Cohousing-L Mailing List: Katrina Homeless

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

I'm sending this along as an example of what two communities in DC are 
doing in hopes that this will mobilize other cohousing communities to 
take similar actions. I've edited to remove personal information about 
individuals and to add some explanatory info.

This crisis is about housing and community -- the essential aims of 
cohousing.

Begin forwarded message:

> Subject: Please Read: Katrina Relocation
>
> This is a summary message to get everyone up to date on what I know at 
> 10:15 on Thursday morning and what we are planning for Friday:
>
> FRIDAY PIZZA and MEETING. We will meet for pizza on Friday at 6:30 and 
> a meeting at 7:00. PLEASE ATTEND AND LET ME KNOW SO I'LL KNOW HOW MUCH 
> PIZZA TO ORDER ($2 a slice).
>
> MEETING Topic: To understand what is being done locally and to begin 
> discussing taking a family.
>
> 5 1/2 households at TVC have now offered to be sponsors for a family 
> to occupy the guest rooms. The 1/2 is Paula who offered before she 
> left for Vietnam for two weeks. Since she isn't here I'm only half 
> counting her.
>
> Katie Henry from Eastern Village Cohousing is organizing support by 
> offering space for training volunteers and people to be deployed to 
> New O. The Red Cross needs places with tables and chairs to do this.
>
> DC is bringing 400 (people? families?) here to be housed or relocated. 
> They are expected to be here on Monday. So far, any projected times or 
> dates have been wildly dubious but the First Army has landed and the 
> Mayor says the commander is "doing what needed to be done days ago - - 
> cussing people out and getting stuff done."
>
> TAKING A FAMILY
>
> Many people are afraid to take this on because it may become 
> overwhelming and last forever. We would be handing over the 
> commonhouse. That is a risk but we can set some parameters so we have 
> some control over what we commit to. Some ideas:
>
> 1. One household of 4-5 members, adults and young children. Since many 
> people will not be able to take children this seems to me to be a 
> special thing we can offer -- a good place for kids and parents (or 
> grandparents). And baby equipment and clothing.
>
> 2. A household that is ready to relocate and start a new life, not 
> just waiting to go back. This means a family with some skills and 
> ability to be employed.
>
> 3. A limited time commitment -- 3 months. Is this realistic for 
> relocation?
>
> 4. A household with family or friends in this area so they have other 
> contacts.
>
> 5. Specific sponsors within the community who take responsibility for 
> the family's use of the commonhouse.
>
> 6. Willingness to give up the the guest rooms for the household to 
> have as private space. If the family has a housing allowance, I 
> suggest we take the allowance and save it for the family to use for 
> rent when they find a new home.
>
> 7. A family that is "certified" as refugee so they are immediately 
> available for what every subsidies they can get. In other words, they 
> are not entirely dependent on us for food, medical care, etc.
>
> Basically, the idea is that people need a safe, clean, and supportive 
> place to live while they grieve and reorient themselves.
>
> ORGANIZING CARE PACKAGES
>
> One idea is to gather sets of clothing for children in plastic bags 
> (like ZipLock bags) and label them with a size. Shoes, etc. We can 
> then ship these to homeless shelters outside the most affected areas. 
> Many of the people who evacuated are in shelters miles away and those 
> communities will soon need resources.
>
> THERE ARE OTHER IDEAS OUT THERE. We need to hear them.
>
> Thanks,
> Sharon.