December 10, 2007 — Ana and Hugo are just one of many low- to moderate-income families who are benefiting from revitalization of the historic Towerview neighborhood in Racine. The couple recently purchased their home on the 1200 block of Racine Street and are now spreading the word about this transformed community. 

In Towerview, Neighborhood Housing Services of Southeast Wisconsin is tearing down substandard buildings. Homes are being rehabbed. Neighbors are planting gardens. And people are increasingly being drawn to the neighborhood’s lakefront access, historic architecture, green space and landmarks such as the internationally known S.C. Johnson Research Tower. 

There’s a renewed sense of pride in the neighborhood and residents like Ana and Hugo are encouraging others to invest.  They participate as guest speakers at NHS’s home buyer education courses and have encouraged their friends, Alejandro and Dora, to purchase a home down the street from them.

Ana says, “You can recruit your friends to be your neighbors, then you have a community.”

Jorge Arredondo, Tomasa Rivera, All State Agent Ken Smith, Brian Arredondo, Dora Arredondo, Alejando Arredondo, Michael and Alexis Arredondo

Resident involvement is an important part of NHS of Southeast Wisconsin’s community development model.  But it also takes strong partnerships with government and the private sector. In a recent meeting with City of Racine Mayor, Gary Becker, The Allstate Foundation awarded $30,000 to NHS of Southeast Wisconsin to continue its revitalization efforts. Ken Smith, Allstate agent and immediate past president of the NHS Board of Directors, presented the grant.

“Supporting groups like NHS is critical to cities because they work to rebuild and revitalize our neighborhoods,” said Racine City Mayor Gary Becker. ” Any city that wants to be a great place to live must have solid neighborhoods where people feel safe and have a sense of belonging to the community.The Allstate Foundation’s support of NHS is helping Racine become great city – and a great place to live.”

In 2006, NHS helped 91 families buy their first home with the help of an earlier $30,000 Allstate Foundation grant. This year’s grant will be used to provide fund the Financial Empowerment through Home Buyer Education workshop series and plans to educate and counsel 300 families on home ownership options.

“Home equity is a family’s greatest investment, their pension, and their security,” said Domenick Martinelli, executive director at NHS. “Our mission is to not only provide local families with this vital asset, but we also want to renew a sense of pride and civic commitment in the neighborhoods of Racine.”

In 2006, the 21-member NHS board of directors decided to target Towerview neighborhood, located a few blocks south of downtown Racine, with an aggressive revitalization strategy.

“The executive board decided to focus on Towerview because we want to invest in meaningful relationships throughout the neighborhood,” said Ken Smith. “At the end of the day, community development is about people. I’m proud to be among the many volunteers who are helping make the American dream of homeownership a reality for residents of Southeast Wisconsin.”

Since 1982, the local NHS chapter has been providing local residents with home buyer education, direct financial assistance, construction management and design, and other

services designed to help increase homeownership in the city of Racine. To retain and attract strong households, NHS concentrates on specific areas of Racine and supports these targeted neighborhoods with direct community investment funds.

NHS sees the effect of its work reaching beyond the organization’s customers. Increasing homeownership helps create safer and more vital communities where rising property values benefit the entire neighborhood.

“Since 2003 we’ve facilitated the investment of more than $30 million in working class neighborhoods formerly in decline, “said Martinelli. “Our hope is that these efforts will continue to spur investment in the neighborhoods of Racine.”

About Neighborhood Housing Services

The Mission of NHS of Southeast Wisconsin, Inc is to renew pride, restore confidence, promote reinvestment, and revitalize the NHS neighborhoods through the efforts of local residents acting in concert with financial institutions, corporate enterprise and the business community, foundations and local governments.

NHS is one of Wisconsin’s most experienced neighborhood revitalization organizations. Incorporated in 1982, NHS revitalizes neighborhoods by promoting homeownership, developing quality affordable homes, and lending for community development purposes. NHS of Southeast Wisconsin is a charter member of the NeighborWorks network, a national network of community-based organizations that builds partnerships to revitalize neighborhoods and communities.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.