This was originally posted to the Adams Morgan Listserv on April 22, 2018, as message #47995, groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AdamsMorgan/conversations/messages/47995
Below is my testimony from Thursday’s hearing for n DC’s Housing Authority(DCHA) Budget oversight hearing. I always encourage residents to submit testimony either in person or in writing. My focus was Park Morton New Communities, but public housing plays an important and broader role in our community. For example, DCHA issues federal and local rental vouchers as a development tool, at the same time in Ward 1 several apartment building along 16th Street in the Ward were charged with discrimination against voucher holders contrary to local and federal human rights and fair housing laws respectively.
Another important hearing coming up is for the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Developemt (DMPED). Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 12:00PM, Room 500, Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the foregoing agencies may contact: Chanell Autrey (cautrey@…) or by calling 202-724-8053.
I’ll probably focus again on New Communities and leveraging budget spending to address DMPED’s discriminatory policies against families, especially African American and other families of color. Something documented in the city’s own reports.
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COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS, CHAIRPERSON
Budget Oversight Hearing: Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization
Friday, April 20, 2018, 11:00 A.M.
Chairperson Bonds and Council Members:
In about 2009 while servicing as an ANC Commissioner, 1A05, I was invited to a meeting called by Ms. Marie Whitfield, at that time the President of the Park Morton Resident Council. During the meeting she shared her opposition to the City’s Park Morton New Communities Initiative (NCI). She then shared with those in attendance her powerful vision for a resident led rehab and redevelopment of the Park Morton complex. A vision which included resident ownership, entrepreneurship, gainful employment, and the Park Morton resident community working together to raise their families and even retire in a safe, clean and loving environment. She identified funding sources, models and potential development partners. She made it clear that she would not support Park Morton NCI unless it could meet this standard, otherwise she proffered NCI was just a cover for land grab, marginalization and displacement. I promised her that I would always fight for the vision and standard she set.
The current Park Morton NCI plan cooked up by DCHA and DMPED does not come close to meeting the vision and standard shared by Ms. Whitfield for residents of Park Morton on that day. I am here to suggest immediate actions this committee, DCHA and the Committee on Business & Economic Development on can take in this budget season to aspire to the Whitfield standard:
1. Given Housing Commission Resolutions 17-32 and 17-35, The residents of Park Morton should be issued TOPA notices by the Housing Authority. If there are any legal impediments to this notice, this committee should sponsor the appropriated legislation to make this possible.
2. The development contracts and zoning agreements related to Park Morton NCI should be amended to require that at least 20% of both NCI sites to include affordable ownership opportunities and the overall number of 3-bedroom or greater in the project increased to at least 25%.
3. DCHA implement an immediate Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program for the residents of Park Morton with a $735,000 yearly matching fund for self-sufficiency. Currently, DHCA and DMPED are spending approximately this amount in Human Capital Programs and outreach related to Park Morton NCI. As a matter of equity NCI should spend at least as much in direct incentives to residents as they do in Human Capital contracts.
a. HOU – $325,000
b. Case Western Contract – ~$160,000
c. TCB/Dantes Outreach – $250,000
4. The Park Morton Family Self-Sufficiency fund should also include money set-a-side to potentially address back rent, fees and penalties owned by residents who meet their self sufficiency goals. In resolution 17-32 DCHA choose to issue 90 project based vouchers (PBV) to empower the development team instead of Housing Choice Vouchers which tend to empower residents. The PBV’s in the Park Morton community are worth about $2100 per month for 15 years for the 90 units or approximately $34M. Again based on a since of equity this contribution should be at least $5M.
5. Park Morton is currently subject to multiple Human Capital outreach and case management programs often overlapping and poorly coordinated. The Park Morton Resident Council should be funded for staff and resources to over see, focus and magnify the positive impact of these and related programs. $200K/yr.
It is my hope and demand that DCHA and this committee adopt the Whitfield standard for Park Morton NCI