Affordable Housing News...and a Joy from MHCH! |
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Quote of the Week “God is not satisfied with appearance. God wants the garment of Justice." ~ Archbishop Oscar Romero, assassinated March 24, 1980 |
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Monthly Housing Justice Forum April 27 7:00 p.m. “ABCs of ADUs" Join us to learn about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), or “Granny Flats.”
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An introduction for homeowners and a springboard for future workshops topics to be determined by a poll or survey (landlord training, how to choose a contractor…. etc.) |
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Please write or speak in support of our Housing Department’s award-winning pilot program to make ADUs affordable and to bring unpermitted ADUs up-to-code: Item #16 on Monday's City Council Agenda. | | |
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The Council has already approved the program. Now it must approve the loans that the Housing Department has carefully made to Pasadena homeowners who met their criteria. Please note that this program was listed among a nation’s Pasadena has come a long way since 2003 when it decided to impose such stringent requirements on ADUs (such as a minimum 15,000 sf lot size) that only one legal ADU was built in 13 years. MHCH worked with state lawmakers and today it is possible to build ADUs no matter your property size! But making them affordable is the challenge our Housing Department and our ADU committee is now working on. To make that happen, please request the city to: 1. Drop all fees for affordable ADUs, since all other affordable units get fee waivers. 2. Streamline and fast track all affordable ADUs, since all other affordable units get to fast track—which saves time and money.And to expand the pilot program: 3. Remove the 12-foot top plate requirement so the full 17 feet allowed can be utilized—must better stewardship of space. 4. To allow for both detached and attached ADUs, which is the case in all other CA cities. This is a racial justice issue, as it allows income to build generational wealth, especially in NW Pasadena where people of color have been barred from building ADUs due to these constraints. It is time for Pasadena to recognize its implicit biases and make amends Anthony Manousos, Co-founder of MHCH, Chair of the Affordable/Supportive HOusing Advocates (ASHA) |
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John Williams Patrice McKensie Interfaith Prayer Vigil and Press Conference to Rezone Churches for Affordable Housing. With Special Guests Senator Anthony Portantino and Councilmember John Kennedy - When: April 24 at 4 p.m.
- Where: New Hope Baptist Church, 1787 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
- Why: Many churches want to offer their land for affordable housing, but zoning codes make it very costly and often impossible. Join us to pray for a change!
We will offer prayers of Confession, Commitment, Thanksgiving and Petition for racial and economic justice, especially for our brothers and sisters who are unhoused, displaced, or housing insecure. The event will be outdoors; please wear a mask; we will maintain social distance. Parking is available at the New Life Holiness Church, 2005 N Fair Oaks Ave. This is a church that wants to have affordable housing built on its property. Community Leaders Participating in this event include: |
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Dr. Phlunte Riddle; Pastor Paul Jones, New Hope Baptist Church; Pastor John Stewart New Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church; Ibrahim Naeem, Blair Miller, Temple Beth Israel; Patrice Marshall McKenzie, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc; Deacon Lawrence Davy, New Hope Baptist; Dr, Gilbert Walton, New Hope Baptist Church; Andre White, Mitchelville Real Estate Group; Teresa Eilers, Union Station; Rev. Dr. Larry Campbell, First AME; John Williams; Fellowship Monrovia; John McCall, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church |
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Michelle Bailey, Friendship Church; Marcos Canales, Paz Naz; Sally Howard, All Saints Church; PJ Johnson; Deron Johnson, Calvary Christian Center; Brita Pinkston, Pasadena Foursquare Church; Pam Wilson Lincoln Avenue Christian Church; Connie Tamkin, First United Methodist Church of Pasadena; Liz Murphy, Throop UU Church; Pasadena City Councilmember John Kennedy; Dr. Margaret Lee, Azusa Pacific University, Hypin Im, Faith and Community Empowerment |
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Weekly Communique from Jill Shook, MHCH ED Since zoning laws were first adopted 100 years ago in the 1920s, they have historically been used to exclude, especially barring lower income people and people of color from wealthier parts of communities, unless it was in a maid’s quarter (today called a Jr. ADU). Once a community has been segregated, it is often internalized as “bad” and even police at times are clouded with fear and can no longer see the assets, the beauty and image of God in those they are to protect. |
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To help us understand the dynamic between violence and land use, Richard Rothstein has powerfully helped unveiled how this happens in his excellent article “The Making of Ferguson”. I have required my students to read this and I hope you will as well. While we celebrate the Chauvin verdict as powerful step toward racial justice, we must do all we can to address underlying causes of violence such as fear, discrimination, and segregation in order to stop such police shootings in our own community. |
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Let’s choose love and the golden rule. If we have a nice home with an ADU, let’s help everyone to have that opportunity so that together we can help break the cycle of poverty. Let’s make sure that all are welcomed and loved as neighbors. I hope to see you on Saturday at 4pm, at our prayer vigil as we confess racism and ask God to end homelessness and allow churches to create the kind of housing we need that builds a society that honors God. Jill Shook MHCH ED |
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