HousingMinnesota Bulletin - Volume 3, Issue 20 10-20-04

[HousingMN Communications]

HousingMinnesota

Homes for All by 2012!

 

The Bulletin
October 20, 2004
Volume 3, Issue 20

Distributed bi-weekly, this bulletin contains news, announcements,
legislative updates, publications, and upcoming events. We hope you'll
find it helpful in keeping you abreast of important developments. Please
don't hesitate to contact us with items you'd like included in future
issues.  The Bulletin is also available on MHP's website at
http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm
<http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm> .         

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News/Announcements.

Presidential Candidates George Bush and John Kerry Answer Housing
Questions Housing is an important issue this election year, but one that
has been largely ignored by the candidates and the media.  In an effort
to get the presidential candidates on the record about important housing
issues, the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding
drafted eight questions to gauge Bush and Kerry's support for vital
housing programs and initiatives.  To read their unedited responses go
to http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/candidates04.pdf. 

 

New York Times Publishes Editorial About Affordable Housing The New York
Times published Sunday an editorial critical of the Bush administrations
dismantling of the Section 8 program over the last six months.   "That's
the only way to explain the destructive policies emanating from the
Housing and Urban Development Department, which has been hammering at
Section 8 all year. The conflicting signals and general aura of
hostility have convinced housing authorities around the country that
they need to defend themselves by avoiding new commitments and cutting
back on their old ones."  The New York Times editorial staff hold up
former HUD secretaries Henry Cisneros and Jack Kemp's new book
"Opportunity and Progress" (see below) as a good recommendation to
restore funding for Section 8 - a historically successful bipartisan
effort.  To read the entire editorial, go to
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/opinion/16sat1.html.  (This link will
expire October 30.)  (Source: The New York Times)

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Reading

Metropolitan Neighborhoods with Sheltered Homeless Populations: Evidence
from the 1990 and 2000 Censuses 

This report by Barrett Lee and Chad Farrell of the Brookings Institute
analyzes census data for metropolitan neighborhoods with emergency and
transitional shelters.  The report reveals: 

*	"Critical mass neighborhoods-defined as census tracts with
sheltered homeless populations of 100 or more-are disproportionately
located in large metropolitan areas. 
*	Sheltered homeless people constitute a visible but rarely
dominant group in critical mass neighborhoods. 
*	The vast majority (86 percent) of critical mass neighborhoods in
large metro areas are located within central cities and they tend to be
highly transitory in nature. 
*	Although the sheltered homeless account for only a small share
of critical mass neighborhood populations, these neighborhoods tend to
exhibit high levels of disadvantage generally."  

To read the full report go to:
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20041011_homeless.htm
<http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20041011_homeless.htm> . (Source:
The Brookings Institute)  

Tenant Screening Report (2004) According to the recently released
HousingLink report, tenant screening is common in the Twin Cities - 72
percent of property managers who have listed a vacancy with HousingLink
use tenant screening agencies. The Fair Housing Implementation Council
commissioned HousingLink to complete a study of tenant screening in the
Twin Cities metropolitan area. The 45-page report looks at how tenant
screening agencies work, the accuracy of the reports, concerns about the
information provided, and makes some recommendations.  To view the
complete report go to http://www.housinglink.org/Reports.htm
<http://www.housinglink.org/Reports.htm> .  (Source: HousingLink
HousingNews)

Bipartisan Housing Platform Proposed.  Former HUD secretaries Jack Kemp
and Henry Cisneros, along with Kent Colton, former chief executive of
the National Association of Home Builders, and Nicolas Retsinas of
Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, call on President Bush and
Congress to have a thoughtful discussion about the housing needs of the
nation.  They joined forces to make 12 recommendations "to preserve and
expand programs that support individual access to opportunity.  Where
simple program reforms will not suffice, we propose new tools."  

A preview version of "Opportunity and Progress: A Bipartisan Platform
for National Housing Policy" is at
http://www.endhomelessness.org/news/platformpreview.pdf
<http://www.endhomelessness.org/news/platformpreview.pdf> . The final
version will be available at http://www.jchs.harvard.edu
<http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/>  or from Elizabeth England,
elizabeth_england at harvard.edu, (617) 495-7640. (Source:  National
Alliance to End Homelessness)

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Upcoming Events



October 29

The CURA Housing Forum Housing 2004 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:
The Changing Landscape of Housing Policies and its impact on low-income
housing.  12:30-2 p.m., University of Minnesota, West Bank, Carlson
School of Management, Room 2-215. "What are the longer term prospects to
provide housing for very low income households in light of shifting
federal and state policies and priorities? How policy shifts could
impact both Public Housing Authorities and the availability of Section 8
vouchers is a key issue impacting the housing prospects for this
population. Susan Kimberly, St. Paul Department of Planning and Economic
Development director, and Jon Gutzmann, St. Paul Public Housing Agency
executive director, will address this not only as it affects St. Paul's
Housing Authority and overall housing goals, but the potential impacts
across the nation as well."  Please RSVP by Wednesday, October 27th at
612-625-1551. For more information call David Bael at 612-625-2086.
(Source: University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs)

 

November 2

Election Day!  Get out and vote!

 

December 16

20th Annual Homeless Memorial March and Service 5 p.m., March, Location
To Be Determined.  6:30 p.m., Service of Remembrance, Simpson United
Methodist Church, 2740 First Avenue South, Minneapolis, 7:30 p.m.
Community Meal, Simpson Shelter. "On February 10, 2004, Robin Sam died
when the tent he called home went up in flames.  Robin's death drew the
public's attention and heartfelt sympathy, but the memory fades, and
with it, the conviction that homelessness is a scandal.  It is time to
remember Robin and the scores of other people who died while homeless in
Minnesota in 2004."  Please invite co-workers, clients, shelter guests,
friends and especially your public officials to attend this event.  For
more information, to report deaths of people who were homeless from your
community, or if you would like to help with preparations, contact Jim
Smith at Simpson Housing Services at (612) 874-8683 or
jsmith at simpsonhousing.org.  (Source:  Simpson Housing Services)

 

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Looking for something from the last Bulletin??  

Archived issues are available online at:
http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm
<http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm>  

For more information on affordable housing, the content of this
document, or if you have news or events you would like included in
future issues, please contact Rachel Callanan, Policy Director, (651)
649-1710 x107, email rcallanan at mhponline.org
<mailto:rcallanan at mhponline.org>  or see HousingMinnesota's website at
www.housingminnesota.org <http://www.housingminnesota.org/>  . 

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