AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEEK
May 8-May 18, 2008
GRIP Open House May 15, 2008, 10am-noon.
Elected officials and the public are invited to GRIP's state of the art Integrated Family and Supportive Services Center for a tour of our family emergency shelter and transitional housing, souper center kitchen and support services programs. For tour information, please contact GRIP's Executive Director, Arthur Hatchett, at 510-233-2141 x 302.
May 18 is "Housing in the Pulpit" weekend. Reverend Phil Lawson, President of GRIP's Board of Directors and Interfaith Program Director of East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), and GRIP urge our member congregations and others to lead conversations of the current crisis in housing at this time. Materials to guide discussions, lessons, reflections, and more are availbale through GRIP. For more information or to obtain materials, please contact Arthur Hatchett, at the above number.
For more information on Affordable Housing Week and scheduled events, forums and workshops, please visit www.ebho.org, or call EBHO at 510/663-3830.
Why is affordable housing important to everyone?
According to the World Bank in December 2007, the lack of affordable housing is the main cause of homelessness in our nation. Public Health officials recognize many illnesses are linked to housing issues. Supportive housing helps stabilize physically, mentally and other challenged populations. Many new affordable housing projects are innovative leaders in green building and sustainable community development.
What is affordable housing?
Policymakers consider housing to be affordable when a family pays no more than 30 percent of their total income in rent or mortgage payment, insurance and taxes. A reasonable utility allowance is also frequently included in the definition. This definition is widely used by local, state and federal governments and recognizes that households have other essential expenses including food, clothing, healthcare, childcare, education and transportation.
What does affordable mean in the East Bay ?
Housing is affordable if it meets this 30 percent test. According to the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, the East Bay is the 19th LEAST affordable metropolitan area in the country, where 90.7% of Alameda County and Contra Costa County residents cannot purchase an area median -priced home.
The “new generation” of affordable housing developments by non- profit developers offers innovative, practical solutions to the East Bay’s housing crisis and includes hiring renowned architects to design high-quality, award-winning housing that fits into the context of the neighborhood. Additionally, these professionally managed properties deter crime and increase neighborhood vitality.
Affordable housing developments also contribute to the stability and cohesion of neighborhoods throughout the region.
Learn how affordable housing changes lives and neighborhoods, and find out more about the Affordable Housing Week Events, including the Kick-Off Celebration at the Oakland Museum on May 8, our Open House, on May 15, tours of other programs, forums and workshops on housing and health, today's housing market, and more by visiting GRIP Board President Rev. Phillip Lawson's organization, the East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO), web site (www.ebho.org).
Supervisors Vote to Close Richmond Clinic
On May 6, 2008 the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the prpobudget recommendatiosn as proposed and debated on April 22. We understand the decision may have been akin to Soloman's and the baby, and that the recommendations are in response to decreased funds from the State that effect every County program, in every area of the County. We also understand Richmond is not the only location to lose services. HOWEVER this decision eliminates adult day services and an entire clinic in Richmond, and, despite arguments that services still would be available via a consolidation at Doctor's Hospital San Pablo, the communities of Richmond, El Cerrito and Kensington now will have NO mental health services available in their immediate area. The hardship on invividuals, their families and the entire community is far greater than that of other communities. For more information from the County, see, www.co.contracosta.ca.us For more analysis from GRIP, please contact Arthur Hatchett at 510-233-2141 x302, and refer to this page in the near future.
Also, we encourage all to participate in the GRIP:
Mental Health Task Force - addressing the increasing challenges of our crippled mental health care system in Contra Costa County. Our March 26 2008 meeting included members of police departments, service providers, representatives from Supervisor John Gioia, City of Richmond and City of San Pablo, GRIP congregation members, consumers, County Health Department senior staff, County Mental Health Commissioners, NAMI members, more. Next meeting: tba. Grace Lutheran Church 2369 Barrett Avenue, Richmond. All welcome. See news, for more.
Annual Harmony Walk Help plan our second- week- in October annual event, and become a sponsor. See, News, for more information.
Youth Violence GRIP and our Social Justice Committee have begun investigating youth violence in our West County communities. For updates, when available, go to our News and Events pages.
Learn about the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative One of GRIP's traditions: collaborating to develop communities liveable for everyone. This time we are partnering to create affordable housing and transit oriented development along San Pablo Avenue, from Albany to MacDonald Avenue in Richmond. For more info, visit: www.urbanhabitat.org, and look in our News section for more on GRIP's role and upcoming events.
For more Social Justice and Other News, please go to our News page.
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