Archive for Housing
Homeless Persons’ Memorial
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A memorial service to commemorate the lives of those who died while homeless in Asheville and Buncombe County will be held on December 21 at 12:30 p.m. at the Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. The memorial service is co-sponsored by the Asheville Buncombe Homeless Initiative, the First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, and the Haywood Street Congregation.
The public is invited to attend. Donations of coats, hats, scarves, gloves and blankets will be accepted at Haywood Street Congregation beginning at 9 a.m. A free community meal will be held at 11:30 a.m.
The memorial service precedes the longest night of the year. An average of 20 people die while homeless every year in this community. The memorial service will include the reading of the names and stories of each person who died while homeless this year and the opportunity to speak in tribute to them.
Crucial Conversation Full House
Posted by: | CommentsRob Schofield and Chris Fitzsimon came to Asheville this past week to provide a briefing on how policies out of Raleigh are affecting us all. The duo write for NC Policy Watch, a project of the NC Justice Center, who held last week’s budget symposium at AB Tech. There were over 80 attendees at this Crucial Conversation.
The two explained that their organizations provide a counterpoint to the conservative perspectives coming from Civitas, the John Locke Foundation, and Americans for Prosperity.
Recent NC polling results from Public Policy Polling were displayed early in the meeting:
Home Free
Posted by: | CommentsHome Free Bagels is promoting economic justice and ending homelessness through social enterprise, and you can help by joining a very special viewing of the new film, HOME FREE.
Tickets for Home Free are available on a sliding scale with prices ranging from $5-$10. The short film and the following reception are being presented in conjunction with Just Economics and Homeward Bound.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 7pm at The Fine Arts Theater.
Asheville Nationally Recognized for Success in Reducing Homelessness
Posted by: | CommentsI’m so proud of our Homeless Coalition, Asheville-Buncombe Homelessness Advisory Board, City and County officials and staff, Homeward Bound, ABCCM, Eblen Charities, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and all of the people and agencies who are helping to get us closer to ending chronic homelessness. Thank you for all of your dedication to this compassionate work that so profoundly benefits our city and the whole of humanity.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness recognized six U.S. cities for their successes. You can see the entire story at Mtn. X. Excerpt:
Asheville, NC has seen a 75 percent reduction in its population experiencing chronic homelessness since its 10-year plan was adopted in 2005, thanks in part to a collaborative community effort targeting public housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. In a partnership that began in March 2010, the Housing Authority prioritizes people on its waitlist who are experiencing chronic homeless who will receive case management from Homeward Bound for at least their first year in housing. This project has reduced the wait for public housing from 12-18 months to 2-3 months for people experiencing chronic homelessness, and has housed 61 people since it began, with an 89 percent housing retention rate. This impact is reflected in Asheville’s Point-in-Time data with a chronic homeless count of 187 in 2010 down 60 percent in one year to 75 in 2011. This is a project of the advisory board of the Homeless Initiative, which coordinates the community’s 10-year plan. Advisory board members include not only the Housing Authority and Homeward Bound, but also other community partners who have come to the table to collaborate on and resource this project: the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, local mental health providers and the local hospital.
Homelessness Is a Solvable Problem
Posted by: | CommentsThis guest post from Emily Ball, who’s a remarkable whirlwind of compassion, innovation, collaboration, and grace, came to Scrutiny Hooligans via email.
About 500 people are homeless in Buncombe County, and they all became homeless for the same reason: they lost their support. They might’ve lost their jobs, been released from prison, developed an addiction, been mentally ill, or had a physical accident or disability, but those things happen to people in housing too – probably even people you know. Maybe even you. The difference is that people who become homeless didn’t have anyone around them to sustain them through that crisis.
But it’s solvable! Those 500 people don’t have to stay homeless in our community, cycling through emergency shelters & programs and consuming expensive public resources just to survive. Housing is the answer. Providing permanent supportive housing ENDS homelessness – if you put people back in housing as quickly as possible & give them support while they stabilize it, 89% of them will maintain that housing for good. We know, because that’s what we do at Homeward Bound.
Since we realized that we didn’t have to just manage homelessness with emergency programs, but could actually SOLVE it with permanent housing, we’ve gotten 273 people into their own homes, and 89% of them have stayed there.
Image From Homeward Bound Public Service Announcement. Click to see the PSA!
No one wants to be homeless. And if we share our resources and use them on what works, no one has to be homeless in Asheville. Those 500 people are our neighbors, and their lack of housing & stability is bad for our whole community. So join us in ending homelessness in Asheville, because it’s a solvable problem, and you can be part of the solution!
Emily Ball
Homeward Bound of Asheville
www.hbofa.org
One Year In – The Wins
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Photo by Jason Sandford
December 8th will mark one year since I was sworn in as a member of your Asheville City Council. It’s been a learning curve like no other in my life. Thanks for all of the support that’s been offered by friends and all of the prodding that been offered by others. I’ve managed to help get a lot done in this first year, and I’ve still got a ways to go. My colleagues on Council and staff have been patient and helpful as I’ve learned the ropes.
This week I’ll offer some different ways of looking at what’s been accomplished this year. The Wins, The Vote Spreads, and The Chronology will be featured in separate posts to give everyone various ways at looking at what’s what. I reviewed the minutes of all the Council meetings through Nov. 9 and recorded the stuff that I thought would be helpful for my personal reflection as well as your public reflection. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the best you’ll get anywhere.
Today’s chapter, The Wins, focuses on those things that made good on my campaign promises as well as several bonus items. I haven’t gotten everything done yet, but some big strides have been made.
When elected, I promised to try to make Asheville more affordable and more sustainable. I promised to work to increase multimodal infrastructure. I promised to make Asheville more welcoming to her LGBT citizens. I promised to help balance the budget and protect our progressive priorities. After the jump, you’ll find my list of The Wins.
Doors of Asheville
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From Pollinate Asheville:
Mountain Housing Opportunities’ Doors of Asheville art auction fundraiser is Friday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. at The Venue. Juried works by regional artists are auctioned at the event, proceeds benefit the programs and services of non-profit Mountain Housing Opportunities–wine, beer & hors d’oeurves AND live entertainment! MHO’s services and programs include emergency home repair, affordable/workforce housing development and lending, and neighborhood revitalization. Tickets $55 per person or $100 per couple.
It will feature 30 one-of-a-kind works of art created by local artists. You have GOT to check these amazing pieces out! The pieces range from full-sized doors used as canvas to smaller, more intimate works that embrace the theme of doors to homes and housing. The other cool thing is that MHO pays artists an honorarium for each work. If their piece brings more than the set amount at auction, the artist gets an additional $300.
Economic Realities
Posted by: | CommentsTwo very thoughtful opinion pieces in the AC-T today. The first is from Jim Buchanan and features this quote from Glenn Greenwald,
“Does anyone doubt that once a society ceases to be able to afford schools, public transit, paved roads, libraries and streetlights — or once it chooses not to be able to afford those things in pursuit of imperial priorities and the maintenance of a vast Surveillance and National Security State — that a very serious problem has arisen, that things have gone seriously awry, that imperial collapse, by definition, is an imminent inevitability?”
This second piece is from the editorial board, and it recognizes the stark reality of our local economic situation. Click here to read the whole thing. Here’s a trenchant quote:
More affordable housing would be a boon to the regular folk who teach in our schools, fight crime in our neighborhoods, fight fires in the community, care for our sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes.
Sustainable Asheville
Posted by: | CommentsDavid Forbes takes a look at the movement on an important ordinance that will alter the way we build in Asheville. Go give it a read and join the conversation at Mtn. X.
