tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post6343433984922736944..comments2024-02-23T05:26:08.495-08:00Comments on AHA Lessons Learned: When is "Community" Not "Community"?Atlanta Housing Authorityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10921863073961177478noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-34096299959992000442011-01-31T15:31:58.778-08:002011-01-31T15:31:58.778-08:00I want to first congratulate AHA for effectively t...I want to first congratulate AHA for effectively taking on a task that has enormous complexity and the leadership for its commitment. Overall the need to replace archaic affordable housing paridigms was long overdue. Once the original mission of public housing shifted from its original internt, our policies for providing "transitional" and affordable housing should have followed the needs of our Communities. <br /><br />I believe overall the article explains approach and is clear and articulate in defining its goals, but it is misleading in its conclusions. Poverty eradication, which I believe should be the aim, was not the goal, but dispersing or diffusing poverty was and is the aim. Ms. Glover stated:<br /><br /> "Concentrated poverty is synonymous with crime, drugs, hopelessness, economic wastelands and poor or no services. All of the research says you cannot overcome it and results are always dire. So we said: We must not concentrate poverty." Goal accomplished. Housing in and of itself doesn't eliminate the social conditions of poverty, low expectations, drugs, crime etc. Transformational programs intergrated with sustainalbe, afffordable living spaces do. Ms Glover goes on to say:<br /><br />"Since razing the projects, those families now live in 24 ZIP Codes around the city (plus a small number who have moved to other counties and states). What our studies show is that the residents now live in neighborhoods that, on average, are 27 percent more affluent than when they lived in the projects." I say, the residents themselves, in most cases did not become middle incomed, gentrified residents, they became invisible. Incomes didn't change for the most part, expectations did...expectations that were not met by those who were not permitted to stay in the newly developed communities. Previous public housing residents, if they met the criteria, were given the option to become a part of the new community. Most couldn't because of criminal record holders within their families or chose to take advantage of the housing voucher because it did expand their housing choices but not necessarily their income or standard of living.<br /><br />I commend Ms. Glover's knowledge of Community Development, revitalization and partnership building. I urge her to be more forthcoming when we assess the impact on poverty and the poor. And maybe we should work on the residual resentment between AHA and the "self appointed" advocates and their "romantic" ties to their neighborhoods.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-82554749351821713332011-01-31T03:42:57.482-08:002011-01-31T03:42:57.482-08:00I am reading this article after "discovering&...I am reading this article after "discovering" the second. As a child of public housing, I can attest that what you write is so very true. I am currently in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and recently transferred from Ohio. There is a vicious negative cycle occuring in the projects. Crime, proverty, and hopelessness reign. Children grow to learn this as a normal way of life. I feel that your revitalizing paradigm will break this bleak cycle for many families and generations. KEEP ON KEEPING ON! TAKE IT NATIONAL!!!Pamela K. Carr, B.S.,M.Ed.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05584053848550256722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-92182858957578316252011-01-20T07:39:00.323-08:002011-01-20T07:39:00.323-08:00Thank you for writing. Your blog is an example of ...Thank you for writing. Your blog is an example of how social media can be put to great use in sharing methods of social service delivery. I am a big fan of AHA and always glad to hear about your good work.Laurahttp://www.wordpress.com/bronzedshoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-54026694195864549192011-01-18T12:40:35.076-08:002011-01-18T12:40:35.076-08:00When I was getting my Masters in Human Services (w...When I was getting my Masters in Human Services (way back in 1992), my professor used this subject (community and the housing projects)as an assignment which asked us to construct a paradigm for a new community. Many of us postulated the same sentiments that were in your article. Thank you Ms. Glover for your brave convictions, courage and let's-get-it-done attitude that has made this paradigm a reality.Carole Timesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-26466764433747764522011-01-18T10:47:58.811-08:002011-01-18T10:47:58.811-08:00I love this article and fully beleive in the conce...I love this article and fully beleive in the concept. I know this is they way to go to once and for all change the genarational cycle of people coming out of this type housing. My mother lives in a housing project community in Illinois, due to her having to stop working and raising my sister's three children after she was murdered. I am working on getting her out there it is so negative and depressing for her.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488909925448127413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-75248231311923000582011-01-18T10:02:20.494-08:002011-01-18T10:02:20.494-08:00Government by itself cannot solve the social ills ...Government by itself cannot solve the social ills so deeply entrenched in our "communities". Thank you Renee for your courageous vision and the tenacity to forge ahead inspite of the naysayers. I look for ward to reading the next two segments. These comments should make the headline news.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-68586737035180505462011-01-18T07:01:44.234-08:002011-01-18T07:01:44.234-08:00I am from Atlanta but now live in another city. I...I am from Atlanta but now live in another city. I wish our local Housing Authority could embrace the concept of community which you have enacted as opposed to defending the status quo in the name of "protecting history." Thank you for your efforts to rescue people and for the lives that will be more fully lived as a result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-64108803675314473602011-01-18T07:00:09.956-08:002011-01-18T07:00:09.956-08:00Renee,
I cannot begin to thank you for your forwar...Renee,<br />I cannot begin to thank you for your forward-thinking and your willingness to forge ahead to help so many have hope and pride in their communities. Your initiative on behalf of the Atlanta Housing Authority is the foremost reason so many are moving back in to the City of Atlanta. You are changing lives for the better. This is yet another example of "Creative Destruction" and the positive impact it can have on so many! Looking forward to reading the other 2 blogs in this series.Crystal E. Blackwellhttp://www.staffingone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-41243472797510086772011-01-18T06:56:41.903-08:002011-01-18T06:56:41.903-08:00This was a phenominal vision. I believe that all ...This was a phenominal vision. I believe that all states should adopt or use this model. Why? We can't continue doing the same old thing and expect different results. Every child deserves the right to a good education and a good quality of life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-11367038367521831772011-01-18T05:18:47.082-08:002011-01-18T05:18:47.082-08:00You had to go with a new formula to improve the &q...You had to go with a new formula to improve the "community".We had followed a pattern of making physical upgrades to the complexes,however,we did not change the culture.The role models to achievement were submerged. We created mini- prisons,poverty encampments,thanks for not keeping the same old failed policies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-89796472061883867752011-01-18T04:52:14.739-08:002011-01-18T04:52:14.739-08:00congratulations on a great article. You definitel...congratulations on a great article. You definitely touch the essence of what a community should be, integrated, healthy, and with resources. Hope others follow your initiatives. Conchy BretosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019388137640565084.post-12245866754348814162011-01-18T03:58:00.284-08:002011-01-18T03:58:00.284-08:00I fully support the mission and goals of the Atlan...I fully support the mission and goals of the Atlanta Housing Authority, and not just because I earn my living selling and appraising real estate, but because America succeeds when our individual communities are successful and thriving.Neighborhood Stabilizerhttp://carter-hazelrealty.georgiamls.comnoreply@blogger.com