Stewart Nelson

I went to the last (hopefully) public hearing on the replacement of 100 units of affordable housing on the former YMCA site. Despite the best efforts of a very talented advisory board, and a motivated group at the Office of Community Development, OCD, the City embarrassingly has not been able to arrive at a permanent solution and home for the most needy segment of our population. In December 2004, the City Council issued a resolution for the sale and redevelopment of the former YMCA site. The Housing and Human Services Advisory Board, HHSAB, will be recommending to the City Council that the former YMCA site be redeveloped with 100 units of affordable housing targeted at individuals with incomes below 50% of the Average Monthly Income, AMI. Graciously, the board has conceded that a different site in the City would be acceptable if the City or Washtenaw County identifies that site and secures the property for the development.

It will be four years in December when the need was identified and the former residents are scattered to the wind. Despite strong evidence that it is cheaper to provide proper services to these individuals than it is to use the police, emergency rooms, pan handling and bridges to take care of their needs and we continue to pay significant amounts a year in interest on the YMCA site even though the building is no longer there. How much longer will it take to make good on the City’s promise to provide for those less fortunate than us?