The Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) seeks to develop
viable communities by promoting integrated approaches that provide
decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand economic
opportunities for low and moderate income persons. The primary means
towards this end is the development of partnerships among all levels
of government and the private sector, including for-profit and non-profit
organizations.
Consistent with these objectives, the Office of Community Planning and Development
has developed a set of underlying principles that are used in carrying
out its mission.
- Community building begins with job creation, employment, and creation of
safe, decent and affordable housing.
- Planning and execution of community development initiatives must be bottom
up and community driven.
- Complex problems require coordinated, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions.
- Government must be streamlined to be made more efficient and effective.
- Citizen participation in Federal, State and local government can be increased
through communication and better access to information.
CPD seeks to encourage empowerment of local residents by helping to
give them a voice in the future of their neighborhoods; stimulate
the creation of community based organizations; and enhance the management
skills of existing organizations so they can achieve greater production
capacity. Housing and community development are not viewed as separate
programs, but rather as among the myriad elements that make up a
comprehensive vision of community development. These groups are
at the heart of a bottom-up housing and community development strategy.
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