The Hope VI program allows residents to become homeowners and marks a new approach to public housing policy. Congressman John Mica has been working with the Housing & Urban Development Department, HUD Secretary Mel Martinez and Daytona Beach leaders since 1999 to secure federal approval for a Hope VI grant.

"Hope VI makes funding available for 100,000 units across the country that need to be replaced," said Joyours "Pete" Gamble, executive director of the Daytona Beach Housing Authority. "The Quality Housing Rehabilitation Act provided a five-year period for communities to develop a plan as a key element of the grant application process."

The application was supported by the City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County. But this was no ordinary grant application. In fact, many communities applying spent $400,000 or more to get their plans perfected and grant documents prepared with the help of professional grant application specialists.

The Daytona Beach Housing Authority did not have the luxury of doing so all at once. The only way to get the job done was to complete the process in phases.

It was able to keep grant application development costs to $390,000 and complete the work in phases over four years.

While most of the communities receiving Hope VI funding cite needs of 7,000-10,000 housing units, Daytona Beach was one of only two second tier cities in Florida to secure funding. The other second tier city grant went to Lakeland. Both cities identified need for about 1,100 units.

In Daytona Beach, the Hope VI program allows for the demolition and replacement of 399 units. Not all the new homes will be on the sites of units being demolished. Some will be in Fairway Estates. Some will be across from Turie T. Small Elementary School. Some will be in Bethune Village and between that location and Halifax Park.

The Hope VI program allows for approximately half of the units to be subsidized. Residents seeking reduced rent or financing must satisfy strict requirements to qualify for the federal subsidies. The subsidies are granted blindly for 150 units that are located randomly among Hope VI residences. In other words, subsidized and unsubsidized homes will be intermingled and which homes are subsidized is known only to HUD, the Housing Authority and the resident.

As for the families whose homes are being demolished under the Hope VI program, an innovative voucher program will help them move into new Hope VI homes or select other housing here or anywhere in the nation. More than 300 "Section 8" vouchers, representing more than $2 million annually, will be made available to families being displaced.

These vouchers are valued at current rent levels or higher and can be spent like cash on rent or used toward the purchase of a new Hope VI home or other residence of any type.

The first of these vouchers, valued at $600,000, were made available in June.

The plan calls for private management of the housing units after the program is complete, making the Daytona Beach program unique. By assigning management to the private sector, instead of having the Housing Authority manage the properties, controls can be more rigid and assure that high community standards are maintained.

"This is an exciting program and we are committed to working with the families who will be moving from antiquated housing to new homes," said Gamble. "We are helping residents in the relocation process with these vouchers and there are more on the way. We have formed a task force to meet with every affected family in Bethune Village and Halifax Park to ensure they get the services they need during their transition. And we will be hiring a Hope VI program coordinator, a coordinator for social services, resident assistants and case managers to work with families."

It all adds up to new hope for some of the poorest residents of Daytona Beach. Soon, these residents will be moving to new homes that will be replacing deteriorating homes and the 60-year-old barracks style apartments that long have needed replacement. More than a patch and a coat of paint, the Hope VI program is offering residents a whole new neighborhood, training opportunities and a fresh start.

The program needs to be completed by September 2008 and is ahead of schedule.