The federal Hope 6 program requires more than just putting up buildings, which was a drastic change for the Manchester Citizens Corp.

Formed in 1968, the agency was solely interested in building housing, including single-family homes and apartment buildings, for rent or sale.

But the Hope 6 federal grant MCC, the City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority and Falbo-Pennrose Joint Venture received to replace public housing units required that residents of the units that would be built be served a variety of support services.

While that meant MCC had to move in a new direction, it also led to what organizers feel has been a very successful project.

Duane Hampton, property manager for Pennrose Properties Inc., which manages the Hope 6 apartments, noted that he has not evicted any residents since the first tenants moved in, in 1995, even though leases are aggressively enforced.

"People have brand new homes and they’re able to maintain these homes because they have supportive services to do that," he said. "The management company is successful only through the partnership with support services."

Those services have included general equivalency diploma classes, scholarships to the nearby Community College of Allegheny County, credit counseling, homeownership and housekeeping training, drivers training, budgeting, parenting classes, job training and employment opportunities.

Before residents could move into their new homes, they had to go through six weeks of life skills training. The classes were given twice a week for two or three hours a session.

Residents resisted the mandatory nature of the classes, just as they did the other aspects of the development, said MCC Executive Director Rhonda Brandon.

Ms. Brandon admitted not every resident really needed to sit through every topic covered.

"People said, ‘I know this. I don’t want to know that,’" she said.

But residents also influenced the classes in ways that improved them, she said. Some residents knew more about bargain hunting and alternative methods of cleaning than the instructors, said Ms. Brandon.

Residents still are required to attend monthly sessions, which serve a social function as much as an informational one.

Melissa Stammely, MCC case manager, said she sits down with each resident and tries to help them devise and achieve future goals. MCC has even gotten involved in neighbor disputes.

"We do whatever else comes along," Ms. Stammely said.

Residents have responded by properly maintaining their apartments and staying put. Hampton said of the 20 original apartments completed, 19 of the original families are still in them. One left to buy a home, a process that MCC also assists with.

Inspections are conducted quarterly, when exterminators are sent in, and housekeeping issues are brought up with residents then.

"All we’re asking is that you be a good neighbor and keep what you got nice," said Ms. Brandon. "We’re trying to bring a better quality of life to our residents."

The leases set certain prohibitions -- such as no grilling in front of the homes -- and require residents to take care of their yards. Pennrose has yard care equipment available for rent and provides a list of neighborhood people who cut grass.

Eighty-six public housing units have replaced 107 that were demolished, and twenty-eight newly built homes were sold.