[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CARMELITOS PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

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                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the Carmelitos public 
housing development, located in North Long Beach. It wasn't long ago 
that a public housing site in my district of Long Beach epitomized what 
is wrong with public housing today. Crime-ridden neighborhoods and 
rundown units plagued families living in this community. Today, the 
Carmelitos public housing development is a bonafide success story, due 
in part to one program making a difference in its public housing 
residents' lives--the Growing Experience. The Growing Experience is a 
year-long training program open to county public housing residents to 
prepare them for landscape business development and employment. The 
project is improving the quality of life for public housing residents 
by providing strong job training and educational opportunities that 
lead to self-sufficiency. Since the program's inception in April 1996, 
one-third of the resident trainees have moved out of public housing and 
into private residences. Clearly, the Growing Experience is proof that 
a chronically unemployed community can transform itself into a 
community that embraces work.
  I am proud to announce that the Growing Experience, a program of the 
Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, was named a 
semifinalist in the Ford Foundation's 1997 Innovations in American 
Government Awards competition. One of the Nation's most prestigious 
public-service prizes, the Innovations Awards recognize governmental 
initiatives that provide creative solutions to social and economic 
problems. Being named a semifinalist in this competition underlines 
what those of us in Los Angeles County have known for the last year--
that Carmelitos is a pioneer in helping people to help themselves.
  I congratulate the Carmelitos housing development and the Los Angeles 
Community Development Commission for its recognition in this national 
competition. Carmelitos is a prime example of defining a program's 
success by how many people graduate to self-sufficiency and no longer 
need its assistance.

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