THE HOMELESSNESS CONNECTION

2 Cents (part 2)

2011-02-23T18:43:00.000-05:00

Our Two Cents Worth (part 2)

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rim/
servicedetail.asp?orgrsn=24&orgname
=FAIRFAX+COUNTY+DEPARTMENT
+OF+HOUSING+AND+COMMUNITY+
DEVELOPMENT&svcname=SINGLE
+ROOM+OCCUPANCY+(SRO)+HOUSING
&svcrsn=431&locrsn=52

  Shared Ownership Affordable Housing :
Sophisticated Investors use T.I.C.'s as a way to subdivide
ownership of what was the territory of larger investors.
If it were possible to partner Non Profits with small
investors, the FHA discount on Govt. Owned properties
could act as the equity down payment for a shared equity
arrangement. The property could enter the affordable
housing inventory at below market rents. More study of
FHA programs may find this technique possible.
County Government suspending R.E. Taxes on
qualifying properties , as a first step , could quickly
help factor in   affordability

  computations.

LOCATION EQUALS EXPENSE OFFSET:
Lack of Workforce Housing near employment cores
directly increases costs to a business bottom line.
Smart companies look closely for this supply. The
Impact is felt by Both employer and employee and
the environment is being given attention in this concern.

http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/
wh05-1_workforce_housing_report.pdf

  SENIOR STUDIO UNIT'S
aka: "Granny PODS"
Universal Design considerations are
are extremely suggested /required.
We have a county " 50 PLUS PLAN.
THE OVER 60 POPULATION WILL DOUBLE
IN NUMBERS AND REMAIN AT THAT NEW LEVEL.

House- less SENIOR numbers will be increasing !
A 33%  increase by 2050 is expected for the US.
300 mil to 400.    6.7 billion to 9 billion worldwide .

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article
/granny-pod-weird-sign-of-things-to-come

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa/pdf/coa
50plus_action_plan_updates_2009.pdf

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts
/2010/05/06/the-granny-pod/

FAMILY STUDIO UNITS
SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS make up the largest
% of  Family Units in the P.I.T.Point in time surveys.
Single Parents with  1 or 2 children may be cramped ,
but self  respect and empowerment increase by
handling our own needs. Creating a strength    all need
to Recover and or Grow up. Family Studios ? By
county standards two rooms , one 10x 7 and
another 10x10 would legally accommodate a single
parent with 2 children sharing the larger. 540 sq.ft.
with 2 bedrooms side by side 18x30 gross inside wall
dimensions. Or 1 Bedroom and Office.

WORKFORCE STUDIO UNIT'S.
The Terwiliger/ULI Transportation efficiency
Report Forecasts the need for 40,000 Affordable
Housing units. The 10 year Plan to Prevent and End
Homelessness forecasts 2500 units . Have we taken
5 years to reach a decision? What is this Decision?
http://www.uli.org/ResearchAndPublications/
TerwilligerCenterforWorkforceHousing.aspx

SMALL STUDIO UNITS ARE GREEN.
Tiny Housing units in the "entire" size of 300 sq.ft.
are needed . How these relate to units per acre and
parking spaces per "unit" can be calculated. Is it
our WILL to address our needs that seems
to be lacking ?. Not the ability or desire.
www.TinyHouseDesign.com

RECYCLED GREEN STUDIO'S .
8 x40 foot shipping containers are a viable format
and erect in a matter of days and weeks. They can
be stacked 4 high in modular fashion. 8x20's are a
bit small for permanent housing ,but as emergency
housing they would still be a God send.
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm

40x8 container 320 sq.ft./ 2 person
http://video.bobvila.com/m/21320565/converting
-steel-shipping-containers-to-housing.htm

ECONOMICAL STUDIO UNIT'S.
Water and Sewer infrastructure as well as other
maintenance intensive residential supports can
no longer support Suburban Sprawl. Being subject
to Covenants and restrictions of existing Homeowner
Associations further complicate the mix . Simplified
BY-RIGHT OPTIONS to facilitate 1 to 4 unit investors
participation widen the possibilities .
FHA single family options which can be financed
with  Govt. insured mortgages have been ignored
and or abandoned. Single/Duplex/Triplex/Fourplex's
Financing limits range 700K to 1 Million Four Hundred.
Designs available could make Mclean and Great
Falls residents envious.
Conventional lending sources have minimum house
size limitations (620 sq.ft. +/-) so FHA guidelines need
to be consulted as does a dialog  with Freddie Mac and
Fannie Mae concerning secondary financing conduits.
The Financing infrastructure we have enables us to
have multiple financing options other than cash.
ZONING limitations act in ways that can be likened to
creating value. Or reducing value . Does every 4 RSU's
act as 1 housing unit for density computations? Or
Should a person remodel a single family residence into
4 Master Bedroom/Full Baths and a wetbar in each room?
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/insured.cfm

TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENT EFFICIENCIES.
Urbanizing and Renovating the existing Housing
Inventory to accommodate RSU conversions will
come . Proximity to the place of Employment in both
Distance and time must support walking and biking
as transportation needs. Bus and rapid transportation
that respects local users who do not have the ability
or resources to jump in a car must be respected if we
expect to continue to subsidize business by use of the Minimum wage laws.
http://www.cnt.org/tcd/ht

http://www.p4sc.org/Location-Efficient_Mortgage.htm

GROUP HOUSING UTILIZING STUDIO MODEL
Develop 8 and 10 MBR McMansions with 5 facade
options that can be fast tracked in optimum habitat
locations? (ecological approach to housing) . Gross
rental income of $7200. per month limits maximum
acquisition costs /mortgage to 8OO k .  Walking distance
to shopping and Bus important. Convenient to Professional
services.Self empowerment and  living within one's own
resources develops self respect.McKinney/Vento SHP
Location examples might include: Woodburn rd.,
1 block off Rt.1 from woodlawn to Beacon Hill, Downtown
Springfield, R.1 areas 1 block from Major Arterial and
bus stop. Bailey's . , Reston/herndon 1 block to bus.

EXCLUSIONARY ZONING EXCLUDES PEOPLE.
Economic Development that ignores the Minimum
wage workers only externalizes the expenses and puts
the stress  on to County services. Avg. Occupancy county
wide is 2.74 residents per Housing unit inclusive all types.
http://fairfaxcountyeda.org/residential-real-estate

A. 300 sq.ft. BASIC UTILITARIAN HOUSING priced
as starter housing would cost $60,000 to $90,000.
Subject to land cost which is directly related to ZONING.
(220 plus 80 ?) 10x30 / 16x 18.5/ 16x20 / 17x17?

90x6 = $540 .00  30 year amortized payment

33,600 gross income $17.50 combined hrly income.
Conventional lending strict Income to debt ratio's
29,900 income possible. 2 people making $8. hr each.

B.   500 sq.ft. FAMILY STUDIO 2 adult 1 child/1adult2child
expected to cost $ 100,000 to $150,000.
( 350 plus 150?) 170 (70/100)/50 / 75/ 55/

150x6 = $900. per month PI payment 30 yr. mort.
  $40,000 joint income FHA qualifying. The "NEW" Starter.

C. Three Bedroom Efficiencies 750-900 sq.ft.
   30x25, 30x30. 2 adults 3 children

How much will this cost?
How can this be paid for?
2500 RSU's x 125,000. est. avg. cost= $312,500,000.
THREE HUNDRED TWELVE MILLION.
( 18 Pennies for affordable housing)

One PENNY = 18 million 312/18 =
18 million would pay 5.5 % int. on 312.5

Two PENNIES would pay off BOND in _21_ yrs.
or repay a 65 million dollar Revolving line
of credit every 2 years.

2018 is nearly here.

COST GUIDANCE :
All rental income could be be assigned to
min/max categories of Admin.6%of Rental value
/Maintenance 4% /  Bond accelerated payoff
to provide for an  active ownership concern .
Direct deposit and Account Direct deposit
payment options for rent payment facilitation.
Live Internet  connections in  all units would allow
for  email contact to  work and streamline interaction.
Phone over Internet has become a minor expense.
Universal Internet Access provides educational
outreach and other services that in time will pay
dividends to county .

SUBSIDIES:
We spend 1/2 % of County Budget for Parks
and Recreation even after $40 million in revenue
paid by users who enjoy the amenity. That's a
1/3rd and 2/3rds subsidy. Home Owners are
subsidized by Federal tax deductions on interest
and Property taxes. Non-Owners pay taxes on the
amount of Rent they pay and a significant percentage
cannot afford $6. daily passes at the Rec. Center.

PERSPECTIVE COMPARISON:
312 houses in Great Falls?
725 homes in West Springfield?
1000 Houses in Springfield?

FUNDING EXAMPLE:
2 Penny's for Affordable Housing devoted to
this endeavor would at 36 million dollars be
equal to a bit over 1% of Counties 2011 budget.

ARTICLE 1 VA. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS:
312 million compares to 1 year expenditures
of Police and Fire Services per 2011 Budget.
158 million each. Many people would consider
Preventing and Ending Homelessness a Public
Safety matter. The No-income and Low income
segment is unable to rent a camping spot . Priced
out and Timed out.

CHARITABLE CONDUIT.
County Parkland consists of 400 Parks and a total
of 22,600 to 24,000 acres valued on the books at
$336,502,000. or an average of $14,000 each.
119 acres were acquired in 2009. Theoretically
2500 units could be built on 100 to 200 acres.
Finding land to build 250 units right away is a
worthwhile goal . 150 families of the nearly 300
from the 2010 point in time survey can afford $500
or so per month ,$75,000 per month, would more
than cover utilities. People  need a know about
Charitable conduits  for Affordable Housing.

Rent V. Own
2500 2 bedroom rentals would cost $3,000,000.
per month. $36,000,000 per year and Ownership
equity  accumulation of $312 Million in 15 years or so
would not include inflation caused appreciation.
Income from Affordable/HUD qualifying formula
can not  be forecast but can be expected.

IMMEDIATE BOND FUNDING CREATION :
In the amount of 65,000,000. to acquire appropriate
property and land amenable to 10 unit housing and
such would create opportunity in this crisis.

UNEQUAL EXAMPLE OF TAXATION :
Of the 400,000 Housing units in the county,
312 Million equates to $800 per property.

A $65,000,000. Bond could be paid in full
like a Revolving Line of credit. Giving us the
ability to nearly pay as we go. 20 million for
Redevelopment projects that accelerate the
Ecological siting of group homes could then
be assigned to Non-Profit Housing organizations
to partner with County designate.

PERSPECTIVE:
Less than 1 % of existing inventory.
.625 % of 400,000 Housing Units in Fairfax Co.
plus a 10. 00% increase / 40,000 Workforce units
that are needed by 2020.

LAND/IMPROVEMENTS IDENTIFICATION:
20 acres zoned R-20 could yield 20 locations
with 48 R.S.U.'s each location. 5 locations each
of the 4 mental health districts. Any economic
advantage that translates to a lower cost per
studio and which stimulates the production
of these units is encouraged .

EMOTIONAL NEEDS FOR PRIVACY:
Separating Cooking  and Bathing needs
reduces Friction and conflict that can
be generated   when these functions
include personalities and emotion
.

Supported and Non-supportive Housing
would benefit . As would small families,
Seniors wanting to downsize and low
income individuals no matter where on
the Affordable Housing scale they are.

The need for Open Space is grounded in
Healthy emotional needs. The pursuit of
Safety and Security in the form of a house,
no matter how tiny is vitally more fundamental.

Cut this Ghordian Knot, and lead the way.

Your stipulations have a huge impact on a section of
our population that is currently being neglected and
further delay supports the stigmatization that they
do not matter. Inaction is a form of action.

PLEASE RESTORE OUR HOPE:

x.
_________________________________________________________

date_____________________________

_________________________________

Letter prepared by

KeithBender@E-FFordableHousing.org
Energy, Ecology, Expenses & Emotions

703 372 6706

Two Cents

2011-02-23T18:39:00.000-05:00

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010

Our Two Cents Worth. (part one)

OUR TWO CENTS WORTH.

This letter is in response to Zoning Administrations
request for ideas that address
  our county's
  Housing
deficit of minimum expense modest Affordable
properties  that offer privacy ,safety and security.

This letter is both a reply as well as an effort to inform
and Advocate for positive action while being the first
time the individual signers may have seen this
information.

This Zoning letter requests feedback but does not
indicate what the RSU status is. Open Space or Great
Rooms versus MINI Apartments?

What is the next step?

County Zoning already has limits.
Existing limits that have been in
place for some time now.

Fairfax County website:
bedroom for 1 70 sq. ft. 7x10
bedroom for 2 100 sq.ft. 10x10
bedroom for 3 150 sq.ft. 10x15 /window exits all.
http://www.fairfaxcounty .gov/opa /striketeam /rules.htm

Why are RSU's For 1 to 3 people a problem?
   (residential Studio unit)

Known as Efficiency/ Studio unit in Arlington,
Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax City etcetera.
Even in limited supply in  Fairfax County.
  U
nits range from 310 sq.ft  to  514 sq. ft.
   including bath,kit., closets, living .
  55 Apartment Complexes reviewed.

" BY RIGHT " solutions that include
the small real estate investor can create 10 to 15%
of the projected housing needs we are facing .
We can call them"Interested parties" if it is
simpler to understand and apply. Many
people want to help .

This VITAL ADDITION is needed to
accommodate the housing growth of our County's
population ,now and the future, It is invaluable!!
and urgently needed ..we need to start now.
We needed action 10 years ago. Inaction only
insures a continued housing squeeze which
will force housing prices in this county to
Increase by "DESIGN".

CRITICAL NEEDS CARE:
Owners received a $26 savings over 2010.
The  tax rate per 100 valuation still went up
regardless. 400,000 x $26.oo = $10,400,000.
10 to 12 group homes could have been built
that could have Housed 120 people with
severe chronic mental health concerns.
SSDI/SSI income would offset an estimated
$ 25,000 per month expenses. Medicaid would
have relieved the County of Health care costs.
120 individuals
  representing the County's greatest
uncovered and unrecoverable externalized
expenses.

LIMITATIONS:
The letter states that this housing unit
discriminates against Families. Which is correct
but only because the choice supported the hope to
make them affordable in the numbers that have
been projected. SRO , Single Room Occupancy
attempts to struggle with cost containment.

So is this the product of 5 years? To tell us we
asked for the wrong thing? I am confused.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dsm/publications
/reports/sroreport0705.pdf

This limitation even discriminates against
the
  Housing segment it is purported to serve.
Landlords and Funding sources have their say
about  occupancy. Zoning need not limit it.

Residency mixes can be dictated  by income as
exampled  at Fairfax Co.'s Gum Springs Glen.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/seniorhousing/gsg.htm

Gum Spring Glen 1 bedrooms are comparably small.
So, one of many questions,  Does it takes 5 years to
read our  own web site (strike team reference above)
to tell  us we can't do something ? Actually an obvious
"DON'T WANT TO DO"? Seems that way?

Excuse us if this is the wrong conclusion.

...

Sound Reasoning, DPZ admits discrimination.

2011-02-23T18:35:00.000-05:00

Fairfax County DPZ admits Discrimination

Residential Studio Units
aka Single Room Occupancy

RSU's for Single Houseless deemed
discriminatory. But by-right use of
existing properties too expensive?

After 5 years of creative effort,
the result of our best thinking is
declared an example of Discrimination against families.

Appears that Exclusionary Zoning is a form
of Discrimination . Thats actually a good thing.
Who wants specialized Housing designations?
When we really want just a Room Somewhere.

Housing Unit designation runs contrary to

economics of new construction under these

mandated constraints.Discriminating against

Small Families Singles and Seniors as well.
20% of the population of Fairfax county
is discriminated against by Housing economics.

Maximum number of MasterBedrooms

per unit might be a way to define the need.

BY-RIGHT rethinking of what a Unit of

housing really is would be nice. Bedroom

w/bath calculations might help increase single

adults per Residential structure..

Someplace safe and secure. Not a McMansion, the
likes of which has been the result of engineered zoning
pushes. Guidelines that enforce the Big is Better mantra.
A 8 or 10 MBR McMansion could be a disciplined
use of potential.

But what is a small investor to do?

1.How about a 50% bonus for 50%.
   eFFORDABLE Housing product. Not 20%.
2. By-Right RSU add on to existing Housing.
3. 25% Occupancy increase by-right for Effordable conversion.
4. effordable Mortgage Funding  pool in the amount of $65 million
   to take advantage of existing properties. Repayment by refinancing
   once occupied and 2 Penny Fund. Consolidate properties that are
   free and clear for inventory averaging.

   AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS A PUSH !!

Sewers ,Storm drainage and Man hole covers.

2011-02-23T18:23:00.000-05:00

A Half Penny for People .
One and a half for infrastructure.

In the rush to build housing in the early 50's
and 60's builders even used Cardboard for
Sewer pipes. The sins of our fathers ?

I default to hopeful thoughts whenever I
encounter sad facts about our past adventures.
Hope springs eternal has been replaced by
Delusions and Denials. The American Dream
creates more "Carbon Footprints" than the
motorized chariots cause.

Seeing the whole picture now takes a
concerted effort while all the screaming
Blue Meanies strive to steal our attention.
Whatever layer of sediment seems important
at the time does distract our attention and
will as we remove ourselves more and more
from the old self suffiency model when we
were connected and responded to the changing
seasons.

This connection dictated role models we chose
to call Family values. The Family Values are the
basis of our societal "contract". For some of us that
remains true and for others it does not. Ergo the
conflict in priorities.

The best I can say is the differences in society exist
simultaneously and can best be explained by the explosion
of reality based shows which we would prefer not to
acknowledge as "real". We delude ourselves that our lives
are secure from these abnormalities and deny that "it" could
happen to us. We disdain at the sight of such things.
It's a reactive dislike for what we see in this mirror of
life ,rejection or revulsion, probably both.

How else could some of us "feel" better about ourselves
than to have someone else judged as less , as bad, as inferior.
This negative attribute of "Society" exists in large enough
numbers of people that it hides behind values that support
privilege above Right. The Aristocracy of George III hides
in plain view here in America in the Land Lords, the property
owners. Each a King to their own Castle. The American Dream
needs it Nightmares. How else does one know one is a King
then to have Paupers and servants, some "opposite" in which
to compare oneself to.

HomeOwners need the Homeless in order to feel just that
warmer and snug in their beds at night. Zoning overlooks
the Pauper and hardly cares about the servants.
If Zoning is a reflection of Society in action then it is clear
that Society Zones itself a cushion from the Poverty it supports.

Clearly 20 per cent of our population has poverty statistics
and as best can be government and poverty supported only
65 Per cent avail themselves with HomeOwnership per a
40 year plus track record. So all can not be summed up
as simply as outlined here, but elements exist in large enough
concentration that it's "values" are represented.

So, buried beneath a facade of concern ,one simply needs to
dig past that surface and uncover the actions taking place .
Taking place before the concerns of peoples Rights .
Rights that are the foundation and basis of our societal
contract.

At a penny and a half per 100 dollars of assessed value ,our
property tax in Fairfax county struggles to maintain a Billion
dollars of existing concrete sewers and storm drains. Who
could find fault with that? Yet we play politics with the lives
that would use this concrete by reducing the Penny Fund to
1/2 a cent. And keeping it at that while the Federal funding
retreats like a Newfoundland low tide.

We certainly must maintain our ageing infrastructure. No
question it's money well spent. 100 year flood planes must
be protected. Protecting our Ageing population, protecting
those unable to care for themself too, is a people first
Right. Everyone should have their own ManHole cover
to call home.

HOMELESSNESS ,a Mythological Mask

2010-07-04T05:29:00.000-04:00

The word "HOMELESSNESS" masks a multitude
of unmentioned maladies and contributory ailments,
self inflicted or otherwise. It even includes people down
on their luck so to speak. Hidden in the terminology are
single mothers and their respective children who are now
called family yet single individuals are and have been what
I would say is discriminated against in what may be seen as
a non hostile fashion. The smoke and mirrors originates in
HUD created definitions which mirror politicians crafting
the language to suit their purposes.

Of the many paths that research could follow within
the mask of Homelessness, the Family designation is
the one I choose to delve into right now. Other aspects
deserve attention, just not now,not here. Buried in our
Societal thinking resides beliefs and values we "treasure"
or at least claim we do. Family is that word in our rhetoric
collection which carries an almost Holy or religious
connotation. Protecting an ideal which no longer means
what we hold sacred today. We hold an notion of what
we would want it to mean, even if it is a created rendition
a la Hollywood in successive generations.

A nation of outcasts thrown upon the continent by
over burdened royal plunderers we seem to have
picked up some of their entitlement issues. Meaning
we have in a way become our abusers. The landed
gentry ,where property rights don't provide for in some
way , something for those who do not own their own
home.Single Family homes represent a "Mans" castle.
Our whole incomplete system, and I repeat, our
incomplete system is underwritten by the entirety
yet the entirety includes those who rent and receive
no subsidy from the taxation system for their housing.
Somehow we trim off the negative concept that
includes community participation and such and
focus on the positive Icing on the cake. This trimming
happens to the words we live with and by. We forget
the past, a selective forgetting.

We have created a class system which includes an
outclass ,an out caste system which is concealed
behind the mask of Homelessness. This declared
ending of Homelessness is going be interesting as
we peel the layers beneath the mask. There is a
Hydra hidden beneath this face.What are the magic
words we will need to recite? Erstwhile this hydra
will just grow double the heads we severe. And this
is why I choose to focus on Family versus single
discrimination. A housing concept offered as an
economical possibility is called by many names,
but particularly Single Resident Occupancy. Also
SRO has been coined for Single Room Occupancy.
A novel rebirth to the Efficiency apartment,the JR.
Executive Studio all of which translate to Dollar per
square foot costs of developing and building a
housing model which can fit into our antiquated
zoning system.What worked in 1976 utopia no
longer translates to todays housing needs.

It became particularly discriminatory when the SRO
concept got tagged to Homelessness.The Word single
got tagged to single people and was "Discovered" to be
discriminatory against....(drum roll please)... Families !!
It only took 8 years for the County of Fairfax, which touts
itself as an international location for business, to wake
up to the Housing "No No" it was considering. Exit turn
left and they posed a new question diverting the attention
to other existing categories for consideration and as
yet no mention of the SRO.

Somehow Homeownership seems to be the goal
for the Homeless,thats the problem's obvious solution.
Not Housing but Home Ownership. Fannie Mae has
developed a training course on financial concepts
which aptly pertain to "white middle class" suburbia.
The Homeless Housing Ready programs make it a
requirement to keep your bed.The 1976 utopia I referred to
earlier became the Business plan for the American dream.
HomeOwners associations telling you what color you can
paint your shutters and easements across your front lawn
for Emergency vehicles. Take it or leave it. You want a
bed in the Homeless Shelter then you will participate in
these programs or risk going back out into the street.

The relationship is black and white, take it or leave it.
You get the help they offer when they offer it. Spend
6 months on a waiting list and somehow your definition
changes and that time is lost and back to square one.
Start all over again. The Quasi Governmental charities
are all posing for the same funding in enough ways that
if you dont serve their needs you are not served either.
Same person I was last week but now that I have found
housing I am cut off their list.If I had been found housing
by them then I suspect the relationship would have
continued.But it didnt and I dont. Thats an example of
Definitions in action. Excuses that make abuse okay.
The word "abuse" may press emotional response buttons
that question if the word is being used to create a negative
picture and you would be correct. But as mentioned earlier,
not a hateful , nor hostile one. Just accurate enough to
justify the need for change.

The Alternative for singles is to share a
"single family home" with other singles who are not
part of their family or occupy a 1Bedroom single
family home of convential thinking and our sensibilities.
A family would require requisite number of bedrooms
and would have little hesitation in sharing the necessary
a bathroom. In the case of Fairfax county, in the website
it states clearly the minimum room sizes for people and
it is clearly less than the proposed SRO concept considered
adequate and comfortable for 1 or 2 people. (my addition to 2)
The Economic reasoning behind building smaller
economical units is really the question and the utopian
zoning that hampers what might be considered the new
urbanism and struggles to maintain it's status quo by
pressuring and support of larger units. We confront
what is known as BY-Right Zoning and its effect upon
housing. Single Family Zoning which inturn is
understandable by Single family Owners.
The Mass of American Dream Holders.

Singles by right can only number 4 unrelated individuals
in a Single Family house. A family with blood relations
can number on average 6 or so with 2 roomers in the
mix. Making it 4 unrelated by blood and children when
you consider Man and Wife are not generally related
by blood but through marriage. Practically speaking,
they neglected to mandate the number of bedrooms or
a Bathroom to occupant ratio in this By-Right listing, but
they certainly seem to discriminate against single unmarrieds
or against children who can be accommodated with lesser
standards. But if you look closely at housing you will see
how we underwrite and subsidize famillies .
Families who own put down roots and pay taxes.
Even the fundamental basis for individuals owning
property is known to foster an atmosphere of Commerce
and such. Other systems have and do exist.

Much of what I am attempting to point out are subtle
and obvious to a point that its easy to dismiss the
underlying importance which has become so sublimated
in our society. The Economy which can be compared to
an agreed upon game of sorts makes room for what maybe
we all want but what all dont necessarily obtain regardless
the reasons.Look at the three financial pie charts , one for
each ,the Federal government, the State and the County
and you discover in order the greatest expenditure per
government is these: Federal/Military, State/ Prisons,
County/ School ,everything else comes in a far far
second at best. In the case of Fairfax , the Police and
Fire Budgets are about equal to what we spend on
Social concerns. So apparently we value WAR,
Catching the Bad guy and teaching our kids how to
be good employee's.

HOMELESSNESS is just the catch -all for those
unlucky enough to fall off the playing board our economy
has created , a way to hide externalized expenses we
stopped paying decades ago in mental health , and continue
to punish and disenfranchise those who have broken our
laws. Without Homelessness we have no way to
threaten children who appear lazy, continue punishing
law breakers after they have served their sentence and
support and foster recidivism so that re-offending
becomes easier and quicker. How else would we get
away with breaking our agreement to provide safety
and security to a select few who we might even agree
don't deserve protection anymore since the numbers
are so small in the scheme of things. The right to pursue
happiness is predicated upon our inalienable right to pursue
our safety first. The American Dream of a Family home may
be the prize but all the players ,either voluntary or
conscripted, don't necessarily want or need that
Housing Model.

The economics supporting the existing Housing
model are also causing millions of gallons of gasoline
to be burnt upon our roadways ,in and out of the county,
at least 5 days per week.Week after week the latest
batch of commuters created by our Utopian zoning
stranglehold burn gasoline as an externalized expense
of the housing sprawl which Loudon county and to a
lesser degree Prince William Counties have absorbed.
And unfortunately we are on track to repeating the
behavior that led to the first round of deficits.
The mathematics which can be calculated based upon
"The Beltway Burden" report are considerable.
All because of what? A 'Master Plan" for the County
based upon out dated aspirations?

Families are no longer the Market which predominates
and demands the Housing model focus. What has
worked in the past is no longer a sure thing for the future.
The current Housing stock dates from the 1950's and 60's
are in need of retrofit and refurbishment. Zoning is like
handcuffs on the homeowner. Making whatever is
allowable also easy to comprehend is vitally important.
Respecting Singles in the Economies at hand may not
be so easy if we maintain the existing set of standards.
Higher density and respect and acknowledgment for the
bottom 20 Percent of our residents must accomplish
more than lip service.

Affordable Housing must expand to cover the fringe
2 or 3 percent which has been ignored while being
created by our shortcomings. No housing should be
assigned the name 'Homeless" housing. Economics
are what we agree to make it become ,by our actions
we add importance to details and definitions that matter
to people who make up that bottom 20 percent.
Our ideas about Plantations and Estates forget to include
the expanded uses that extended beyond simple single
family housing. We need to reconfigure our figurative
thinking.

"Give US your poor"

2010-05-31T20:04:00.002-04:00

As part of a strategy for survival, I searched out knowledge
about homelessness.I would look forward to spending my
2 hour limit online in pursuit of Answers.What help was available,
who was involved in the help you could seek? Whatever

came to mind I looked down that hallway. Without knowing
what I was up to I intuitively sought a sense of empowerment
and satisfaction.

At some point I discovered a source of information at
Change dot org. which has different issues addressed including
Homelessness. I started to comment on the Blog.

I had started here a few months maybe ahead of finding Change
and had been working on my writing strengths . Writing allows me
to refine my thoughts. Communication has been a sore spot for me
all my life. Making my point as well as seeing if I could create

a conversation . My command of knowledge satisfies the
empowerment aspect of a renewed sense of self respect
that Homelessness can strip away.

How do I make a point and yet invite a response?
What is the point I am trying to make? Is that point clear?
Have I unlocked the feeling and given it words? Am I telling
the truth , the whole truth ? Do I own my words and
confidently express myself? Have I found my voice?

I recieved an invitation to write a piece for another Blog
It was an opportunity to seek my expression of the findings
I had concluded from all my searching , both outside and
inside of myself. It came as a simple friendship request at
Change dot org..Apparently something I had written in
response to a blog post had caught John McGaw's attention.
John is the Executive Director of "Give US your Poor"dot org
which He invited me to at first take a look at. I responded with
some of my thinking about the web site.One thing leads to another
and I was invited to write about what I have come to believe is
the next hurdle in the process of Respectfully dealing with
Homelessness.

What do you believe is the next step towards ending homelessness?

Karl Marx was right?

2010-05-31T19:36:00.005-04:00

The idea that Housing is a right goes along with
exclusion from Housing is an "externalized" punitive.
A punishment . A punishment that lets "these" people
know they can't _________ and expect any help
with housing. Apparently in the Political consciousness
some are or have been expected to suffer for their sins
even after paying their DEBT TO SOCIETY.

So too then has Homelessness been used as a mechanism
of our creation serving to be the consequence of our actions,
our behaviors.So by neglect, by omission, we have allowed
this to continue.But like Victorian Sex , we dare not speak this
taboo. Just the mention of certain topics can make for hesitation.
Like saying Karl Marx was right. Have I labeled myself a
communist? A Marxist? Hope not.

The "audacity" of such a question? Who am I to ask this
a question?Anything that puts a dark light on Capitalism
seems out of bounds. This Societal control mechanism
"GOES WITHOUT SAYING'. The neglect we tolerate
in order to fit in? Commodity Fetishism that Marx saw as
a result of Capitalism comes to us in the form of
"The American Dream".The fringe of society wont just
disappear nicely. The first two rungs on the housing ladder
don't exist any longer. Can't they get the message?

The law of the jungle acted out in a system that goes to
the Highest Bidder.The Best political representation money
can buy. Blame it on the Economy? Who or what is this
Economy? The focus of our Capitalism is the stockholders,
the owners . If you are not an owner you are not part of the
Dream. Why did Thomas Jefferson advocate for universal
home ownership? A rather novel idea at the time coming out
of a Royal dilemma. New rules in a New World.

When we pursue the safety everyone believes is theirs
,we might then see past the delusion called the American Dream.
Attack the Dream and Capitalism will attack back.
Even at the expense of our democracy.

Origins Of Contemporary Homelessness

2009-10-12T07:39:00.011-04:00

SLIDESHARE dot Net Presentation:... At the top of this post

(an Overview of the Origins of Contemporary..)

CLICK This...it will take you to the Slideshare dot net website.

Then in BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER of this presentation you

will see what looks like a portable movie screen....CLICK That

and you are at FULL SCREEN.

When you are done then hit your ESCAPE BUTTON

on your computer keyboard (top left).

You may then have to click your BACK BUTTON to return

to this web blog. So clicking the FAVORITES BUTTON

is something to consider now before proceeding.

An Overview Of The Origins Of Contemporary Homelessness

View more documents from West Livaudais.

SlideShare Presentation via Social Entreprenuership at Change dot org

2009-10-10T14:33:00.004-04:00

Social media is two way interaction. We listen and then respond.

Response Ability........ This Author is also the blog moderator and

writer of the" Social Entrepreneurship" section of Change dot org.

Change dot org. has a number of active sub communities which

include Homelessness, Poverty , and an unstarted Affordable

Housing effort originated by Shannon Moriarty who is the moderator and writer for Homelessness.

Hub Brand Presentation

View more presentations from Nathaniel Whittemore.

Harness The Power Of Web 2.0

2009-10-10T08:01:00.003-04:00

SlideShare Presentation: by Co-Founder of SlideShare dot net.

Speaking of Social marketing potential to Indian internet market.

Indian middle class numbers are around 300 million and

technology has the access to the internet in a bottleneck

limiting access for now. 30 million or 10% at this time.

How Organisations Can Harness The Power Of Web 20 1205670643187131 2

View more presentations from rolinsf.

Non Profit 2.0

2009-10-10T07:25:00.004-04:00

SlideShare/ Generational sectors divided into sub-sections

of CREATORS/CRITICS/COLLECTORS/JOINERS/SPECTATORS/

And INACTIVES. Not included but from another presentation, the

US Population , 61% of households making less than $30,000. per year are connected.

Is the internet included in that 30% affordability ?

75% 0f Adults nationwide

85% age 30 - 49

72% age 50 - 64

Non Profit 2.0: How Web 2.0 is changing the game for Non Profits

View more presentations from Avi Jhangiani.

Selling Good Works -- Marketing.

2009-10-10T07:12:00.002-04:00

SlideShare : This presentation originates from Indiana.

Home to almost 35,000 non-profits. Less than half have

a strategy or business plan ,and about 27% have a web site.

Alliance mathematics expressed here is 1PLUS 1 = 3.

Selling Good Works -- Marketing a Non-Profit Organization

View more presentations from Chris Houchens.

Content Creations Strategies for Nonprofits

2009-10-10T06:56:00.002-04:00

SlideShare Presentation: very simple and to the point.

FOOD FOR THOUGHTS that will empower engagement

and action. Whatever is done becomes interactive with

compliments to the audience, not the chef.

What's on the menu?

Content Creations Strategies for Nonprofits

View more documents from kivilm.