Gainesville Housing Authority
Choice Neighborhood
In September of 2023, the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) and the City of Gainesville (City) were awarded a Choice Neighborhood (CN) Grant, provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to revitalize the East University Avenue community in Gainesville.
Created in close partnership with residents, community and faith-based organizations, anchor institutions, city departments, agencies, businesses, and other community stakeholders, the East University CN Plan focuses on three main areas: providing pathways to connect people to opportunities that support self-sufficiency and economic stability, modernizing outdated public housing to reflect resident’s current needs, and promoting investments that strengthen East Gainesville as a prosperous and vibrant community.
The East University CN Plan focuses on People, Housing, and Neighborhood elements, representing the main pillars of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. Through the process, these elements evolved into four Themes that resonated with community members: Community Ownership, Opportunity, Care and Connection were identified as an organizational structure for strategies that reflect the unique context and aspirations of East Gainesville.
The community’s vision is deeply rooted in a rich cultural heritage, characterized by a proud legacy of homeownership, entrepreneurship, sustainable food practices, and strong communal bonds. The Choice Neighborhood Plan seeks to build upon these ongoing efforts by identifying practical, actionable strategies to empower residents, its goal is to foster a thriving, healthy, self-reliant community that is designed by and for the current and legacy residents of East Gainesville.
