MCIL Housing Roundtable

Collaboration and networking to solve housing problems

Notes

Sandi Klink, the Executive Director of the Memphis Center for Independent Living welcomed everyone to this first quarterly roundtable on housing. She said she hoped that we would all share opportunities for collaboration and work for real change for Memphis.
 
Sandi discussed the purpose for the roundtable development:

• Share an overview of current housing services and programs
• Share understanding of needs- individuals served and organizationally
• Share challenges
• Share opportunities for collaboration and change
  

Each individual was urged to a seat at the table and given an opportunity to tell a bit about why they were present, how they were involved in the housing community and changes needed:

• More Low income, accessible, integrated housing referral
• How do we get more listed for referral sites or removed
• Low income, accessible homes landlord registry
• Oversight of tenant based apt. complexes: pests, water, elevators, etc.
• Domestic violence survivors’ emergency housing
• Fair market and some low income housing requiring 3 times the rent in income
• More universal design requirements or extra points in applications for funding for inclusion of these elements
• Aging in Place - ramps, modifications, for those with needs under 60 years old
• Homeowner assistance for emergencies- hot water tanks, rotting floors, etc.
• Homeless and Emergency shelter for people with mobility disabilities or significant health concerns, physical and mental or behavioral needs
• What policy priorities might we work on for Memphis and Shelby County to support housing integration?

The roundtable discussion began with some statements about the general condition of affordable, accessible and integrated housing in our area. Sandi had pointed out that although the Habitat for Humanity program provides for home repair and home modification for people over 62, there are people with disabilities who also need modifications. Also considering housing that is not safe.

Many people with disabilities contact agencies and those that are moving from institutional settings have very little income. Most importantly, access to transportation was a critical part of housing and community need.

Mario Reed mentioned that even new construction was not accessible and he had several lawsuits currently about accessibility and the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the ADA.

The group dealt with the question of a list of accessible homes and apartments. The direct answer was there was no list, but agencies have used the THDA database and other sources. All were incomplete.

Paul Young suggested that this was an opportunity. He suggested something like the green homes initiative and energy efficiency as a selling point for the community.  MCIL could promote universal design as a selling point.

Sandi Klink brought up the problems with the focus on Congregate Living situations or CLS housing. Some care coordinators see this as the only option for institutional release and people with disabilities are again facing segregated housing. She told about the advantage of integrated housing and community involvement of persons with disabilities.

HCD asked about geography and what areas had the most problems with access. MCIL said the Center has that information but had not done any geographic analysis because they are charged with serving all people with disabilities.

MCIL committed to providing HCD with data that would assist with geographic analysis.

Sandi Klink noted that in the past Randy had done some analysis on where housing for people with disabilities was. Generally, there was a cluster of high-rises that provided general accessibility and affordably. Not only was there a cluster, but renters could also expect that the units were not clean or safe and that there is always a recurring problem with elevators. 

Paul Young again spoke about making geographically smart decisions and that we must think of housing and transportation together. Responding to the idea that both housing needs, neighborhoods and bus routes change, he argued that HCD must concentrate in areas of most need. He suggested, “sprinkling money around,” was generally ineffective and inefficient at solving housing issues.

Mr. Young challenged the crowd on how to get affordable housing in “areas of opportunity.” He suggested that providing incentives may help to guide development and that HCD would look at a full list of policy initiatives that would be helpful to people with disabilities.

The development of townhomes was of particular concern. The accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Amendment Act do not  apply to townhomes and multi-story units. It would make a good policy initiative if Memphis were not to fund those types of housing because they conflict with “aging in place,” concepts and they create segregated areas.

Income discrimination was also listed as a possible policy initiative. Because landlords are reported to require a potential tenant to have an income of two or three times the monthly rent. People with disabilities; however, may have a completely unique income. With housing vouchers, not having car payments and different health care enrollment, some people with disabilities have a very different overall percentage of housing affordability, but the typical income formula is still applied to all renters.

The group pointed out the expense of retrofitting homes and apartments. People with disabilities make up a higher proportion of renters because the Fair Housing Amendments Act impacts rental units and no law makes single-family homes accessible. The Urban Institute survey found generally that 17.4% of Memphis apartments asserted some accessibility. Comparatively, Boulder-Denver was above 85%. Bobbie Fields asked “What can we do, especially for the 25 to 50 years age group of people with disabilities who also want to buy a home?”

Sandi Klink asked the group to come up with ways that we can help each other.

Builders from L Strategies said they are ready to build, not cheap, if someone could be qualified for a loan. United Housing is also looking for people who wish to buy a home.

This was seen as another opportunity to design ways to help people to purchase a home.  HCD suggested that HOME grants may help to benefit new construction and rehab as long as they benefit people with low and moderate incomes. HCD wishes to align the Consolidated Plan they are developing now with the Memphis 3.0 plan. The City is looking to partner with people with disabilities. Also working with Green and healthy homes, potentially have a registry of landlords and incentives for low income renters.

Individual problems were mentioned such as people with cognitive disabilities taken advantage of and landlords demanding payment for “work orders” on individual units. The difficulty of deaf access and emergency repairs programs were considered. Problems with access at emergency housing shelters and no accessible women’s shelter was mentioned. 

To do:

• Felicia will ask that Green and Healthy Homes include MCIL and Safety Center
• MCIL will send addresses of Home Modification wait list
• MCIL will compile notes from first meeting
• Group will continue quarterly, Tentative Date is Thursday, May 23
  

Date and Time: February 20, 2019, from 2:PM to 3:30
Location: 5100 Poplar Ave. Eight-floor Conference Room
Reported by: Sandi Klink and Tim Wheat
Next Roundtable: Tentative Date is Thursday, May 23