Neighborhoods
On the surface, it is perfectly reasonable to agree with the IFC’s decision to take the University up on its offer to lease the land at a rate of $1 per year. However, there continue to be many unanswered questions that when addressed will shed an entirely different light onto the issue. I’ve listed some, but not all of those questions below.
1. Why is UNC being so generous?
2. What is UNC getting out of this extremely philanthropic act?
3. What are the criteria Chris Moran states the IFC used to select this area?
4. What criteria were used to select the previous sites that were ultimately rejected and where is the evidence the criteria were used before the previous sites were rejected?
5. What is to happen to the men who are turned away from using one of the planned 20 emergency beds?
I watched Monday night's public hearing on the IFC's proposed new shelter on Homestead Road with dismay. Every time the IFC identifies an affordable parcel of land appropriate for a new Homestart shelter, the neighbors object. Although the Town Council does a good job of responding to the concerns of neighborhoods, this time we have a pickle. The shelter has to move. It cannot stay downtown and achieve the type of service the town and the IFC want to provide to our homeless male population. To help promote a more positive dialogue, I'd like to propose that we stop talking about "the shelter" and begin discussing the various services currently offered by the IFC and the new proposed services.
The current shelter offers three primary services: overnight beds, job and life counseling, and meals. Those who wish to spend the night at the shelter must be clean and sober, and they have to be inside by 8:00 pm and gone by early morning. Counseling is obviously used by those who desire the service. Meals are available to men, women, and children, whether they stay in the shelter or not. Many of those who use the meal service are the underemployed.
There are 9 Orange County new homes listed in the Parade of Homes insert of today's Herald.
Only one house is listed at barely under $400,000. The other 8 are all over $500,000 with 3 listed above a million. Does this say something about affordability in Orange County? Combine those prices with the tax rates and what demographics are being invited to live in the OC?
Gene Nichol moderates this social justice
focused candidate forum on Wednesday, Oct 21 from 7-9 p.m. Hear
candidate ideas and positions on issues like affordable housing,
democracy reform and civil rights, welcoming Chapel Hill's immigrant
and refugee communities, and environmental justice.
Candidate
forum sponsors include: NC Common Cause, Democracy North Carolina,
League of Women Voters, NAACP (UNC Chapter), Justice and Peace
Commission of The Church of Reconciliation. Individual sponsors
include: Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams (Chapel of the Cross), Rev. Bob
Dunham (University Presbyterian Church), Richard andJill Edens (United
Church of Chapel Hill), and Rev. Peter JB Carman (Binkley Baptist
Church).
Due to other church business that evening, THERE IS NO PARKING AT UUMC. Please plan to use street or other available parking.
Contact Josh Glasser, JGlasser@CommonCause.org or 919-260-1364 for more information
Date:
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location:
University United Methodist Church, 150 E Franklin St.
The Orange County Justice United In Community Effort organization of 25 churches and civic organizations will be walking in Northside and a hispanic community TBA to learn about issues facing our community, share what OC J.U.I.C.E. is all about, and promote our founding ceremony on October 26th. We will be joined by UNC students who are also conducting an assessment of opportunities for building repair.
Date:
Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 6:00am to 9:00am
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