CHUM Annual Report 2012

WHERE IS THE HOUSING?
An Urgent Question in Need of an Answer By Matt Traynor, Community Organizer & Julie Krienke, Intern
It’s a question that has lived in the consciousness of CHUM housing advocates for quite
some time. Despite the implementation of new and promising ideas during the past
year, the constant presence of this question illustrates the fact that many still do not have
a place to call home.
“It all goes back to the Gospel – feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and providing
shelter for folks, which is really CHUM’s mission,” said Jim Soderberg, executive director
of CHUM. “To the extent that we can serve folks who are
struggling and in need, we are helping the broader community.”
Serving individuals who are living on the margins of
society, CHUM is now aware that the answer to the
question “Where is the housing?” is further away than
it has ever been. The number of families seeking shelter
at CHUM began increasing over the past year, as high
barriers stood in their way of housing. CHUM decided
to take action, advocating for more affordable housing.
For years, the Seaway Hotel on West Superior Street has
served as a placement for those seeking housing assistance
at CHUM. It serves a broad spectrum of individuals struggling
to find housing, and it lacks the restrictions that cause many to be ineligible for public
housing. It is a home to those who choose to live there as well as for those who have no
other choice.
“So many of the Seaway residents are connected to CHUM,” Soderberg said. “They
provide housing for many single adults who have the same destabilizing factors we see
at CHUM. If the Seaway closed, we would see more people at CHUM and even people
camped outside.”
Nearly three years ago, CHUM was a driving force in keeping the Seaway open, but just
this summer, a condemnation order was placed on this diverse housing facility. CHUM
took a stand.
In an effort to put a face on those who call the Seaway home, CHUM held an affordable
housing rally and presented resident stories to the Duluth City Council.
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The condemnation was lifted, and the Duluth Housing Redevelopment
Authority (HRA) secured funding through the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
to start repairs.
“The big concern now is that the owner wants to sell the building,” Soderberg said.
“As a community, we need to focus on what will replace the Seaway, and by replace,
I mean putting up housing that will serve that population.”
For this reason, CHUM has gotten involved in the
Hillside Apartments Project, a plan that involves
building 44 units of affordable housing that will
include services to the families residing there. It is
CHUM’s goal that those who will find a place to
live in these facilities won’t face the same question
that hundreds of Duluthians are now asking –
“Where is the housing?”
What can the CHUM community do? CHUM
believes that asking the multiple housing agencies
in Duluth to work with the city to create more
housing is entirely in the realm of realistic goals.
This process has begun, however everyone in the community needs to stay focused
so we don’t loose the urgency that has been
created due to the near condemnation and potential sale of the Seaway. It would
be a tragedy to continually put ourselves in a position to fail in meeting the basic
human right of having four walls and a roof.
So what can we do? We can ensure that those in the position to make choices
know our view. We can bump affordable housing up the priority ladder in the
political realm and within our own circle of influence. Call your city counselors
and let them know you expect to see things done to answer the question
“Where is the housing?”