URGENT CALL to attend the Pasadena City Council to support homeless housing at Heritage Square South on Monday, Jan 28

Please join us on Monday, January 28, from 6 pm till whenever, when we will be advocating for affordable and homeless housing.

From  6:00-7:00 pm,  GPAHG will be presenting 60 letters that were signed at the Martin Luther King Day prayer vigil, urging the Trustees and the City to abide by an agreement that would insure 169 units of affordable housing at Chang Commons. Nearly 100 people showed up for this vigil, including faculty and students from Fuller and religious leaders.

Heritage Square South is also coming up for another vote on Monday, and according to a very reliable source, it's not a "done deal." We need to rally once again to let the City Council know we want this project to move forward quickly, and not be kicked down the road.

On Monday, the Housing Department will present its recommendation with the following three components:

1) That this project be exempt from the CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This will expedite this project.

2) That the City enter into negotiations with Bridge Housing to become the developer for a mixed use project on Heritage Square South without competitive bidding. Again, this will expedite the project since Bridge Housing developed Heritage Square North and will be able to move forward quickly.

3) Community Outreach. The Housing Dept is recommending that an advisory board be established with various stake holders (neighbors, schools, faith-based organizations, etc.) with this working group being selected by the Housing Director. There would then be a public approval process involving the Northwest Commission (advisory), Economic Development and Technology Committee (recommendation)  and City Council (approval). This process is the same as what was used to develop Heritage Square North. It will delay the project but is probably necessary.

It is important to show the City Council that we are unwavering in our support for homeless housing and the Housing Department. We'd like to have 69 people show up --- one for every unit of affordable housing that could be produced on Heritage Square South!

Please let us know if you  can join us, or if you can't, please write to the City Council and let them know that you support the Housing Department's Staff Report.

Here's a sample letter to send to the City Council via mjomsky@cityofpasadena.net :

Dear Mayor and City Council members, [Introduce yourself, what you do for living, what church or group you belong to. For example, "As a person of faith and a member of the Greater Pasadena Affordable Housing Group, I want to commend the City Council for approving the use of Heritage for mixed use, including 65-70 units of homeless senior housing"].

I am glad that you are moving forward quickly on the Heritage Square South project. As you know all too well, the need is urgent. I therefore urge you to approve the Housing Department's recommendation that we use Bridge Housing as the developer, exempt this project from CEQA, and follow the community outreach activities that were successfully used to bring to completion the Heritage Square senior housing project.

Here's the staff report that's under consideration:

http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2019%20Agendas/Jan_28_19/AR%2016.pdf

Resolving conflict the Quaker way actually works!

Quakers are known for being a “peace church,” but we Quakers aren’t by nature peaceful. Quakerism attracts many who are deeply wounded and conflicted (I count myself among them) and are therefore prone to conflict. We come to silent worship seeking peace for our troubled souls, but worship alone doesn’t always bring peace. We sometimes need to resolve conflicts that arise in the normal course of being and working together in community. What makes Quakerism distinctive is that we have effective ways to resolve such conflicts.

The first way is a one-on-one meeting, face-to-face. If I have a conflict with someone, that’s usually the first step I take, and it’s the one that Jesus recommends (see Matt 18: 15-17).. Find a time that’s mutually convenient, meet, have coffee, talk and listen. Sharing personal stories and listening is the most important part.

I recently had a conflict with the clerk of Yearly Meeting that was very challenging. We tried to communicate and resolve our differences by phone but that didn’t work. What helped was meeting face-to-face. He came to my home and we spent two hours sharing our hearts with other, talking about family, work, and a whole range of things, including what had caused our disagreement. At the end of this time, we were truly Friends. We didn’t necessarily agree, but we respected and appreciated each other. Such relationship-building takes time and effort, but it is absolutely necessary if you want to create what Dr. King calls the “beloved community.”

Sometimes the conflict is so serious that such one-one-ones may not seem safe or possible. That’s when it’s important to bring others into the picture to provide perspective and a safe place to process feelings. When two Quakers have a conflict so serious they don’t feel comfortable having a one-one-one meeting, they can ask for a clearness committee. Here’s how a clearness committee works:

Pastoral care appoint a team of two or three Friends who are trusted by both parties. They meet with those in conflict in a safe space and have a time of worship. Each party in conflict has an opportunity to speak and be listened to without interruption. After both parties feel heard, there may be a time for questions and responses. Sometimes those appointed by pastoral care ask open-ended or clarifying questions. They don’t give advice or take sides.  When everyone feels “clear,” the meeting for worship ends.

It’s extremely simple, but I have found it extremely effective. Let me give a couple of examples:

When I was new to Friends 30 years ago, I had a conflict with one of the staff at Pendle Hill, the Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation near Philadelphia. We both rubbed each other the wrong way, and it was very obvious to the community that something was amiss. We asked for a clearness committee and it helped. There wasn’t a major shift, but enough for both of us to get along. Several years later, however, I ran into this Friend in Sacramento where he was working as a lobbyist. We had lunch and discovered we had so much in common that we became genuine friends. I realized that sometimes it takes time for the clearness process to bear fruits. I believe that once we set our intention to become friends with someone in the spirit of worship, God will bring about reconciliation, in God’s good time. We just need to be patient.

When I worked on the Soviet-American book project in the 1980s, it was very intense work. I deeply admired the woman I was working with, but we had a lot of conflicts. We asked for a clearness committee and it definitely made a difference. We have become best of friends and I am deeply grateful that we were willing to work through our difficulties in a friendly way. After all, if we want peace between the Russians and Americans, we Quaker need to have make peace amongst ourselves!

When the US invaded Iraq, there was a lot of tension and division in my meeting. I spoke out strongly against the war, and some Friends were offended. Jim, the clerk of ministry and counsel, was so offended that he “eldered” me by email, calling a “knee-jerk liberal.” This was painful. I had to do a lot of soul-searching and asked God for guidance. The message I got was that I needed to ask for a clearness committee with Jim. He agreed and we had a very “gathered” meeting (that’s Quakerese for spirit-led). We both realized that we were very different. He was a Republican and I was a radical Democrat. He believed that war could sometimes be justified, and I am an ardent pacifist. As we listened deeply to each other, however, we realized that we both were being true to our understanding of what it means to be faithful to God. We were both doing our best to be authentic Friends. And we came to respect and appreciate each other.

Evidence of our changed relationship came about a few month later. I felt led to get arrested at the army recruitment center as part of an AFSC action, and I asked my meeting for support. We had a clearness session which included Jim. Everyone was in unity in supporting me except Jim. He said, “I don’t agree with this action, but I do believe that Anthony feels led by the Spirit. So I will stand aside.”

I was (and still am) deeply moved by the integrity of Jim’s words. He was true to himself, and he also respected the truth in me. To me, that’s what it means to be a Quaker.

Respecting “that of God” in each person can be hard work. It is easier just to ignore the person you are having a conflict with.  There have been times when I have requested a clearness committee and have been turned down. That’s okay, no one should be forced to reconcile. But I find it sad and ironic when people calling themselves “Friends” are not on speaking terms. 

In my experience such unresolved conflicts fester and often break out in unfriendly behavior. Friends with unresolved conflicts or "grudges" will suddenly speak out in anger, or engage in passive aggressive behavior, like opposing a minute just because it’s supported by someone you dislike. Such behavior sabotages our Quaker process.

Building a truly beloved community isn’t easy. It takes a commitment to put one’s faith into practice, to reach out to those who have offended you or whom you have offended, and to try to connect spiritually. At very least, we need to be on speaking terms.

The most recent clearness committee I had was with someone in my meeting whom I had offended. When we met, I apologized and we “made up” and have become friends. We recently had a conversation in which she strongly disagreed with something I did, and I was pleased. I felt it was a sign of real friendship that she was able to be honest and express her disagreement with me.  You don’t have to agree with someone to appreciate them and be friends. But you do have to be willing to be honest, and share your feelings, and listen to the other person with respect. To me, that’s what it means to be a Quaker, or a mature human being.

Here’s what Jesus says  about dealing with conflict:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matt 18: 15-17

I had a lot of trouble with the part about treating someone like a “Gentile” or “tax collector.” Such people were despised by Jews under Roman occupation, and for good reason. But Kathleen, my wife of blessed memory, helped me to understand this passage from Jesus' perspective. She explained that what she felt Jesus meant was: those who have offended and been chastised by the church/community must be treated with an extra dose of love since Jesus loved everyone, especially those who need forgiveness. After all, he loved Matthew, who was a tax collector (and author of this Gospel).  I believe we should follow this example and love everyone, including  those who have offended or hurt us and have been rebuked by our community. It's not easy, but the alternative is to miss the joy of reconciliation.

What does it mean to love those who are difficult to love? That will be the topic of another blog I'm working on.....

Last chance this year to support homeless and affordable housing

Dear Friends

 As the year ends, we want to give you heart-felt thanks for your support of our housing justice work. We had a big win at City Hall this December, with the Council voting to approve 65-70 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless seniors at Heritage Square South and the Mayor surprising us all by recommending that the city-owned YWCA be used for homeless housing. This is just the beginning. During the next few years, one of the goals of our nonprofit, Making Housing and Community Happen, is to exceed the goal of housing 50% of our homeless neighbors and to address the housing crisis with increased affordable housing. With God, and your support, nothing is impossible!

Please consider making a year-end donation so we can hire much needed help. Thanks to supporters like you, we reached our year-end goal of $10,000. Our goal for the upcoming year is $40,000. Your support makes a difference!

Click here to make a donation

Anthony and Jill

Anthony Manousos and Jill Shook
Co-founders of Making Housing and Community Happen

P.S. You are also warmly invited to two upcoming events:

Jill's Christmas Appeal Focuses on the Amazing Volunteers that Make Housing Happen Possible

Dec. 16, 2018

Dear friends,

In this Christmas appeal I’m focusing on our amazing volunteers and the ways they are involved in transforming our community to make affordable housing happen, then zeroing in on one family.

On any given week between 40-60 folks are actively involved in our faith-rooted advocacy and educational work. We have a scientist, three ex-homeless women, an ex-city planner, pastors, a gardener, an actor, a docent, housing navigators, seminary students, a banker and more. You might find us in one of our four research sub-committees:

v  ADUs-accessory dwelling units “granny flats” low-income pilot program

v  Inclusionary housing, which we helped to pass in 2001, having produce 1,367 affordable units at no cost to the city.

v  PSH-permanent supportive housing for our homeless neighbors, focusing on converting problem motels.

v  Safe Parking program for those living in their cars, to stay in church parking lots.

Or you may find us meeting with key leaders, attending our monthly meetings, or showing up at public meetings—sharing from our heart about why we feel so passionate about providing affordable housing, and especially for Pasadena’s 677 homeless population. If you add our Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) Board members (from Boston, Denver and CA), plus those in our One-Year Housing Justice Cohort (starting in January with two of the participants flying in from TX and CO) as well as the 65 who attended our One-Day Housing Justice Institute this year in Monrovia, CA, and all of you who have donated, we have quite an army of volunteers involved!!  We feel humbled, deeply grateful and rich with the friendships needed to do this work.

I want to introduce you to one of our volunteers Anne Marie (pictured next to me to the left). She has

jumped in wholeheartedly, like many of our volunteers, for reasons that are deeply personal.

Anne Marie experienced homelessness as a teenager. She is now a Pasadena resident and has 5 children who she tries to involve in community activism. Her daughters Lilianna and Samantha are regular volunteers and participate by attending the city council meetings and our fundraisers. Anne Marie is creating a powerful legacy of a woman who is changed and is changing the world by putting her faith into action. She is one of our core group members giving guidance to our local efforts. She is also giving leadership to our ADU efforts, working with our city’s housing director to help shape a proposed city pilot program with an aim to provide low-cost loans to homeowners who wish to build a back-house or converted garage apartment for those in need of affordable housing.

Lilianna, Anne Marie’s oldest daughter, is our youngest advocate at 14, (Pictured to the right with her younger sister Samantha and Pasadena’s Mayor Terry Tornek). Lily has taken part in our housing justice prayer vigils and meetings with elected officials. She also works a few hours a week assisting me in the office. When I am stuck with a computer challenge, I can always count on Lily to figure it out. She also helped with a 50-50 raffle at our fund raiser. See images below.

On behalf of Making Housing and Community Happen we’d like to express our heart-felt thanks for your generous contribution towards our efforts to promote housing justice.

Including our Oct. 27^th fund raiser, to date we have raised over $5,000, including a church in San Marino that contributed $1,000 last week—an encouraging start since launching our nonprofit in September! Our goal is $40,000 to hire much needed staff. We hope you will consider becoming a regular donor. Here’s how:

You can contribute in two ways: On line: https://makinghousinghappen.wedid.it/

Or send checks made out to “Social Good Fund” with “Making Housing and Community Happen” in memo line to:

Making Housing and Community Happen

1628 N Garfield Ave

Pasadena CA 91104

With a grateful heart of joy, as we celebrate a homeless Savior born in a manger,

Dr. Jill Shook

Executive Director of MHCH

Christmas Greetings and Highlights of 2018

At the Madonna Inn, where we went dancing with St Nick and
his wife Nicolette

Jill and I have been so busy with our housing justice advocacy we haven’t had time to write our usual joint Christmas letter, but now that we’re happily ensconced in “Shell Cottage,” the charming home of Jill’s mom in Shell Beach (near Pismo) I have some time to write while the “ladies” are getting a pedicure in San Luis Obispo. (The ladies are Jill, Jill’s 88-year-old Mom Donna and ageless sister Jana.) I feel blessed to be part of Jill’s fun-loving, Jesus-loving and just plain loving family.

We’re having a blast hanging out together in Shell Cottage, laughing, painting, feasting, going to the beach, and caroling to neighbors. Donna’s memory is fading, but she is still full of life and love and a joy to be with. 

A shadow is hanging over us this Christmas, however. Jana’s husband Dwight’s 87-year-old Mom Nina had a stroke and is in a coma in hospice. We are grieving the slow passing of this big-hearted woman who along with her husband Vic raised 10 kids. At the same time, we are rejoicing in wonderful news. A package from Jana’s oldest daughter Annie contained a Baby Ruth bar wrapped in a sonogram showing that she is pregnant with her second child!  We gave God our heart-felt thanks and praise. The circle is unbroken!

Jana, Donna, Jill and moi playing the recorder

I also feel blessed to have family and friends like you who are reading this letter and I hope enjoying it. I want to send you my love and best wishes during this special season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Born in a stable because there was a housing shortage in Bethlehem, Jesus’s family became refugees when the insecure and unstable leader of his country was willing to sacrifice the lives of children for the sake of his political power. Jesus became the champion of the poor, the homeless, and the dispossessed and displaced. And he urged us to do likewise.

This has been a year full of blessings, as well as challenges. Here are some high points:

In DC with a delegation of Quakers visiting Senator Feinstein's
office

One of the great joys has been my deepening involvement with the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the extraordinary Quaker advocacy organization that is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary as a voice of conscience on Capitol Hill. I’ve known and supported FCNL ever since becoming a Quaker 30+ years ago. Seven years ago I became a member of the General Board when I started attending the annual fall gatherings of FCNL in Washington, DC. Each fall and spring over 400 Quakers and others show up in DC to advocate for important issues, like the Iran Agreement, immigration reform, and the SNAP food stamp program. This gathering of like-minded, loving Friends always fills me with joy and hope.

Some people see politics and religion as separate, but Quakers take a different view. We see our Spirit-led advocacy as prophetic and seek to transcend the divisive politics of our day by focusing on “that of God” in every elected official, whatever their political affiliation. I am also grateful that FCNL seeks to bring together the different branches of Quakers, from liberal to Evangelical, Bible-believing Friends.

This year we advocated for bills that would help avert war with North Korea by limiting the war-making powers of the President (as the US Constitution requires). God surprised us with diplomatic breakthroughs we would never have dreamed of a year ago!  We now see glimmerings of hope for this divided land.

My ICUJP family

I am deeply grateful to my small but mighty and enthusiastic local FCNL Advocacy Team that helps to organize visits to the offices of our Congress members. I also enjoyed working with a Korean Mennonite group called Reconciliasian as well as with Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, the stalwart peace group that has met every Friday morning at 7 am since 9/11. What a joy to bring together a coalition of groups from the LA area that want to ban nuclear weapons and reduce the threat of war! I feel as if I am truly part of what Dr. King called “the beloved community.”

Another highpoint has been celebrating the 7^th year of marriage to my amazing wife Jill. To celebrate our 7^th anniversary, we went to Hawaii, where we went on our honeymoon. On these beautiful tropical islands we had a blast hanging out with Quakers, peace activists, and locals. You can read a poem we wrote together about our unforgettable Hawaiian adventure: Anniversary Poem.

Our time in Hawaii was wonderful, but it also had a sobering side. On the Big Island we learned that Jill has follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing cancer which fortunately has a good prognosis. After incredible hassles with our insurance, we started treatment a little over a month ago, and the cancer has significantly shrunk, praise God! Jill has had some unpleasant side effects, like tiredness, foggy brain, and rashes, but otherwise is doing fine. She has not let cancer stop her from doing her crucial housing-justice work. If anything, she has upped her game!

Another milestone in our marriage was the founding of a nonprofit called Making Housing and Community Happen this fall. This nonprofit incorporates the Greater Pasadena Affordable Housing Group (GPAHG), which has had 20 years of successful advocacy; the North Fair Oaks Empowerment Initiative; and Jill’s educational work, the One-Day Housing Justice Institutes and the upcoming One-Year Housing Justice cohort. On Jill’s 65^th birthday, we had a party celebrating the launch of this new entity dedicated to faith-rooted housing justice, with nearly 100 friends and supporters taking part for a time of education and celebration. I am grateful to be a partner in this important work, which has already born astonishing fruits. For more, see Jill's Christmas Letter.

On December 17^th (a night we will never forget), an incredible victory took place at City Hall: to address the need to house the 677 homeless population, the Pasadena City Council voted unanimously to build 65-70 units of homeless housing (plus commercial development) at Heritage Square South! This was the culmination of a GPAHG campaign that started in March and has involved two prayer vigils, many one-on-one meetings with city officials, letter-writing campaigns (over 800 letters!), community organizing, careful research, and constant prayer. On Dec 17 thirty people showed up to advocate for homeless housing. Before we had a chance to speak, the Council members made it clear that they agree with us that homeless housing needs to be one of the City’s main priorities. We were overjoyed and thanked them profusely!

This was a night when we felt God’s presence at work doing more than we imagined. Mayor surprised everyone by announcing his support for using the vacant YWCA near City Hall (designed by famed architect Julia Morgan) for homeless housing. This property had been considered for a boutique hotel, but the community rejected it. The Mayor’s announcement was the answer to prayer. A dozen years ago, when Jill was a member of First Baptist Church in Pasadena, located immediately adjacent to this YWCA, she led prayer walks around the site, asking God for it to be used for affordable and homeless housing. Some people (including the pastor) thought she was kooky, but God was clearly listening!

During this Spirit-filled meeting Council members expressed strong support for converting motels to homeless housing in every district and urged every City Council member to work with their constituents to make this happen. It was clear that our City Council is seriously committed to addressing the homelessness crisis in our city. You can read more at City Council Approves Homeless Housing.

I told the City Council that our goal is to insure that at least 50% of our homeless residents be housed in the next five years. Mike Kinman, the minister of All Saints Church, said: “Why not 100%?” Indeed, why not? With God, nothing is impossible.

I’d like to end with more family news. In November, right after the FCNL gathering, I visited my sister and her family in New Jersey: it was a joy to see my bright and beautiful niece Emily (who graduated from college a year ago), my handsome nephew Demetrios (who is attending a community college and hopes to be a physical therapist), and two new cats that are filling the void left behind by the passing of Rexie, a regal feline who ruled this family for over a decade. 
My delightful and talented nephew Edward (the son of my brother-in-law Jim and his wife Anne) is taking community college classes and doing well. He is also developing his considerable skills as a violist. Check out this jazzy version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering here in Shell Beach in which 13 family members took part. It would take many pages to describe all the doings of Jana and Dwight’s family, with their eight kids and numerous grandkids, all of whom are thriving. We were pleased that Jana’s son Michael and daughter-in-law Emma moved to Northern California to take dream jobs. Jana’s son Joey has gone back to school and is doing great. Our grand-niece Cody is in to college in Montana, and her sister Jesse will be there soon. And there is much more…..

Jana's "Hands of Peace" watercolor

I’d like to end this family news with something that touched my heart as a Quaker.  Jana is a gifted artist like her mom (my mother-in-law) and was asked by her daughter Sarah to paint a picture for a fundraiser for “Hands of Peace.” Hands of Peace is a stellar organization that brings together Palestinian and Israeli teenagers and helps them to listen to each other’s stories and become friends. This important trust-building work is similar to the Compassionate Listening Project that was started by my mentor Gene Hoffman and my friend Leah Green. Asked to create an “image of peace,” Jana was inspired to paint a picture of her daughter with someone holding a sea shell to her ear. The hand holding the shell is multi-racial. We were all moved by this beautiful image for the work of peacemaking that our dear Sarah is engaged in. It’s also a good reminder that peace begins with listening—listening deeply for the still, small voice in ourselves, and for the Divine voice in others and in all creation. May God open our ears, so we can hear and experience the peace of Christ that was born in a lowly stable two thousand years ago, and is still with us today.

Pasadena City Council Approves Homeless Housing at Heritage Square South, and Demonstrates a Serious Commitment to Addressing Our City’s Homeless Crisis

An amazing moral victory took place at City Hall last night: the Pasadena City Council voted unanimously for homeless housing (plus commercial development) at Heritage Square South! In addition, the Mayor surprised everyone by announcing his support for using the vacant YWCA near City Hall (designed by famed architect Julia Morgan) for homeless housing. (This property has been considered for a boutique hotel, but this deal fell through.) Other Councilmembers expressed strong support for converting motels to homeless housing in every district and urged every City Councilmember to work with their constituents to make this happen. It was clear that our City Council is seriously committed to addressing the homelessness crisis in our city.

You  can read more about this at Pasadena Now: Heritage Square South and Julia Morgan YWCA. 

The City Council received a lot of encouragement for its action. It received over 400 letters from constituents calling for homeless housing at Heritage Square South. Over 30 advocates showed up at this meeting with signs, banners and talking points. When the Council made its intention to support homeless housing clear, we were thrilled. Instead of giving our talking points, we took turns thanking the City Council members. We also gave each of them the Poverty and Justice Bible, which highlights in bold orange passages relating to social justice. This Bible, produced by World Vision, contains a prophetic foreword by Rev. James Lawson, the colleague of Dr. King who teaches nonviolent resistance.  We also gave the Mayor a copy of Rabbi Waskow’s Freedom Journeys. We want the Council to be clear that we are a faith-rooted effort, committed to the moral imperative of housing our homeless neighbors.

I want to thank all those who came to the City Council meeting, as well as those who signed letters and took part in our vigils and other actions. Special thanks to the religious leaders who were present and spoke: Mike Kinman, Connie Milsop, Brita Pinkston, John Stewart, and Rabbi Joshua Grater. Thanks also to homeless service providers: Annie Miskey, Barbara Bowman and Bert Newton.

We were also grateful to two homeless residents who spoke: Max and Crayton. One had been homeless for 20 years, and the other was recently housed in permanent supportive housing. Their testimonies were powerful.

We have worked for ten months on this campaign and it has produced many good fruits. We have reached out to our elected officials and encouraged them to do the right thing. We have created a beloved community of advocates committed to the beautiful struggle for affordable and homeless housing in our city. We have the support of religious leaders, homeless service providers, people of conscience, and concerned citizens.

This is just the beginning.

GPAHG’s goal is to reduce the homeless population by at least 50% in the next five years. This is not unrealistic. Between 2010-2015, the city reduced its homeless count by over 50% by producing homeless housing. We can do this again, with God’s help and the support of our beloved community!

Now that the Council has authorized how it wants this property to be used, the Housing Department can begin to make plans to find a developer willing to undertake this project. The Housing Director responded to the following important questions:

1)                  How long will it take for this project to “break ground”? Approx. 1 ½ to 2 years.

2)                  How much will it cost? $30 million.

3)                  Where will the funding come from? Approximately $14 million will come from state and county sources, the rest from 4% low-income tax credits (a federal program used by affordable housing developers).

4)                  How much will come from the City’s general fund? Zero.

What next? GPAHG is committed to working with churches, community leaders and concerned citizens in East Pasadena (as well as other parts of the city) to address our homeless crisis through homeless housing. For the past month we have been meeting on a weekly basis in East Pasadena and will be organizing small group meetings over the next six months or so to hear the community’s concerns and to share information about best practices to address homelessness. We intend to partner with LA Voice, United Way, and Faith Partnership to End Homelessness in this educational effort.

Our special thanks to came to the City Council meeting to speak or offer support: Tom Petersmeyer, Divine Johnson, Faithanne Truong, Donna Sider, George Patton, Brita Pinkston, Aretta and Russ Crowell, Michelle White, Bertha Downs, John Stewart, Una Jost, Lorynne Young, Bert Newton, Debra Francis (who made a beautiful banner), Peter Hartgens, Anthony Manousos, Barbara Bowman, Anne Miskey, Jill Shook, Mike Kinman, Allison Henry, Connie Milsop, Rabbi Joshua Grater, Juliana Serrano, Georgia Daniels.

We also want to thank those who wrote letters to the City Council.

Your efforts made a huge difference!

If you'd like to contribute, there aretwo ways: On line: https://makinghousinghappen.wedid.it/

Or send checks made out to “Social Good Fund” with “Making Housing and Community Happen” in memo line and send to:

	\

Making Housing and Community Happen

1628 N Garfield Ave

Pasadena CA 91104

Give our homeless seniors the gift of a home at Heritage Square South

Please join us at the Pasadena City Council on Monday, December 17, when they will finally consider using city-owned property at Heritage Square South for housing homeless seniors. If you can't make it, please email our City Council via the city clerk: mjomsky@cityofpasadena.net

Here are twelve talking points:

Talking Points for Homeless Housing at Heritage Square South

We are urging our City Council to support permanent supportive housing at Heritage Square South for the following reasons:

1. 1Homeless housing makes a community safer and is good for business. 
   2.     Overconcentration is not a problem for gentrifying areas like Northwest Pasadena. According to our Housing Director, “Affordable housing in all its forms is the best way to combat gentrification.” Furthermore, the overconcentration policy doesn’t apply to Heritage Square South since it is not an inclusionary project.
   3.     Homeless housing is a better option for this neighborhood than selling this property for exclusively commercial development and forfeiting over a million dollars to HUD.
   4.     Selling this property for commercial development doesn’t make economic sense. It makes sense to invest in the community with a city-funded project.
   5.     This project has overwhelming support of the community in Vice Mayor John Kennedy's District. 
   6.     This site is ideal for homeless seniors, according to our Housing Director.
   7.     We can be sure that those housed in Heritage Square South supportive housing will be from Pasadena.
   8.     With a city-funded homeless housing project, we can guarantee it will generate local jobs and beautify the neighborhood. There is no guarantee that exclusively commercial development will generate a single job for Pasadena residents.
   9.     The need for supportive housing for Pasadena’s homeless residents is growing rapidly and needs to be addressed now.
   10.  There are huge financial benefits for housing homeless seniors. 
   11.  Heritage Square South was originally intended for affordable housing and is considered an “affordable housing asset.” 
   
   
   Talking Point #1: Homeless housing makes a community safer and is good for business.  Public safety is a big concern and that’s why we feel you should support housing homeless seniors at Heritage Square South.  According to Donna Hess, the property manager at Heritage Square North, crime rate has gone down 11% near this property. When this property was a vacant lot, it was used for petty crime. We can expect a similar reduction in crime once Heritage Square South is developed. Mr. Huang produced a video showing why permanent supportive housing benefits a community. This documentary makes it clear why police support permanent supportive housing. Police would rather be apprehending real criminals than hassling homeless people. A police sergeant in Sacramento was quoted recently as saying, “You can’t arrest your way out of homelessness.” Retired Police Chief Sanchez was a big supporter of affordable housing. He said, “Despite some of the stereotypes, affordable housing doesn’t impact crime. It doesn’t erode the quality of life. They’re highly regulated. They are highly monitored.” Lieutenant Mark Goodman, added, “The safety level is actually enhanced, because you are taking people from off the street and putting them into a situation that’[1]s stable.”’
   Studies confirm that housing the homeless deters crime and makes our communities safer. The Justice Policy Institute states: “An increase in spending on housing is associated with a decrease in violent crime at the national level and a decrease in incarceration rates at the state level An increase in spending on housing and community development paired with a decrease in spending on corrections is associated with both lower crime rates and lower prison incarceration rates’” [2]In other words, the more you spend on affordable and homeless housing, the less you need to spend on jails!
   This makes sense. When homeless people are in permanent supportive housing, they can receive help with their substance abuse issues and are less likely to commit petty crimes.
   Housing the homeless is also good for business.
    In this documentary Paul Little, CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, said, “Local businesses don’t feel the impact of permanent supportive housing. If there is an impact, it’s a positive one because there are fewer people in doorways, fewer people sleeping on sidewalks, or under bridges.”
   The documentary provides perspectives from realtors, homeowners, and housing advocates, all of whom agree that permanent affordable housing is not only good for homeless people, it is also good for the community.
   We have canvassed businesses around South Heritage Square who agree and have signed petitions supporting homeless housing on this site. They would like to see homeless people off the streets and housed with dignity. They agree with Paul Little and the police that permanent supportive housing is good for business and makes our community safer.   
   
   
   Talking Point 2. Overconcentration is not a problem for gentrifying areas like Northwest Pasadena. According to our Housing Director, “Affordable housing in all its forms is the best way to combat gentrification.” I am here to speak on behalf of housing homeless at Heritage Square South. I’d like first to clarify a policy matter regarding over concentration of affordable housing in Northwest Pasadena.
   The issue of over concentration has been brought up as a reason not to have homeless housing at Heritage Square South,
   It is important to note, however, that this policy applies only to off-site inclusionary affordable housing projects, such as the one that Mr. Gordo wanted to replace a blighted liquor store in his district. Under the inclusionary policy passed by the City Council in 2001, such a site could not be developed with inclusionary funds. The Council decided to pass an exception for this project and also for the Lincoln project. Both are affordable home ownership projects.
   I think that the City Council was wise to make these exceptions since Northwest Pasadena needs more affordable housing. For a similar reason, it would also be wise to allow homeless housing to be built at Heritage Square South.
   But Heritage Square South is not an inclusionary offsite project, so there is no need to make an exception to current policy.[3] I have checked with Bill Huang as well as with the wording of the policy, and it is very clear that it doesn’t apply in this case.
    With the help of Kim Douglas, a retired Cal Tech reference library who now serves on the Northwest Commission, Jill and Anthony have written a report showing that the overconcentration policy is obsolete and needs to end in Northwest Pasadena. The policy no longer makes sense because Northwest Pasadena has become gentrified and there is an urgent need for more affordable housing in Northwest Pasadena so that “legacy” residents including the African American and Latino community aren’t forced to leave.
    Not only do we want to end blight of a defunct gas station and a problem liquor store, we need to end the blight of homelessness and prevent so many from being displaced from NW Pasadena. William Huang has stated, “Affordable housing in all its forms is the best way to combat gentrification.”
   
   
   Talking Point 3: Homeless housing is a better option for this neighborhood than selling this property for exclusively commercial development and forfeiting over a million dollars.  Mr Gordo, I know you care deeply about creating a family-friendly neighborhood and you are also pro-union since you served as an attorney for the Laborers’ International Union of North America. That’s why we feel you should support permanent supportive housing for homeless seniors at North Heritage.
   As you know, there are many elderly seniors living on the streets in your district and they have nowhere to go. Many are long-term residents of this area who have ended up on the street because of rising rents. If we could house 69 of them at Heritage Square North, it would improve the quality of life for all residents in your neighborhood. I am sure you are aware that homeless people forced to sleep on the street can create unsanitary conditions and disturb families and businesses.
   Your constituents do not like seeing homeless people in their area. That’s why when Vice Mayor Kennedy asked residents what they wanted at Heritage Square South, 80% wanted homeless housing and 80% opposed selling this affordable housing asset for exclusively commercial use. Your constituents have the right idea. It is much better to house our homeless neighbors with dignity than to let them live on the streets. Getting homeless seniors off the streets of Northwest Pasadena will make our community safer for families and better for business. 
   Talking Point #4: Selling this property for commercial development doesn’t make economic sense. It makes sense to invest in the community. I’m sure you all realize that your constituents are very upset that the City Council gave away nearly half a million dollars in funds slated for homeless housing because it didn’t have a homeless or very low income project in the pipeline. Your constituents will be even more outraged if you decide to sell Heritage Square South and forfeit over two million dollars to HUD and Redevelopment funds. If this property is sold to a commercial developer, not only would the City lose HUD funding, we would lose the opportunity to ensure that construction is done by union labor that will pay a fair wage. If this property is sold for commercial development, there is no guarantee that there will local hires, local contractors, or local materials used. There is no way to compel a commercial developer to hire union labor. In fact, there is no way to guarantee that a commercial developer will hire a single Pasadena resident.  If this is s a city-funded project, we can require local hires, local contractors, and local materials. It will also require hiring workers at prevailing wage, which usually means union workers.  Heritage Square North generated 7 million dollars of economic development in the city of Pasadena. Bill Huang says it is possible to have commercial development and permanent supportive housing on this site, which would be even better for the community. The time to act is now while HUD and other funding is available for permanent supportive housing. As Mr. Wilson said,   "We're eight years into an economic growth cycle, and I'm deeply concerned about the magnitude of this challenge when the economy's behind our backs. We really owe it to ourselves and our community to be clever now, when frankly we have the luxury to solve some of this without a gun to our heads, because I can imagine when the business cycle turns, what those homeless numbers are going to look like." Mr. Wilson is right. We need to be clever now and approve using Heritage Square South for homeless housing.
   Talking Point 5: This project has overwhelming support of the community in Vice Mayor John Kennedy's District.  In many areas of our City, NIMBYism prevents homeless housing from being built. I am grateful that this City Council continues to support motel conversion, even though the initial roll out of this policy didn’t go well. NIMBYism isn’t a problem in Northwest Pasadena, however. Residents here want affordable and homeless housing. During a community meeting in March, 80% of the community supported using this site for affordable housing and 80% opposed using this site only for commercial development. See Kennedy’s survey results: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-25G2T2Y68/  Religious leaders and churches have signed over 400 letters in support of homeless housing for seniors, and two prayers vigil on the property attracted 20 and 60 people, many from the nearby neighborhood. The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, which comprises most of the African American churches in this area, supports using Heritage Square South for homeless housing.   We have gone door to door surveying businesses and neighbors and most were willing to sign petitions of support, which were sent to the City Council. 
   Talking Point 6: This property is ideal for homeless seniors, according to our Housing Director. Supportive housing for seniors is the best option for this site because it is located on a busy commercial intersection, which is not ideal for families. Furthermore, families need more parking than do seniors and that would reduce the number of individuals who could be served, and also limit mixed use commercial development (restaurants require lots of parking). This site is better suited for seniors because it is close to already existing senior housing, a CVS, grocery stores and restaurants, and medical facilities (easily accessible by bus). Supportive housing for homeless seniors is fundable because of Measure H and other sources. Finally, the need is urgent, with the number of homeless seniors (those over 50 years of age) increasing 65% in three years, from 153 in 2016 to 253 in 2018. (Of these, 174 are unsheltered.)
   Talking Point 7: We can be sure that those housed in Heritage Square South supportive housing will be from Pasadena. Mr. Hampton, we know that you are concerned that projects like these benefit the community you serve. According to Bill Huang, the City can give preference to Pasadena residents and to homeless seniors, of which there are 253 living on the streets of our city. It is likely that the vast majority of those housed will be homeless Pasadena seniors, many of whom will likely be from District 3. Almost all the current residents of Heritage Square North are from Northwest Pasadena. 30% are African American, 25% are Hispanic, 22% are Caucasians, and 18% are Asian. The 2018 Homeless Count shows that 36% of the homeless population are African American and 28% are Hispanic, and 48% are white. Heritage Square South will be a great benefit to the residents of Northwest Pasadena since it will house around 10% of our homeless residents.
   Talking Point 8: If the property is mixed use, including supportive housing, we can guarantee it will generate local jobs and beautify the neighborhood. I am speaking out in support of using Heritage Square South for homeless housing because it will benefit the economic development of our community and beautify the neighborhood. The City can require local hires for affordable and homeless housing. For Heritage Square North, 20% were local hires, and 60% of materials used were purchased locally.  Supportive housing would provide economic benefits to the local community in ways that commercial development could not guarantee. Heritage Square left $ 7 million in the City because of its policy to provide local contracts and supplies. Unlike city funded affordable housing projects, there is no requirement for commercial developers to hire local contractors. Nor are commercial ventures required to hire local employees. Therefore, commercial development would not necessarily provide any jobs for local residents nor would there be any requirement for material to be purchased locally. It makes much better economic sense for the City to invest in homeless housing in an area where such housing is urgently needed. . Furthermore, affordable housing like Summit Grove or Heritage Square North is not a stigma, but an asset to the community. They add beauty to the neighborhood.
   Talking Point 9: The need for supportive housing for Pasadena’s homeless residents is growing rapidly. Homeless service providers have testified to this Council many times that the lack of homeless housing in this city is making very hard for them to find housing for those who are homeless. The number of unsheltered homeless residents in our City increased 33% in the past year. The number of homeless seniors has increased 65% in the past three years.  Since there is no supportive housing in the city pipeline, this number of homeless residents will undoubtedly increase over the next few years. There is a need to create multiple homeless housing projects, both short- and long-term.  Reducing our homeless population by providing housing will make our community safer and better for business.
   Talking Point 10: There are huge financial benefits for housing homeless seniors. Homeless seniors are likely to cost society more money in health care than younger and healthier homeless residents. Given the City’s budget crunch, it makes more economic sense to house homeless seniors in facilities with services provided by the County’s Measure H funding than to let them sicken and die on the streets, with various agencies in the City footing enormous medical bills. A Rand study showed that housing homeless residents has saved the county $1.20 for every dollar spent on housing and supportive services. According to an Economic Roundtable study, the cost of dealing with a homeless individual in LA County is around $5038 per month, vs $605 per month when they are provided with supportive housing. These costs increase with the age of homeless individuals. Based on this study, we can estimate the cost to Pasadena of having 69 homeless seniors living on the street to be around $4,171,464 per year. Housing them in supportive housing would run around $500,940, a savings of $3,670,524. This would be a huge financial benefit to our City. 
   Talking Point 11: Heritage Square South was originally intended for affordable housing and is considered an “affordable housing asset.” According to Bill Huang, the North and South Heritage Square property was originally purchased in different parcels over a period of time by the City with HUD and other funding for affordable housing, starting in 2004. For political reasons, it was bifurcated in 2011 with the understanding that Heritage Square North would be used for affordable senior housing, and the southern part primarily for commercial use. When the state ended Redevelopment, however, the City changed its tune. The state wanted the City to sell the property and give them the proceeds, but the City argued that the property was an affordable housing asset and would be used for affordable housing. The state allowed the City to keep the property for this purpose. The City’s intention for this property has shifted over time, but it is currently designated for affordable housing. If it is sold for commercial use, the City must use the proceeds for affordable housing and will forfeit over a million dollars in HUD funding.
   
   
   
   
   
   

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   [1] https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article170828122.html

   [2] https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2013/aug/15/affordable-housing-reduces-crime/ 

   [3] See Inclusionary Regulations Updated 12/28/17. This policy clearly applies only to inclusionary units:  “(v) Over concentration.  The proposed construction of the Inclusionary Units on the parcel proposed shall not result in an over concentration of low income housing in any specific neighborhood.  As used herein, an “over concentration” exists when either 50 rental units legally restricted (by means of a recorded instrument) to occupancy by Very Low and/or Low Income Households are located within one-eighth mile from the parcel proposed for the off-site Inclusionary Units, or when 200 rental units legally restricted (by means of a recorded instrument) to occupancy by Very Low and/or Low Income Households are located within one-quarter mile from the parcel proposed for the off-site Inclusionary Units.” (p. 7).