My comments to David Wharton in this thread get to the heart of my concerns about a rezoning case this week. I thought it was worth repeating as a post:
“This was obviously a controversial rezoning. And the decision concerns me, because our Task Force to End Homelessness will soon be releasing a Ten Year Plan that is built around permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people, and those homes are supposed to be in the community, in neighborhoods. And chronically homeless people have a higher rate of substance abuse and mental illness. So where are they going to live? Where will the housing for them be? What neighborhood will welcome them? It just seems that even when you find a way to house homeless people, that someone will still say, ‘This isn’t the place.’ OK… so where IS the place?”
I just could not believe what I heard Tuesday evening! I don’t use profanity but I can and am thinking it! Cara Michele the Handicapped won their case on SCAT and it is imperative that this rezoning for the reentry house be won because it sets a precedence that will kill the homeless program. I think the tactic of wearing the city council down must be used in this case too. I also think a huge e-mail campaign would help. Sharon Bell in the Mayor’s office gave me this e-mail address and told me that any time I wanted all the city council members to get an e-mail to send it to her and she would make copies and put in in their boxes. Mayor’s Office, Sharon: Sharon.Bell@Greensboro-NC.gov
We have to do something to nip this nonsense in the bud. I mean it is not as if they don’t already have the rehab center in the neighborhood. They arguments were beyond stupid. Mayor Happy Holliday saying that a 4 bedroom 1900 sf house was too small for 6 otherwise homeless men!?? And the absolute GUARANTEE that one out of that six would go out and get drugs like he is God and can foretell what people will do. Oh, I am so damned MAD! Please let me know if there is something I can do. I am sure many bloggers will be willing to help here too since by and large we ae a compassionate and fairly humane group. BB