5TH WARD
In 2018, 5th Ward neighborhood leaders, residents and community development experts collaborated to establish this vision, that 5th Ward will be a unified community that honors its historical heritage and embraces redevelopment for all. Since then, many more community members have joined to contribute to GO and the group has done dozens of early action projects that have served hundreds and offered lots of volunteer opportunities.
5th Ward GO Neighborhoods is designing a Quality of Life Agreement with the community to help guide their work for the next five-plus years. This is a collaborative effort between residents and local organizations collectively working together to create goals and initiatives to improve the quality of life of members in the community.
GO Coordinator Contact Information
Denise Morales, Fifth Ward CRC
dmorales@fifthwardcrc.org
Our Priorities
Growing
OST/SOuth Union envisions a neighborhood where local businesses grow. Where new economic development and investment provide the services and amenities the neighborhood needs and create jobs. GO Neighborhoods wants to bring knowledge and resources to neighborhood families to grow income and wealth.
Thriving
Fifth Ward envisions a community that is active and healthy, that works together to realize a just, equitable, and clean environment where everyone has access to the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive.
Learning
OST/South Union GO Neighborhoods believe it takes a village to raise a child. Working in partnerships with schools, teachers, students and parents GO Neighborhoods wants to ensure that all children and young people have the tools necessary to succeed.
Engaging
Fifth Ward envisions a community that is united and organized. A community that works collective to advocate for and realize our vision.
Visioning
OST/South Union envisions culture as a connection, history as a foundation, and looks at the arts to celebrate their past and future. OST/South Union GO Neighborhoods wants to celebrate their history, embrace their culture, fuel the economy by attracting public and private investment through the arts and enrich the neighborhood's youth through this work.
Building
Fifth Wards envisions a community with high quality housing that is safe and affordable to our families, where the historic character and culture of our neighborhood is preserved and supported, where new development occurs without displacement and where our infrastructure needs are met.
GO Neighborhoods
IMPACT
5 projects
implemented since 2019
Over $ 305,000
leveraged since 2019
363 participants
engaged since 2019
THIS NEIGHBORHOODS SUCCESS STORIES
In 2019, the Houston Health Department received a $9.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for home lead-based paint hazard reduction. The Lead Abatement program will help remediate homes in the Near Northside and Fifth Ward communities, where approximately 83% of houses were built before the ban on lead-based paint in 1978. At least 6% of children in these areas had blood lead levels above the CDC reference value of 5 µg/dL. This opportunity was made possible due to the Block Captain Program lead by GO Safety Team residents in both the Near Northside and Fifth Ward and the data collected using the software shared by Houston LISC with the Houston Health Department.
Convening Agency
Fifth Ward CRC catalyzes resources to build and preserve an inclusive 5th Ward Community by developing places and opportunities for people to live, work, and play!
Organized in 1989, Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (FWCRC), a NeighborWorks Charter Affiliate, is a catalytic organization dedicated to the collaborative fostering of holistic community development. As a steward of Houston’s Historic 5th Ward and comprehensive community developer, FWCRC seeks to enhance quality of life for individuals and families, eliminate blight, attract investment and resources, encourage commercial and business development, coordinate government and public service, and offer a sense of destination and creative place-making. The finished product is a healthy and vibrant community for residents and visitors alike.