Low-income families, single mothers with children, the chronically homeless, the physically disabled and mentally ill ”“ where will they live? The issue can seem so unwinnable as to evoke wailing and gnashing of teeth. But May 4 those who do not flinch at such challenges met to wed their concerns with some good old-fashioned D.C. clout.
Some thirty-plus advocacy group representatives, including Independent Living, RECAP, Newburgh Community Improvement Corp., Gateway Community Industries and dozens involved in taking care of those struggling to find decent housing and support services met with U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, at 280 Broadway, Newburgh. (U.S. Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, was also scheduled to speak to the advocacy group, did not make it to the housing forum.)
The venue was rehabbed by Putnam builder Vincent Cappelletti. He bought the abandoned former Bank of New York building three years ago, saying he”™s put more than $1 million in renovations into the four-story building. Today, it”™s the Newburgh Neighborhood Resource Center and home to many of the city”™s nonprofit agencies, including the Dispute Resolution Center, RECAP and Home Express After School Program. While Cappelletti was praised for bringing the old BONY building back to life, the group pressed Hinchey to learn what Congress is doing to help the low-income residents of the city who are in need of apartments.
Since Hinchey sits on the House Appropriations Committee, housing advocates are hoping he”™ll help push for legislation that will bring some funding streams into Newburgh for much needed low-income housing.
Hinchey acknowledged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs updating and streamlining of services to keep them consistent, rather than the current ebb and flow of funds. A relatively new agency, noted Hinchey, “HUD was created post-World War II and not fully utilized until the mid-1960s under Johnson.” Saying the current administration is focused on Iraq, Hinchey believes a new direction will be taken after the 2008 elections and that revamping of HUD should be a top priority when there is a changing of the guard.
Â
Karen Mallam, executive director for the Newburgh Community Improvement Corp., told Hinchey, “We need to impress upon HUD that we here in the field need to set the priorities, not have them set from the outside.” She asked if he was supportive of the McKinney Vento Reauthorization bill. Hinchey affirmed his support of McKinney Vento, actually two bills that would restructure HUD”™s homeless assistance programs: Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (S.1801) and the Homeless Assistance Consolidation Act (HR5041). The two would consolidate HUD”™s three current programs into one competitive program and add “prevention” as an eligible category.
John Ebert, a rehabilitation planner for Orange County”™s Office of Community Development, said “HUD has been a tremendous partner. They are doing all they can to help us to the best of their ability.” Of course, acknowledged Ebert and others, a streamlining of HUD will help even more, lending a hand to get the city so many feel is “turning a corner” back on its feet.
Hinchey told advocates he was “there to listen, take notes and take their questions back to Washington to help Newburgh, part of his far-reaching district. “This was a critically important city during the 1950s but like so many others, it slid down.”
What can”™t be cured doesn”™t necessarily have to be endured, however. Embracing another tangled national issue ”“ health insurance ”“ Hinchey said he will continue to advocate for national health insurance, as well as push to streamline HUD. The Orange County Housing Consortium hopes Hinchey”™s efforts, along with others, will come to fruition, as housing needs increase and options continue to dwindle for those living at or below poverty level.
Â
