Mayor Tom Henry announced a new partnership Thursday to help families meet their needs in owning a home.

The city announced it would be giving $5,000 to NeighborLink, a Fort Wayne faith-based initiative, to help homeowners complete projects they would not be able to do otherwise.

The announcement came as Henry proclaimed Home Ownership Week in Fort Wayne and highlighted several of the programs the city offers to help people buy homes and keep them. Those programs include providing down-payment assistance and money for renovations and emergency repairs.

The new collaboration with NeighborLink, which has existed since 2001, will help the organization provide more volunteer projects around the community. Andrew Hoffman, executive director, said his group links volunteers from churches or other organizations with needed projects, from roof repair to lawn maintenance. For more information, go to www.nlfw.org.

Henry said the city has a role to strengthen neighborhoods, but it is also important for individuals and groups to work to help people in need directly. He said the city is working on new ways to find private money to help stabilize neighborhoods.

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