Welcome to the Neighborhood Group!

First off let me thank you for your interest in your fellow neighbors and your community as a whole. Secondly - let me make it clear that I have never done this before - I am probably going to make some mistakes, I hope they will be small. I would really like to make this a combined effort and function as a group - so no one person is overwhelmed. I am not appointing myself the head of the group, but I will head it up until we have enough members to possibly vote on positions that people would like to have. I also think for safety reasons we should plan to meet in public places, at least until this group is a little cohesive.

I have had some response to the 40 fliers I distributed the other day. Two new households want to participate, so along with my neighbor across the street our numbers doubled overnight! I am hoping more will want to be involved - and the first thing to do if you would like to help out is to help distribute fliers to other households in the area. I have been doing research and have some of the areas I am looking into below. I want to hear ideas on inner organization - if you have them. Whether it is volunteers pick the area of involvement that interests them, or work one project at a time collectively assigning various tasks to everyone - I haven't got this all figured out. Anyway below are some things I am working on setting up, that will need further follow through.

Home Improvement Programs

• Upland City Housing Improvement Program
• Provides loans up to $75,000 to lower income households to bring homes up to code

• Upland Pride Paint Program – pamphlet ; Provide a max of $4000

• Upland Housing Rehabilitation
• Emergency Repairs Program - pamphlet
• Can be structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and code violation
• Provide a max of $5000

• Historic Home Rehabilitation Program
• Provides deferred loans to rehab significant properties
• Max loan $50,000

• San Bernardino County Utility Help
• Income qualifying discounts for monthly gas & electric bills
• Weatherization program - help with insulation, old windows, inefficient appliances, ect.

Other Areas to Look Into

• Easement Improvement Resources
• Water Conservation Incentives
• Solar Power
• Gardening Store Involvement
• Hardware Store Involvement

Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency, Food, Shelter & Services
• Research Resources and Programs through the city – pamphlet

• Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety – pamphlet
• What should every homeowner do for house and individual safety after earthquake?
• The Gas Company – call to see about emergency shut off instructions

• San Antonio Hospital – what they might need from first responders
• What does a first responder do?

BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

TO CONTACT TO REQUEST PARTICIPATION IN GROUP –

I think we should have a clear plan put together prior to contacting commercial interests for their involvement. Might need to register as a non-profit and find out legalities for things like soliciting assistance, and liability issues.

PUBLICITY FOR GROUP SUCCESS

I am considering the option of making a documentary of this process, since I am a freelance videographer. This might help us get more official and business involvement down the line. Those not wanting to be on camera can opt out, but please still be part of the group.

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Please leave me your comments. This site might have to be reworked a couple of times - so it might be a little disorganized in the beginning. I am just running with it. Also if you want to take on a certain area of involvement - let me know - and it's yours. I am hoping for those who show interest in the group, that we can meet up in person in maybe a few weeks for coffee and to go over what we would like to focus on.

Thanks again!

Julie