Community Development
Change through collaboration
ECHO Housing and Community Development is a designated CDC (Community Development Corporation).
ECHO Housing as a Community Development Corporation (CDC)
ECHO Housing & Community Development is deeply committed to fostering sustainable community growth and resilience. Our community development efforts are centered around collaborative partnerships, innovative solutions, and a commitment to inclusivity.
In 2016, we were designated as the lead agency of the Promise Zone, which was one of only twenty-two designations in the U.S.
From Promise Zone to the Collective Action Network (CAN)
As the lead agency for the 10-year Promise Zone designation, ECHO has driven neighborhood revitalization through economic development, affordable housing, healthcare, crime reduction, job development, and education. With the designation ending in 2026, we have connected with community partners on a sustainability strategy in 2024, focusing on collaboration.
Our transition to the Collective Action Network (CAN) marks a new chapter, expanding our reach to all neighborhoods in need. CAN leverages shared goals, data-driven strategies, and coordinated efforts to address systemic challenges across Physical, Social, and Economic Development.
A Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a non-profit organization, usually locally based, that aims to revitalize communities, particularly those with high poverty levels, by focusing on projects like developing affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and creating job training opportunities, often through grassroots efforts by community residents themselves; essentially working to improve the social and economic conditions of a neighborhood or town.
Key points about CDCs:
- Focus on low-income communities: CDCs primarily serve areas with significant low-income populations, working to address issues like disinvestment and lack of access to essential services.
- Community-driven approach: These organizations are often initiated and led by local residents, business owners, and community leaders who aim to address their neighborhood’s specific needs.
- Activities include: Developing affordable housing, facilitating economic development through small business support, providing job training programs, and advocating for community improvements.
- Non-profit status: CDCs are considered non-profit entities, meaning they are not primarily focused on generating profit but rather on achieving social impact.
E3 Initiative | Educate | Encourage | Enforce
E3 is a collaborative, interdisciplinary initiative that brings together ECHO Housing, the Evansville Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit, Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare’s Crisis Services Team, and other partners. E3 focuses on co-responding to crisis situations with an emphasis on mental health support and trauma-informed care.
Partner with Evansville Promise Neighborhood
As a member of the University of Evansville’s Evansville Promise Neighborhood (EPN) core team, we are invested in all out comes, but as a community development organization, we are particularly interested in Pipeline Block 4 – Improving Neighborhood & Community. The four solutions in this pipeline include
- Provide health, nutrition education, health food access and distribution
- Provide family stability programs
- Neighborhood Revitalization
- Community Safety and Violence Prevention Programs.
ECHO leads initiatives in all of these areas and employs a Housing Policy Director to advocate for policies that result in greater family and neighborhood stability.
Collective Action Network
The Collective Action Network (CAN) is a cross-sector group of community leaders who come together to create change. Using the collective impact model, this approach unites multiple organizations to tackle systemic challenges through shared goals, data-driven strategies, and coordinated efforts. Together, we strive to enhance community outcomes and build a stronger support system for vulnerable populations.
Expanding our focus through CAN allows us to serve all neighborhoods in need, rather than being limited to specific areas defined years ago. Our initiatives now span three key areas: Physical, Social, and Economic Development.
