[Durham INC] instead of plywood on windows...

[Lorisa Seibel]

INC & Ken:
Walltown, West End, & Burch Avenue Neighborhood revitalizations were  
initiated by neighborhoods working with non-profits, including Durham  
Affordable Housing Coalition, Durham Community Land Trust, Habitat,  
and Self-Help.  As a result, there has been a dramatic decrease in  
crime and vacant/substandard housing.

Now, the market drives the cost of housing up, especially in my old  
neighborhood, Burch Avenue.  However, it is still one of the most  
economically and racially diverse neighborhoods in Durham.  How?

I am one of the founders of the Burch Avenue Neighborhood Association,  
which created the Durham Community Land Trust 24 years ago.  We  
started the Land Trust because our neighbors had paid rent for 30  
years and did not have safe, stable housing.  Some of our neighbors  
had literally worked for Duke AND rented homes owned by Duke for 30  
years.  With the Land Trust, these neighbors finally got the  
opportunity to buy their homes.  Elderly and disabled neighbors know  
their rents would never rise beyond their fixed incomes.  Without the  
Land Trust, many of our lower income neighbors would not be able to  
continue to buy and rent quality homes in their neighborhoods.
See:
http://www.dclt.org/aboutDCLT.cfm

The City only provides a relatively small percentage of the cost of  
affordable housing.  However, City funds are critical to leverage  
private financing for homeownership and quality rental homes.

CITY STAFF PROPOSED ELIMINATING OR CUTTING FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES  
& BASIC SERVICES FOR HOMELESS AND HUNGRY PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

Programs that may lose funds, include:
Urban Ministries of Durham's Community Kitchen and
Interfaith Hospitality Network's Case Manager, who, each year, helps  
25 families with children move from churches into their own homes.

See "Get Involved" on the left side of our website:
http://www.dahc.org/

INC has already supported a resolution to the City to continue funding  
for housing, services, and neighborhoods.  NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

Come to the City budget public hearing on Monday, March 7, 7:00pm, AND  
talk with City Council members at Coffees with Council.

Thanks.
Lorisa

Lorisa Seibel
Durham Affordable Housing Coalition
400 W. Main St. Suite 408, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 683-1185 ext. 25
(fax) 688-0082
Lorisa at dahc.org
www.dahc.org
===

On Mar 5, 2011, at 6:53 AM, Ken Gasch wrote:

How does putting more disadvantaged, poor folk in a disadvantaged,  
poor neighborhood help those folk and the neighborhood?  How does that  
bring opportunity to the neighborhood?  How does that increase the  
socioeconomic diversity of the person's social network?

respectfully,

Ken Gasch
REALTOR®/Broker
Seagroves Realty
www.KenGasch.com
C: 919.475.8866
F: 866.229.4267



On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 6:38 AM, Lorisa Seibel <Lorisa at dahc.org> wrote:
Ken,
I have the same question as Julie.  Please reply to both of us.

How has the City policy to give properties to non-profits hurt a  
neighborhood?
As far as I know, the City has only just recently used this policy to  
give a few properties to Habitat.

Thanks.
Lorisa

On Mar 5, 2011, at 12:33 AM, Free Spirit wrote:

How?

Julie Omohundro
Durham, North Carolina
freespirit0623 at earthlink.net

From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org]  
On Behalf Of Ken Gasch
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 8:49 PM
To: Melissa's yahoo
Cc: inc listserv
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] instead of plywood on windows...

Let them eat cake?

This brings me to another point. While well meaning, the city's policy  
of giving properties to non-profits hurts and area's ability to pull  
itself up by its boot straps.



Ken Gasch
REALTOR®/Broker
Seagroves Realty
www.KenGasch.com
C: 919.475.8866
F: 866.229.4267




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Lorisa Seibel
Durham Affordable Housing Coalition
400 W. Main St. Suite 408, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 683-1185 ext. 25
(fax) 688-0082
Lorisa at dahc.org
www.dahc.org



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