Seattle must be the auction and benefit luncheon capital of the world. It seems to me that there is one almost every week, someplace, somewhere, casting out the net for support of a good cause. Building Changes joined this Seattle tradition some five years ago - and this year hit its stride as a gracious and polished host. The keynote speaker was actor and humanitarian Danny Glover. He was held up in Hollywood on production, so Glover arrived on the day of the event in typical Seattle rain, his mood perhaps matching the weather: a bit dreary. Though his start needed a Starbucks triple kick, Glover rose to the occasion with aplomb - leaving us with a vital notion, especially as it pertains to homelessness: We are the architects of our own rescue. Personally, after years of working on the
On Tuesday, May 12th, I was one of a number of community members who participated in a public hearing on the
Housing Levy before the Seattle City Council. The Council is in the process of finalizing the details -- particularly the dollar amount -- that will go into a citizen ballot in November 2009. Seattle voters have approved comparable levies continuously since 1981. The levy adds permanent affordable housing to the city's housing stock. It is the best long-term solution to homelessness and meeting the affordable housing needs of our city. The current proposal being considered by City Council is for an 8-year, $145 million levy which would target half for housing our lowest income residents. Yesterday's hearing drew more than 40 testimonies in favor of the levy -- below is my own.
Recently, NPR ran a three-part series on L.A.'s Skid Row, ending with a look at the current circumstance of Nathaniel Ayers, subject of a major motion picture "The Soloist." Starring Jamie Foxx, the movie opened as the fourth most popular movie in America, grossing nearly $10 million in its opening weekend a few weeks ago. That makes this particular (now formerly) homeless man, and his particular circumstances, pretty high-profile. Such attention is critical to rallying support for the mission of ending homelessness in this country - but it's not entirely a free lunch.
A broad audience means a lot of people to please, and sets a tough standard for success. The public likes to see unequivocal gains that can be directly replicated, among people who are "deserving." I have not seen the
Building Changes applauds Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for their vocal support of S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which the Senate unanimously passed yesterday. The approved legislation included two amendments that will greatly benefit low-income and homeless Washingtonians.
The first put forth by Senator Kerry (D-MA) will require 90 days' notice prior to eviction for renters living in properties that have been foreclosed upon. As I noted in my blog of March 23rd, renters are inadvertently punished by foreclosures as they are frequently forced into eviction upon notification of the mortgagers default even though they dutifully have paid their rent on time and otherwise lived up to the terms of their lease. A similar bill passed the Washington State
Subscribe to this feed!
