Head of County Commission Meets with HHH

Jennifer Roberts, leader of the County Commission, met with Homeless Helping Homeless members last Wednesday. In style, she arrived wearing her HHH T-Shirt and Hat, which members had given her during the State of the County Address.

The group discussed the importance of supportive housing and advocated for more resources directed towards the homeless getting disability quicker. Commissioner Roberts brought up several additional matters, including how Parks & Recreation has employed homeless individuals in the past to pick-up litter in the parks. HHH members saw this is a possibility to move forward our agenda item to open more doors for more employment opportunities.

Our ending question was "What do you believe in?", to which Commissioner Roberts responded (author's paraphrase) the power of love to transform. Amen.

HHH Recognized at State of the County Address

As guests of Commissioner Roberts, nine members of HHH attended the State of the County address early Monday, 3/17. Commssioner Roberts touched upon several topics affecting our community - from literacy to the need for greenspace; from the light rail to our recidivism rate. Not only did Commissioner Roberts specifically address the issue of homelessness, but many other topics that directly impact homelessness - domestic violence, mental health, addiction, and the criminal justice system. During her discussion of homelessness, she recognized members of Homeless Helping Homeless, who were invited to stand and introduce themselves.

We look forward to meeting with Commissioner Roberts at our next HHH meeting.

Farewell to Librarian Carl Pritchard

Carl Pritchard, who worked with HHH to begin Urban Ministry Center's library, is retiring and moving to Seattle. HHH members will miss Mr. Pritchard and his monthly delivery of books. We are grateful for his passion around literacy and his care for the homeless community. THANK YOU, CARL!

HHH Meets with Councilman Foxx

Last Wednesday, HHH members gathered with City Councilman Anthony Foxx to discuss Charlotte's affordable housing strategy. Foxx aptly pointed out that it is worth questioning the city's current definition of affordable housing, which is for people who earn 60% of Area Median Income. In Charlotte, that is someone who makes $40,000 per year.

Foxx encouraged HHH to take several action steps:

1. Ask the City Council to put $20 million of affordable housing bonds on the ballot in November. The City Manager had requested $20 million in bonds every 2 years, but the Council cut the request in half and will place $10 million on the ballot in November. Foxx suggested we make this request and follow it up with a huge out pouring of letters and phone calls from the public.

2. Talk to the City about making better use of private-public developments. Each time a developer comes to the city asking for neighborhood improvements or zoning for a new project, the city should be asking what the developer is doing to curb our affordable housing shortage.

3. Seek an opportunity to serve of the Housing Trust Fund advisory board.

We thank Mr. Foxx for his time and concern.

City's Affordable Housing Leaves Needs Unmet

A column from HHH member Liz Clasen, published in the Charlotte Observer 3/11:

I sat at a table with three colleagues at the Urban Ministry Center, totally stumped. We were trying to find housing for a woman with health problems and a challenging personality.
Her issues were serious enough that emergency shelters were not an option, but not so severe that she was eligible for an institution. It was the first of the month and she had just received her government check for disability. With a $637 check in her hand, she wanted housing. We had none to offer.
Here are the facts: A study commissioned by the city estimates there will be a need for 12,530 affordable rental units in 2010. Roughly two-thirds of the need is for households that earn less than $8,000 a year. That's $667 per month.
Largest gap neglected
These are people struggling with disability, mental illness and unemployment. Using the federal government's definition of affordability, these households can only afford to pay $200 each month toward rent. For some reason, however, these people are not the focus of the city's affordable housing efforts.Through affordable housing bonds, voters have given the city $45 million towards the Housing Trust Fund. The city allocates low-interest loans and grants to developers and non-profits to create affordable housing. While that money has created several beautiful new projects, they are not addressing the largest and most essential gap. Almost none of the money went towards creating new housing for those who earn less than $8,000.
Instead, when speaking of affordable housing, our city leaders like to talk about "workforce" housing: affordable housing for teachers' aides and policemen, for day-care workers and blue-collar workers, for all the Johnson & Wales students. While these groups are certainly deserving of quality housing, they are not the individuals who can only put $200 towards rent.
Whether or not we believe someone is morally worthy of a house should not determine our affordable housing policy. Our policy should aim to meet the actual unmet need: those who earn less than $8,000 per year.
The wrong people helped
The city has provided affordable housing money for those who earn up to $51,000 per year. Not to reveal too much information, but I fall into the city's definition of need! Currently, I live in the historic Elizabeth neighborhood in a quaint two-bedroom duplex in a rent lower than some of the city-funded affordable housing units.
The market is providing housing for my colleagues at the Urban Ministry Center. It is those who come through the soup kitchen line that our affordable housing bond dollars should help. Our limited city funds must provide housing for those the free market will never serve.
The Charlotte Housing Authority is the obvious choice to meet the housing needs of those in deep poverty, but that agency cannot do it alone. Currently, the waiting lists for Section 8 and public housing are closed. The city must aggressively seek out new partners to close the affordable housing gap. The failure to provide housing will cost us even more.
As far as the woman with her $637 check, she went to the hospital. When she is released, she will likely use her check for a weekly motel. Hopefully it will last until the end of the month. As far as how she will manage next month, I'm still stumped.

County Commission Adopts 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

At last night's County Commission meeting, Homeless Helping Homeless and members of the community joined forces to show their support for the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Stacy Lowry, Director of Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, delivered an update on the 10-Year Plan to the Commissioners. Among the highlights of the evening was a speech by HHH Leadership Team member Rollon Washington. An estimated 125 people showed up to demonstrate their support for ending homelessness. HHH distributed stickers and signs communicating the importance of making ending homelessness a priority for Mecklenburg County. After much heated debate, the County Commission voted in favor of adopting the 10-Year Plan.

HHH to Rally Support at Wednesday's Commission Meeting

Homeless Helping Homeless* has called upon the community to attend the County Commission meeting at 6 pm on Wednesday, March 5th to show their support for a plan to end homelessness. Hundreds are expected to attend. The Commissioners will receive an update on the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. On April 17, 2007, the last full commission meeting in which a report on the 10 Year Plan was given, Commissioner Helms stated, “Before you are going to get any real commitment out of the political arena, you need to have the community to understand that [homelessness] is an issue that has consequences far beyond what we essentially trivialize.” The gathering of people is meant to demonstrate to the Commissioners that the community will to end homelessness exists and to encourage the Commission to make ending homelessness a priority.