Primavera Annual Report 2007-2008

 

 

"The good news: The changes we must make to avoid ultimate collapse are identical to the changes we must make to create the world of our common dream."

~ David Korten

Dear friends of Primavera,

Our most recent fiscal year, July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008, was marked by the crisis, challenge, and opportunity unfolding across our community.

As we began to experience a rise in the number of homeless and at-risk individuals and families, we were grateful for the July 1, 2007 merger between the Travelers Aid Society of Tucson and The Primavera Foundation. The successful integration and reorganization of Primavera following the merger enabled us to strengthen and expand our continuum of shelter and rental housing programs, including the following new programs: A 17 unit family shelter and motel emergency shelter sites

  • A 21 unit transitional housing program for men
  • A12 unit transitional housing program for
  • women
  • Two transitional housing programs for families
  • with children
  • A transitional housing program for people
  • with challenging conditions
  • A mobile homeless outreach program
  • An eviction prevention program

In response to Arizona’s rapid rise to number four in the nation in mortgage foreclosure filings, we expanded our HomeOwnership program to add a mortgage foreclosure prevention and mitigation component. By far the majority of customers seeking assistance with foreclosure prevention and mitigation were those new to our homebuyer assistance program. The majority of families seeking assistance from Primavera had received no financial or homebuyer education and fell victim to subprime loans and/or adjustable rate/zero down-payment mortgages.

During the past year, Primavera also launched a new Neighborhood Revitalization Program in partnership with the City of South Tucson and Pima County. This four year program is assisting homeowners with the rehabilitation of their distressed

houses with repairs, such as new roofs and new electric and plumbing systems, vital to making their home safe. In addition, this program is replacing unsafe and uninhabitable homes with new Energy Star homes and adding new infill housing on vacant lots for first time homebuyers.

Primavera’s new Community Building and Organizing Program held a series of community forums throughout the past year on quality of life issues of critical importance to our community, including the multifaceted causes of poverty and prisoner reentry and community reintegration. Due to popular demand, these forums will continue throughout the coming year.

We expect that the current economic recession will only broaden and deepen the current unprecedented demand for Primavera’s diverse and multifaceted programs focused on ensuring survival, security, stability, and sustainability for the most marginalized in our community.

So what sustains us for the long haul?

  • The fierce determination of our program
  • participants;
  • The strong and effective partnerships with our
  • diverse community partners;
  • The compassion and commitment to
  • excellence of the Primavera staff;
  • The hospitality and hard work of our volunteers
  • and board of directors who share from
  • their abundance; and,
  • The deep and long-standing generosity of
  • our donors.

Together, let us create the community of our common dreams!

Love and peace,

Leslie L. Hunter
President of the Board of Directors

and

Peggy Hutchison
Executive Director