Cam Gordon wrote:

> We need a better fix than simply not following the city's own ordinance again 
> and again and concentrating more and more supportive and shelter housing in 
> fewer areas. 
> 
> I would like to see what people would think of a "fair share housing" initiative
> that would actually include a way to figure the total number of shelter, 
> supportive (and perhaps public housing) units needed (or most desired) and then 
> requiring that these be spread evenly throughout the city, throughout all 
> neighborhoods.

I agree and brought up the idea earlier of a housing "credit" system for 
neighborhoods, which someone pointed out may be too complicated, but at least it was a 
constructive idea like Cam's.  With Cam's idea, determining the need for such housing 
is not half as difficult as the second equation:  distributing the housing fairly by 
providing some sort of incentives to do so.

Putting aside the Lydia House and CVI projects (which seem to be as inevitable at this 
point as the spiraling contentiousness of litigation), why not compensate--with 
housing credits or even redistribution of NRP or other city funds--Phillips, Stevens 
Square, Whittier and similar neighborhoods for already taking in their fair share of 
supportive housing?  Why not use these funds for other housing projects or other 
actual projects for these neighborhoods?  Why not use the funds to build stronger 
communities for all within these neighborhoods so that the anger does not get waylayed 
and thrown back and forth between two seemingly opposing forces? 

Redistribution of city funds will likely draw some ire from some neighborhoods, but 
wouldn't that be the fair piece of cake that Stevens Square, Phillips, and Whittier 
get to serve up to the neighborhoods for not creating or accepting housing for those 
who have suffered the most through the housing crisis?  Wouldn't that be, gulp, just 
fair?

Just some thoughts in trying to salvage some constructive ways through this 
complicated and emotional issue.

Gregory Luce
North Phillips (work)

North Phillips Press is a publication of Project 504, 
a housing related neighborhood organization based in 
the Phillips neighborhood.
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