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

Sat Mar 5 09:58:57 EST 2011

Matt:
I agree that all neighborhoods and non-profits are different with  
unique paths to the same goals of safe housing and neighborhoods for  
everyone in Durham.

This Spring, I am working with the Housing Results Based  
Accountability group to help the City, County, and Durham community  
define clear goals and measure our progress each year.  We plan to  
bring proposed goals and measures to the INC and other groups in  
April, hold a community meeting in May, and bring our agreed-on goals  
and measures to the City & County in June.  Annual measures should  
help the City and County prioritize limited funding for programs that  
meet our goals in the future.

I encourage you to hold government, non-profit, and for-profit groups  
accountable.  Also, please support groups that provide needed, cost- 
effective programs.
Lorisa
===

On Mar 5, 2011, at 9:04 AM, Matt Dudek wrote:

Cleveland-Holloway is an example of a neighborhood that was almost  
hurt very badly by giving away property to non-profits. In our  
approximately 20 block neighborhood we have around 15 non-profits who  
operate halfway houses and group homes including the fanastic Genesis  
Home. And the durham rescue mission and Urban Ministries serving the  
cities homeless population. This is obviously a very high  
concentration of social services which can make an area undesirable  
for anyone of any income level that has any choice about location.

Additionally, not all non-profits are created equal. For example there  
is one non-profit running a group home here and the house obviously  
does not meet minimum housing code yet the employees drive hummers and  
jaguars.

The city also almost sold Half of an entire block to a non-profit who  
was going to build a "lock-in" facility for troubled youth right in  
our neighborhood. Luckily the neighborhood fought it and the city  
listened. A year later that nonprofit was being sued by the city for  
embezzlement or malfeasance.

I am not a person who says not in mh back yard, I bought a home with  
these organizations in my backyard, but giving away land to any  
nonprofit can create a concentration of poverty that can make  
neighborhoods worse, not better. I can appreciate free rent, or even  
free land for groups with proven track records, but overconcentrating  
poverty will cause anyone who has a choice, to move.

This is a complicated issue, and I hope my quickly typed email doesn't  
come across as combative or trite. I think this is a great discussion.

Sincerely,
Matt Dudek

Cleveland-Holloway

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

> 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
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Durham INC Mailing List
> list at durham-inc.org
> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html

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