East Side Neighborhood Development Company is a locally governed development corporation whose mission is to foster a safe, diverse, and thriving neighborhood by engaging the community to create affordable housing and support commercial development.
“It was great working with Ja’Na. She was just so pleasant and professional. She helped me every step of the way. If she didn’t have an answer for something she would call me when she found it… I can’t say enough good things about her.” —ROSE GATZKE
Rose Gatzke has lived in her home on Sims Avenue for 40 years. The house was built in 1884 and in need of some repairs when Ja’Na Dickens knocked on her door. Ja’Na canvasses Saint Paul’s east side on a regular basis. As the Housing Program Manager at the East Side Development Company, Ja’Na oversees ESNDC’s resource bundling program; she helped Rose through the application process with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, Habitat for Humanity’s “A Brush with Kindness” program, and the City of Saint Paul’s home improvement forgivable loan fund.
“It was great working with Ja’Na. She was just so pleasant and professional. She helped me every step of the way. If she didn’t have an answer for something she would call me when she found it… I can’t say enough good things about her,” Rose said.
Rose received a shower bench, removable shower head, bathtub grab bars, a new freezer and a $24,000 forgivable loan from the city of Saint Paul. Rose will use the forgivable loan money for repairs on the exterior of her home, new windows and new kitchen cabinets. She is grateful for the increased value and livability of her home, and for all of ESNDC’s assistance.
