FY 2009 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2009 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 9

Excellence in Neighborhoods

Improving Housing Conditions

In 2009, the Arlington Public Library set a new record when a

family of four checked out the two millionth book at the George W.

Hawkes Central Library on Abram Street.

to help qualifying families reduce energy costs and maintain safer,

The City of Arlington was awarded a $2 million federal grant

healthier living conditions in 2009. The Weatherization Assistance
Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The funds
are disbursed by the city’s Housing Authority to qualified low income
homeowners.

Often unheard and unseen, the plight of the homeless continues to

be an important initiative across America. Locally, volunteers combed
neighborhood streets in the dead of winter to conduct a count of its
homeless in 2009. In conjunction with the cities of Fort Worth and
Tarrant County, the Everyone Counts/Homeless Count Night Program
was led by the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition. The count is

Tonya Brown and her sons Ayden and Garrett (below) checked

important because it helps to improve planning and funding for

out the library’s two millionth book on Sept. 9, 2009 during their first

programs that transition individuals out of chronic homelessness.

visit ever to the central library.

In 2009, the Neighborhood Grants Program continued

to stimulate more community projects that build stronger
neighborhoods. Grant funds were awarded to projects that enhanced

The Neighborhood
Grants Program
awarded funds to
neighborhoods
for enhancement
projects such as
street sign toppers.

neighborhood entrances and identification and improved playgrounds,
parks and trails. In some neighborhoods, more trees were planted
and new landscaping installed.

In other a ɕ