© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated Oct. 26, 2006)
Retrieval numbers:
Volumes 4544, 4545; photograph collection 494
Title: Mennonite
Urban Renewal Program fonds
Dates: 1974-1991
Extent: 0.5 meters of textual records
Extent: 4
photographs
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre
ArchivesHistorical note
The Mennonite Urban Renewal Program (MURP) traces its origins back
to 1981 when it was organized according to the vision set forth by a
fellowship group at the River East Mennonite Brethren Church. The program was
designed to provide low-income people in Winnipeg's core area with affordable,
dependable housing, thereby facilitating the establishment of Christian
ministry in the community. The commitment to a "wholistic ministry" was
realized through the "Housing Plus" program which MURP created in 1984. Cal
Wiebe and Willy Guenther were hired to implement this program, providing
pastoral and counselling services as well as other forms of assistance to the
tenants of buildings operated by MURP. While MURP originally targeted Native
people as prospective tenants and future administrators, the expected levels
of Native involvement in the program did not materialize.
MURP's first building was acquired at 277 Atlantic Avenue in May,
1981, financed by member donations and low interest loans. Further properties
were purchased in December 1983 at 641/645 Westminster Avenue and at 768 and
774 Toronto Street. The organization was formalized in 1983 with the support
of the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Church Extensions, Native
Ministries of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, and the Winnipeg Core
Area Initiative. Jake M. Unrau served as president of the provisional Board of
Directors in 1981, and was elected chair of the board in 1982. Other chairs
were Peter J. Kroeker (1985-1986) and David Dyck (1987-1988). Gerald Brown
acted as full-time manager of the apartment blocks from 1983 until July,
1987.
Due to a lack of awareness and support of MURP in the Mennonite
churches, some discomfort on the part of tenants with MURP's expectations, and
the increasingly evident contradictions in upholding a "distinctively
Christian approach" to administering the properties and managing them in a
financially viable way, the program encountered serious financial
difficulties. The Atlantic property was sold in November, 1987 followed by the
Westminster block in February, 1988. The decision to dissolve the corporation
was made at a special annual meeting in November, 1988, where the board
recommended that MURP's remaining properties be sold and the assets
transferred to the Mennonite Foundation of Canada for investment. Interest
earned by these monies was to be used by the Mennonite Central Committee
(Manitoba) to finance new proposals with aims similar to MURP's regarding
ministry in Winnipeg's inner city.
Scope and content note
This fonds consists of seven series: 1) Minutes, 1980-1989, 2)
Financial ledgers, 1981-1987, 3) Financial files, 1981-1991, 4)
Correspondence, 1981-1990, 5) MURP properties and their administration,
1974-1988, 6) MURP-tenant relations, 1983-1987, and 7) MURP objectives and
operation, 1977-1989.
Index terms
Creators
Adjunct descriptive data
Finding aids
Series description and inventory file list available. Photographs
are described at an item level in the MHC Photograph
database.
Notes
Custodial history
These records were brought to the archives by Edd Funk in June,
1993.
Arrangement
Arranged and described by Stephanie Heidenreich, June 1997.
Reviewed and updated by Alf Redekopp, Oct. 2006.
Restrictions on access
None
Other notes
Accession No. 93-167
SERIES DESCRIPTION
This series consists of the minutes of various meetings pertaining to the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program. It includes the minutes and reports of the executive committee, the board of directors, and the advisory committee, as well as those related to the annual and general meetings.
Location: Volume 4544
This series consists of registers recording the MURP's general income and expenditures. There are also payroll books which document the salaries paid to its employees.
Location: Volume 4544
This series consists of records documenting the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's financial activities. There are financial statements, records of donations and low-interest loans made by the membership, documents pertaining to Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's investment interest, and tax-related forms and correspondence. Documents describing the Manitoba Employment Action Program's involvement in MURP are also included.
Location: Volume 4544, 4545
This series consists of the MURP's general correspondence as well as letters and reports sent to its membership. There are lists of individuals receiving MURP mailings.
Location: Volume 4545
This series consists of legal and mortgage documents pertaining to MURP properties, as well as notices of rent increases, insurance records, and realty tax bills.
Location: Volume 4545
This series consists of minutes, reports, and other documents related to the Housing Plus committee. There are records pertaining to tenant-related concerns, and notices sent to the
tenants of the Atlantic Avenue building.
Location: Volume 4545
This series consists of documents which describe MURP's objectives and operation. It includes documents related to MURP's incorporation and by-laws, as well as reports, studies, publicity materials, news bulletins and articles, and directories of community services related to MURP and its objectives. There is an extensive study on low-rental housing and related social service needs in Winnipeg undertaken by Vera Isaak at MURP's request.
Location: Volume 4545
This series consists of photographs depicting the properties owned by the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program.
Location: photograph collection volume 494
Mennonite Urban Renewal Program fonds file list:
Volume 4544
1. Minutes
2. Financial Ledgers
3. Financial Files
Volume 4545
4. Correspondence
5. Property-Related Files
6. Tenant-Related Files
7. Objectives and Operation
8. Photographs
494:1 277 Atlantic Avenue. - ca. 1983. - 13x 9 cm (col.).
This photo shows the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's property ìat 277 Atlantic Avenue in Winnipeg.
494:2 641/645 Westminster Avenue. - ca. 1983. - 13x 9 cm (col.).
This photo shows the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's property ìat 641/645 Westiminster Avenue,
Winnipeg.
494:3 368 and 374 Toronto Street. - ca. 1983. - 13x 9 cm (col.).
This photo shows the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's property ìat 368 and 374 Toronto Street,
Winnipeg.
494:4 374 Toronto Street. - ca. 1983. - 13x 9 cm (col.).
This photo shows the Mennonite Urban Renewal Program's property ìat 374 Toronto Street, Winnipeg.