Last week, we had our second public working meeting around the theme of Housing. At the meeting, residents discussed existing market conditions, residential stability, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, community building, and tools and partners. In small group discussions, participants reviewed information and developed strategies and goals to address the needs of our neighborhoods. You can check out the data and community input by clicking the links above.

This is what he heard:

• COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP is key! Our neighborhoods want to align resources and partners to promote a Community Land Trust and resident-led rehabilitation of vacant properties.
• Housing policy must PRESERVE OUR DIVERSITY! The Gravois-Jefferson Plan must lay out strategies to preserve socioeconomic and racial diversity, such as affordability requirements for new developments and developing tools to empower homeownership among low-income households.
• We need these conversations to BENEFIT EVERYONE! We have consistently heard a need for training and educational programming as tools to improve landlord-tenant relationships and quality of rental housing stock.

We realized many did not have the opportunity to attend the last meeting, so we will be hosting a second gathering for the Housing Working Meeting. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, you can also participate online in all the activities from the meetings by clicking here.

In addition to our most recent working meeting, we have met with the area Aldermen, convened a group of local stakeholders with interests in youth empowerment, and facilitated planning activities with the congregation at Curby Memorial Church. We are always happy to come and talk with you or your group – just let us know! In the coming weeks, we look forward to meeting with youth leaders to develop a youth engagement strategy, speaking with the local Amigas Latinas group, and checking in with our fantastic business community.

Thank you for your continued support!