ASWAN Main page

Bound To Happen
In Richmond Virginia

ASWAN E-Mail City Council
2001 Homeless Petition
Founding Advisers
Founding Members
ASWAN leadership
ASWAN Advisers
ASWAN by-laws
ASWAN links

FIRST HOMES, INC.
Requested- $61,000
Recommended- $31,000

First Home, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation assisting homeless family with children to become stable, economically self-sufficient, and first time home owners. A program designed for future generations to bread out of the cycle of poverty. The request were to be for two properties for home ownership opportunities for two homeless families.

SRO HOUSING OF RICH.
Requested- $1,204,000
Recommended by City Govt. $0

SRO Housing of Richmond is a private nonprofit community development corporation with a mission to develop and operate single room occupancy (SRO) housing for low income single adults. SRO had received a negative Section 213 letter from the city government. There are two sides to this requested HUD funding. The ASWAN news cut will give a more in depth description in a later issue.

The City of Richmond and Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.) will hold a public hearing on Sept. 12 at 6 PM, 5th floor Conference Room, City Hall, of information to use in analyzing the impediments to fair housing for the City's Consolidated Plan. For disenfranchised [homeless] to speak to the hearing, call in advance at 354-0641

Saturday, September 21, 1996 from 9:30 AM to 5 PM
Tidewater Area transportation provided Free transportation and Meals for homeless

A workshop for strengthening organizations and in getting more people involved.

Facilitated by Ellen Ryan of Regeneration Partnership in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has twenty years of organizing and training experience and has worked extensively with community groups throughout the south.

For more information call Rebacca Rader - Program Director (804) 276-4426

Tuesday, September 24, 1996 from 4:30 PM to 7 PM V.C.U. Commons Building (corner of Cherry and Main Streets)

Moderator- Timothy Kaine
Richmond City Councilman

GUEST SPEAKERS-

Walter Leginske, Ph.D
Chief Homeless Program Branch Center for Mental health Services, US Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Fred Darnas, Ph.D
Director of Interagency Council for the Homeless, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development

Deborah Dennis, M.D.
Director of National Resource Center on Homelessness and Metal Illness

Nan Roman
Vice President of National Alliance to End Homelessness

WITH A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD TO FOLLOW. . .

A Society Without A Name, For People Without A Home

Vol.1 No.5 ASWAN Newscut September 11, 1996

Deputy City Manager Dr. George Musgrove
Smokes Peace Pipe With (Disenfranchised) Homeless and the Service Providers

ASWAN members were invited to the Homeless
Regional Task Force Meeting by Dr. Musgrove

The very group that was formed by the city to solve the homeless crisis but had derailed progress, invited members of ASWAN to their August 15, 1996 meeting. During the meeting, none of the ASWAN members were asked to leave, even though an ASWAN members seriously criticized many Richmond government policies, dead-end proposals, and prejudiced views. For instance, a ASWAN member told the task force that the proposed "Entity" would be a waste of money. What is needed is more emphasis on direct provision of shelter and services to help homeless people off the streets and less on administrative costs. Something needs to be done NOW! More funds for direct shelter and provision of services would contribute to decreasing the homeless population. ASWAN opposes any money wasting projects that don't do enough to help the homeless. And why aren't more City's resources allocated to help overcome homelessness?

STATISTICS WOULD SHOW THAT YEARS AGO, RICHMOND TOOK CARE OF ITS OWN, WITH PLENTY OF ACCESS HOMELESS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO GET INTO A SHELTER THAT HAD FEWER RESTRICTIONS.

During the Regional Task Force Meeting, Dr. Musgrove indicated that the new zoning proposals to place new restrictions on providers of homeless services if they renovated or moved had been taken back to the drawing board. A proposal to amend the present zoning law that could have tended over time to decrease shelter bed spaces, as the homeless population increases, has been put on hold.

The zoning proposal would have allowed only twenty beds spaces per shelter by right where such shelters would be properly zoned, in a city that previously had more than a hundred bed spaces at a shelter. The net effect of those proposals would have been to make it difficult for shelters to relocate or renovate downtown. The proposal was written in a way that would have been perfect for an English professor to do a problem solving. Now the zoning proposal has been sent back to the drawing board, a real set back for the master's plan builders.

Any member of the Daily Planet can nominate himself (herself) and /or any members of the Daily Planet for six positions (out of a total of thirty-six) on the Daily Planet board of directors by notifying "Ron" at the Daily Planet of such nominations(s) in writing or orally by 11 AM Monday, September 16, 1996. Announcement of all nominations will be at the community meeting at the Daily Planet at 1 PM on Monday, September 16, 1996. The election is scheduled to be held at the community meeting at the Daily Planet at 1 PM on September 23, 1996. ASWAN is going to ask that members be allowed to vote by written ballot any time beginning then until the community meeting the following week, September 30, 1996. So that members who work can have a better opportunity to vote.

THIS IS A CHANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE DAILY PLANET TO BE REPRESENTED BY MEMBERS ON THE BOARD AND TO BE ACTED WITH INSTEAD OF UPON.

ASWAN is inviting providers to spend one day as a homeless person, and to walk a tour on two Saturdays, September 14 and 21, 1996. Meeting place is at Freedom House, 12th and Hull Streets at 6 AM Anyone is welcome, including Dr. musgrove (bring your peace pipe) DRESS APPROPRIATELY

This ASWAN Newscut prepared by John M. Felts

For tons of free resources & just plain good reading, visit John Felts personal page that includes his latest web site, pages, published articles, and essays.
http://www16.brinkster.com/6499