthen the community. 
 
The demand for decent affordable housing was on the fore-front of the coalition’s agenda. With the goal of preserving sound housing stock, U-SNAPBAC, Inc. was formed. In order to enhance this goal, U-SNAP-BAC Nonprofit Housing Corporation was created in 1987 for the sole purpose of neighborhood preservation through home repair and new housing development. U-SNAP-BAC’s origin is based on the belief that housing projects controlled by the community will put the interests of the neighborhood first. The objective was to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for families of low and moderate income, while broadening U-SNAP-BAC Inc.’s role as a community empowerment advocate. 
 
Through the years, U-SNAP-BAC, Inc.’s activities included small business services, community organizing, neighborhood beautification and homeownership education, financial literacy, and homeownership preservation counseling, while U-SNAP-BAC Nonprofit Housing Corporation focused on new construction, acquisition rehabilitation and minor home repairs for residents. The impact that U-SNAP-BAC has had on the City of Detroit is phenomenal. U-SNAP-BAC has counseled over 900 families; aided in the development of over 100 block clubs; mentored countless small businesses; facilitated dozens of workshops, townhall meetings, community forums, and neighborhood cleanup efforts, planted over 100 trees, rehabbed over 500 homes, and constructed over 130 new affordable homes; all while maintaining the mission of community cohesiveness, collaboration, and commitment.

Collaborative Partner Section

Homeownership Education – Sessions are held monthly designed to prepare prospective buyers for the home buying process. Generally 6-8 hours in length, classes are held on Saturdays or evenings to accommodate your schedules. For more information contact our offices, or check out our calendar for upcoming dates and times.
Affordable Rentals – 2, 3, and 4 bedroom townhouses located on Alter Rd. and Wayburn. For more information, contact our management company at 313-821-0469 or visit the management office at 14200 Kercheval to pick up an application.

What We Do

U SNAP BAC provides a host of services. Our commitment to the community includes programming in the area of homebuyer classes, home repair, home ownership training, gut rehabilitation of vacant properties, new home development, affordable rentals, infrastructure improvements, and demolition of unsafe structures. Since 1987, U SNAP BAC has completed over 2500 home repairs, 110 vacant structures rehabbed, constructed 161 units of affordable rentals and single-family homes to sale for low to moderate income families.

Our homeowner and homebuyer counseling classes have assisted many families in buying and maintaining their homes. U SNAP BAC provides training for potential homebuyers to prepare them for their first home; how to qualify for a mortgage, understanding predatory lending, how to read a credit report, what it means to be financially fit and foreclosure prevention. The members of the U SNAP BAC staff are HUD and MSHDA certified counselors available for one-on-one sessions, as well as group sessions to equip homebuyers and homeowners with the tools necessary for acquiring and maintaining the home of their dreams.

Collaborative Partner Section

USNAPBAC is a proud Member of the Detroit Housing Network – an alliance of housing nonprofits that have come together to provide clear and equitable access to housing services in Detroit. Our collective mission is to create healthy neighborhoods and advance racial equity in our communities by increasing housing stability and affordable homeownership for Detroit residents.

Learn more about the Detroit Housing Network at

DetroitHousingNetwork.org

U SNAP BAC uses the Housing Service Intake Form for workshop registration. This intake form is used to access a variety of housing services provided by a network of housing agencies called the Detroit Housing Network.

 

Detroit Housing Network Intake Form (Button) Link: https://www.tfaforms.com/4981416

Linda Smith

Since 1995 Ms. Linda Smith has been the Executive Director of U-SNAP-BAC Inc. and U-SNAP-BAC Non-Profit Housing Corporation. Under Smith’s administration the organization has grown from a staff of four to an operating staff of 10. She has successfully secured operating funding for U-SNAP-BAC’s various programs to stabilize the community and create neighborhood based economic development opportunities.

 

Under Smith’s leadership U-SNAP-BAC built provided 67 units of newly-constructed and sold single family homes, 64-2,3 & 4 bedroom rental town homes, 30 units of permanent supportive housing for women and children, 3 passive parks, 1 tot lot, over $18MM of investment in the Morningside Neighborhood and the development of the East Warren Business District as a commercial corridor.

 

Smith is a graduate of Graduate of Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Achieving Excellence in Community Development. Smith also serves on the boards of the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, New Detroit, Liberty Temple Baptist Church Board Member of Community Development Advocates of Detroit, and a member of the Neighborhood Stabilization Plan Steering Committee in Detroit.

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