Posted on 06/29/2005 7:02:03 AM PDT by Turbopilot
Tenants told last October to get jobs or else
Starting Friday, the Atlanta Housing Authority will begin evicting tenants who are not working, in school or in a work force training program.
The authority, which began notifying residents about the new rule last fall, said it is trying to end concentrated poverty by encouraging public housing tenants to become more self-sufficient.
Critics of the new rules, however, fear the plan will create a new generation of homeless people as a result of thousands of evictions.
"This is going to mean that you will have so many people on the streets homeless because the job market is so bad," said Louise Watley, 72, the former longtime president of the Carver Homes Tenant Association and a public housing advocate.
Housing Authority Executive Director Renee Glover, however, defends the tougher rules.
"We don't desire, or expect, that everybody is going to be turned out on the streets," Glover said. "I am expecting that most people are going to step up to the requirement and achieve it."
Because it has been designated a "Moving to Work" program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Atlanta Housing Authority has great flexibility to design and test ways to promote self-sufficiency among families receiving assistance. AHA's program has been named CATALYST.
Last October, residents between the ages of 18 to 61 and not disabled who lived in the 13 traditional public housing units and in Section 8 houses were informed they would face eviction if they were not working, going to school or in a work force training program.
According to AHA figures, about 13,935 adults live in traditional public housing and Section 8 housing who are being required to work under the CATALYST requirements.
The AHA reports that of the 2,845 households in government-built dwellings affected by the rules, fewer than half are in compliance. In Section 8 housing, where tenants get federal vouchers to rent private dwellings, only about 3,498 of the 8,826 affected households are complying with the rules.
The new policy is "Draconian," said Sheila Crowley, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington-based group dedicated to ending the affordable housing crisis.
'That additional push'
"Public housing is the only housing available to those at the lowest income," Crowley said. "We have a huge shortage of places for people to live. When we are attempting to prevent homelessness, to have a housing authority purposely taking people with the least capacity and putting them on the street is wrong."
But Glover said there are jobs for people who want to work. The AHA is working with the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency to encourage residents to seek employment. The agency also administers grants for child care assistance.
"What is needed is that additional push to encourage people to spread their wings," Glover said. "To me, the greater consequence of not working is becoming more dependent on government subsidies."
According to the state Department of Labor, Atlanta's 3 percent unemployment rate is well below the state's 5.2 percent jobless rate.
In the past six months, the work force development agency has trained more than 600 people who live in public housing. Executive Director Deborah Lum said the four-week program offers computer classes, life skills training and resume workshops while specifically training people in everything from customer service to carpentry.
Every Tuesday, the agency hosts a job fair promoting thousands of openings at construction sites, the airport and in customer service.
"Almost 70 percent of our clients are placed, and the 30 percent who aren't placed don't want to work," said Lum, adding that most jobs require background checks and drug tests.
"There are 20,000 jobs at the airport through construction alone. We have a good projection of jobs in the city over the next five or six years."
Claims of no recourse
But Diane Wright, president of the Hollywood Courts resident association, said most of the residents --- mostly single, young women with children --- in her complex are having a hard time getting those jobs.
"A lot of them were working, some got fired. Some got laid off," said Wright, who has lived in Hollywood for 16 years. "CATALYST to me is a way to destroy families. Where are these girls going when they get evicted?"
At midday Tuesday, Hollywood Courts was teeming with women and children. Many claim that they have tried to get jobs and will have no place to go if they get evicted.
"Most people are trying to find jobs, but can't," said Latisha Thomas, 23, who is five months pregnant. "They are being too strict on us. I don't think it is possible for everybody to find a job by their deadline."
Thomas, the mother of two, is not working and said that by the time she enrolls in school, she will have to drop out to have her baby. She is, however, in a twice-a-week literacy program working toward her GED. Watching from a second floor window, Pamela Shanks said that she, her daughter and two grandchildren might end up on the streets.
"I can't get a computer job or work as a secretary," said Shanks, 40. "The only work I can do is in a warehouse or in housekeeping, and I can't even get that. And now these folks want to kick my family out on the streets."
But across town at University Homes, 76-year-old Verna Mobley has little sympathy.
"I think it is the greatest thing that ever happened," Mobley said of the CATALYST program. "This new generation can wear hairdos and walk around smoking dope, but can't pay their rent. I am glad, and all the older people think it is great."
Mobley has lived in Atlanta public housing for 45 years and in University Homes since 1965.
Although she is well above the targeted age that CATALYST requires for working, she still works regularly and on her off days, patrols University Homes' laundry room, keeping outsiders away.
"I still get up everyday and go to work. I like to work. Why should I not work?" Mobley said. "But it is quite a few up there who are not working. Sure, they can go to work. If you are the head of your household, you should be working."
Returning has rules
Using federal Hope VI money, Glover has torn down several crime-ridden, dangerous and oppressive housing projects and replaced them with mixed-income apartments with swimming pools, tennis courts and manicured lawns.
The notorious Techwood Homes became Centennial Place. Carver Homes is now the lush Villages at Carver. East Lake Meadows, once known as "Little Vietnam," is now a golf course community called the Villages of East Lake.
The old Perry Homes is being transferred into West Highlands, where an 18-hole golf course will anchor the $300 million to $400 million project in southwest Atlanta. It will include a charter school, library, a YMCA and 2,211 housing units on 462 acres.
But not everyone who lived in one of the so-called "projects" was welcomed back.
Once a complex is razed, anyone who previously lived there has the option of coming back. But fewer than 50 percent of the units are earmarked for them, and moving back in comes with rules.
There is a criminal background check. No staying home and refusing to work. No lease violations. No history of trouble.
CATALYST, in effect, is an extension of the rules, touching on the people who live in the 13 yet-to-be-converted complexes and in Section 8 properties.
"We believe, fundamentally that human potential is unlimited," Glover said. "The worst thing you can do is set expectations at a lower level. I am expecting positive outcomes."
Thomas, the mother of two, is not working and said that by the time she enrolls in school, she will have to drop out to have her baby. She is, however, in a twice-a-week literacy program working toward her GED. Watching from a second floor window, Pamela Shanks said that she, her daughter and two grandchildren might end up on the streets.
"I can't get a computer job or work as a secretary," said Shanks, 40. "The only work I can do is in a warehouse or in housekeeping, and I can't even get that. And now these folks want to kick my family out on the streets."
See how many things wrong you can spot in just the above brief paragraphs.
"We believe, fundamentally that human potential is unlimited," Glover said. "The worst thing you can do is set expectations at a lower level. I am expecting positive outcomes."
Bravo.
where be da menfolk?
Looks like a busload of liberals are going to have to find somebody else to sponge off of.
Right. We have 10 MILLION illegal aliens in the United States because there are no jobs.
How about instead of making babies, she went out and received an education and subsequent employment.
No pity from me for this woman and the others being evicted. Of course, whether the evictions actually happen is another matter. Too many bleeding hearts will probably put pressure on to quash the evictions.
If the men were around for anything beyond the sperm donation, the women wouldn't be in the situation. Not to say that the women aren't at least equally at fault.
I have worked with that population in the past. Many have no clue as to what the world of work is all about. They are 3rd generation on welfare.
There is a reason you don't see many companies going into the cities. It is the work(?)force. Illegals usually want to work and will work hard. Many of these folks won't. It is that simple. They are used to hand-out programs and getting paid to reproduce. It isn't pretty, but it is so true.
I am in favor of long term supports ONLY for the elderly and disabled. The rest of us have to slug it out to work for a living. (The exception, as always, the independently wealthy....guess what, life is not fair!)
So much for the 'great society' and urban social planning. Time for some tough love.
First comment: One doesn't have to have a job, one can be in work force training or school.
Second comment: She can be in work force training, or perhaps a school that can meet her work requirements i.e. an online thing.
Third: Who says you need a computer job or a job as a secretary? Anybody can get a job in housekeeping. If you can't, go to school, or get the training you need to get a computer job.
A good reporter would at the very least comment on the fact that the tenants don't understand the rules.
"We have 10 MILLION illegal aliens in the United States because there are no jobs."
They're just doing the jobs those on food stamps in public housing won't do.
Friday only starts the eviction process...that is going to buy the social leeches...er...tenants a few more months.
Remind again why the poor procreate?
I have more respect for streetwalkers than I do welfare mommas. At least hookers have to hustle!
She can't read but she can have babies. I think I see the problem here.
You know what it will not creat a homeless problem. Here is what will happen. The nearest large city will have a huge influx of people who don't want to work and want to live on someone else's money moving into it.
All and all not a bad plan. I like actually. Just hope i never live in the last city to try this. All of the welfare people will be living in that city. I hope that this succeeds. Look, here are your choices: Work, go to school, join and attend work training programs. I am guessing all of the above would also be funded.
Atlanta's new slogan. Move up not out. Or is it, Move up or out.
Now, THAT is the truth!
Dollars to donuts Mrs. Crowley lives in a gated community.
Latisha Thomas has no job but is on her way to adding one more mouth to her already two on the ground for the tax payer to clothe, feed and house. Welfare, as Strom Thurman stated, cripples rather than helps...Latisha is the problem.
They'll all end up in San Francisco.
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