February 2, 1998

To: Gigi Amateau, United Way Representative

From: John M. Felts, ASWAN Co-Convener

Dear Ms. Amateau:

Thank you, for keeping me informed of recent developments regarding the proposed "Entity" and about your concerns about lack of nominations of ASWAN members. After thorough discussions concerning this issue of board nomination at the ASWAN weekly meetings, ASWAN's members voted not to nominate anyone including its own members. We also understand that we are not the only organization involved with the homeless community that has refused to make such nominations.

We had asked United Way to suspend any nominations of a proposed "Entity" until there is a receipt of acceptance from the public as a whole and more importantly from the homeless community and its champions in the African-American clergy community. There is a special need for more dialogue and not to rush to develop "The Entity" at this time. ASWAN and the Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity put this request to United Way in letters. United Way has not yet written in response to these letters.

ASWAN will not agree to minor last minute concessions where its agreement might be taken to give moral authority to a process that has been wrong and discriminatory. As I have mentioned before, perhaps it is time to clean an open wound to ensure a healing process.

Last week, City Council had before it two resolutions that would have thanked the Task Force and one of its members for their work. ASWAN opposed those resolutions, because they might have been seen as endorsing the concept of the proposed coordinating body. Enclosed is a copy of a letter on behalf of ASWAN to City Council opposing those resolutions. The Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity also opposed them. Last Monday City Council struck those two resolutions. There has been no vote by City Council for going forward with the proposed coordinating body at this time. Currently, it's a divided way, certainly not a united way.

You indicated there was a time pressure for the 1998 HUD/NOFA process. Yesterday, you said that because the Task Force had been disbanded, there was a need to form the Entity so that Richmond could receive this year's HUD funding. As a co-convener of ASWAN, I would like to invite you or any representative of United Way to attend one of the weekly meetings of ASWAN at 7 p.m. at the Daily Planet at 302 West Cananl Street to discuss the 1998 HUD/NOFA process.

All ASWAN meetings are open to the public and a United Way representative would be more than welcome at any meeting. You indicated yesterday that this issue might come up at a meeting at United Way today, so I will respond as a co-convener of ASWAN immediately, and will give you a group response after tomorrow night's ASWAN meeting.

As a co-convener of ASWAN, I ask that any discussion at today's meeting at United Way of the 1998 HUD/NOFA process consider a return to the open process that was originally put in place in 1996 that involved invitations to all of the provider community, to the homeless community, and prior notice and invitation to the general public. There was 40% participation of homeless and formerly homeless people on the Rankings Committee that year. That was a good process until the City Administration sought to undo the effect of the recommendations of the Rankings Committee. An open process like the start of the 1996 process would not require the expense of creating a coordinating body.

A City Councilman recently suggested to me that it might be helpful if members of the Task Force who do not agree with its recommendations for a proposed coordinating body submitted a minority report. Enclosed is a unfinished draft for a minority report I will submit to tomorrow's ASWAN meeting for consideration. Another member of ASWAN has also prepared some language that ASWAN plans to review as well. I hope that a proposed minority report endorsed by ASWAN will be presented to some of the members of the Task Force who have expressed concerns about the process and proposals for development of a coordinating body, so that a minority report can be submitted to City Council. I am sending you the proposed draft but hope you will understand that the language in that draft has not yet been considered or approved by ASWAN.

Matthew J. Hilgeford, ASWAN Co-convener, wrote a letter to the Greater Richmond Coalition for the Homeless, dated August 13, 1996, in which he stated the following:

"During the past few weeks we have observed the way others treat us. One such occasion was that of the ranking's committee. Where the decision of that committee was over rode, adjusted, adjusted back again. It is our concern that since the committee is made up of 40% homeless people that their decision wasn't taken seriously. Another incident took place at the meeting of the Greater Richmond Colition for the Homeless. At the meeting Dale Johnson Rainey from (ACCESS) spoke about the Entity and how they used a similar model from New Orlean, LA.. during which Matthew J. Hilgeford asked, 'Can you show that the New Orleands model reduced homelessness in any way. I mean just by one person.' Jim Payne remarked that my question wasn't germane to the subject. At this point Nancy Warman the co-chair said, 'If anyone is going to be antagonistic they would be asked to leave.' These are just a couple of incidents. But it shows that we are dismissed and really have no valid voice in the decision making process."

Changes are certainly needed to develop a true solution to properly address homelessness. Homeless representatives need to be treated with respect, they need to be looked at across the table, eye to eye, not down at. They need to be listened to, not with a deaf ear. They need to be acted with, and not upon. Our pleas are being heard, from City Council to the African-American clergy. I hope our pleas are also being heard by those who are supposed to be helping us, our service providers.

I wish to express my appreciation to you for all of your help to homeless people, Gigi. I have always considered you a valuable and true homeless advocate who listens to homeless people with a good ear. You have helped homeless people in many, many ways, and the homeless community is very grateful to you for what you have done for us.

Sincerely,

John M. Felts
ASWAN Co-convener