b'Last spring, Safara Rasas, right, and Yuri Collins, carrying mattress, along with other members of St. Marys High Schools varsity basketballteam, served as clean-up crew to make way for renovations on the former Schaper home.I Maria Estrada, who, along with their four children,f you meander down South Grand Boulevard nearthe southern boundaries of St. Louis City, youll find will move into the home in July. The family is overa charming house in a neighborhood built in the 1920s the moon. Up until now, explains Daniel, owning aand 30s. The home, like most on these tree-lined streets, home seemed impossible. But everything has comeis made of sturdy red brick with an inviting front porch together perfectly, he says. We are truly blessed. perfect for sitting outside on summer evenings to Sitting directly in the middle of Dutchtown and Its about dignity,enjoy the breeze and strike up friendly conversations.only a block from the Schaper home, is St. Marys self-worth and We had what I call yell-at neighborsthe people High School, a Marianist-sponsored school. Mike self-esteem.youd shout to when you were sitting on the porch and England, school president and SJHI board member, Mike England, President,ask, How ya doing? and Whats happening? recalls knows that the broader goals of the Initiative often St. Marys High SchoolHenry Schaper, whose family owned the charming South are hidden from plain view. Home ownership is Grand house. It was a friendly, close-knit community. the American Dream, says Mike. With it comeHenry, his six brothers and a sister moved with their many benefitsfinancial equity, stability, a sense family into the home in 1955, taking up residence in of belonging and accomplishment. the south city neighborhood of Dutchtown, formerly a But for low-income families, theres something evenGerman immigrant enclave. The house and the neigh- more fundamental. Its about dignity, self-worth andborhood are now the focal point of a city revitalization self-esteem, says Mike. project sponsored by St. Joseph Housing Initiative(SJHI), a faith-based nonprofit. One of its goals is to Addressing social inequitiesstabilize Dutchtown and nearby neighborhoods by St. Joseph Housing Initiative was launched last yearhelping low- and moderate-income families buy after the release of the Ferguson Commission report,homes and build equity through home ownership.a study that documented St. Louis poverty and sys-The Schaper family house was purchased by SJHI temic racism. One finding that captured the publicsearlier this year, refurbished and sold to Daniel and attention: 32 percent of black residents own their homes,marianist.com/donate 5'