Changes at "Housing Task Force - Scope and Research"

Goal: develop an action plan to address immediate and long-term needs of vulnerable residents. The thought is that by providing relief to immediate needs, we can fortify and position people for a more ambitious effort.

The lens is Dignity - this isn't about assigning blame, but having an appreciation for individual needs

Consider land sovereignty as insurance of a community’s ability to self-determine with regard to land/water stewardship, transit, shelter, development, commerce, etc.  

We need to be trustworthy and intentional with this effort, especially at this moment. We don't want to waste people's time or raise hope without having a clear plan that is communicated with willing participants.

An immediate goal would be to serve as a conduit for mutual aid, safety, building resources/info, transportation, cleaning services; basically ensure health and safety in an immediate sense. A long-term goal (research for could happen simultaneously) could be to acquire deficient properties from delinquent Owners, and hold them to account.

• COMPLETE: Identified case studies

  • Serrano Apartments

  • Culmoore Apartments

  • Barcroft Apartments

  • Columbia Pike / Bucchanan St

  • Can add more if desired

• First-Hand accounts (let's start reaching out):

  • Interviews w/ friends, acquaintances, family

    • People who have organized for Serrano Apartments

      • Kei looking up names of organizers from article 2 years ago

    • Friendly building mgmt: Are any of the building managers well-intentioned and strapped by the conditions of Ownership/financial hardship?

    • Risky/awkward: contact negligent property owners and see if they will overshare

    • Renters Union, local mutual aid groups

    • Reddit, published articles, crime reports?

  • Once we have a firmer plan about what we're committing to, Outreach: Gauge willingness of other residents

    • Are we able to put our own eyes on some of these conditions, and document?

    • Ways to discreetly advertise to other residents?

    • Firm-up a list of questions for residents

• Tabulate basic building/property/Owner info, history (Caroline)

• Establish commonalities

  • Common actors (development, bdg mgmt, inspection history, etc)

  • Common internal conditions (ie Electrical vulnerabilities, cleanliness, a sense of "home", ventilation issues, mold, old chipped paint/vinyl, accessibility, sound transmission etc)

  • External environmental factors

  • Suggestions from residents

  • Resident wishlist items, immediate and long-term

  • Accessibility to convenient public transportation, public space, supermarkets, etc.

• Field Trips (maybe this is a separate initiative; Kei and Caroline are typically available and willing on Sundays)

  • Buildings in other areas with similar conditions

  • Contact River East Design Center to see if Anna can do a meeting - she provides community design services and also has a mobile cart that she takes out to educate Ward 8 residents on their rights

  • Redelicious is doing a farm day on Sunday 12/07