HHR-ACTION
DOCUMENTS
“Why Your House Was So Expensive,” by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic. July 2022
Download Why Your House Was So Expensive – The Atlantic
“Homeowner and Rental Vacancy Rates Declined During COVID-19 Pandemic,” by Jonathan Spader, www.census.gov
Download Housing Vacancy Rates Near Historic Lows
“Lessons From Eviction Court,” by Fran Quigley, December 2, 2021, www.commondreams.org
Download Lessons From Eviction Court Fran Quigley-1
“Evictions: St. Joseph County, Indiana, 2016 and 2020, by John Hagen, November 2021
Download EVICTIONS_STJOE_2016-21
“Housing is A Human Right,” Presentation by Judy Fox, Director of the Economic Justice Clinic and Clinical Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, at a meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Justice, August 25, 2021
Download Judy Fox presentation Aug 25 2021
Mayor’s Working Group on Chronic Homelessness, Final Report, August 2017
Download Homeless Working Group Report August 2017
Neighbors Saving Neighborhoods: Community Forum Paper on Vacant and Abandoned Housing, August 2013
Download V&A_Final WhitePaper_v4C
MEETINGS
October 12: Lead Poisoning, Eviction Court Watch
HHR-Action, an organization of housing advocates who understand that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right.
NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 6 PM,
MAIN LIBRARY, COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
CLASSROOM D
PROGRAM:
1. Lead poisoning prevention in Saint Joseph County, a presentation from the Lead Affinity Group, a community coalition of civil servants, health providers, educators, researchers, and community leaders that has been meeting since 2017 to address the dangers of lead in our community. They are conducting community presentations this fall to: (a) educate the community about lead poisoning, (b) share recent, important policy changes in Indiana that will help children and families, and (c) provide information about resources that are locally available. After viewing this presentation, participants will have a deeper under-standing of the lead poisoning problem in St. Joseph County and be able to advocate for community and organizational action.
2. What have we learned from our Eviction Court Watch project? Since June of 2022, members of HHR have maintained an information table in the lobby outside of SJC Small Claims Court where Monday’s Eviction Court proceedings are held. We provided information about resources available to support our neighbors who were in danger of being evicted from their homes.
Since May of 2023, HHR volunteers also have attended eviction hearings. In addition, Katherine Wines, a legal navigator from Pro Bono Indiana, developed and completed an observation sheet for hundreds of eviction proceedings. Collected results then were analyzed by Katherine and Judy Fox, Clinical Professor Emeritus of law at UND. Their findings will be shared with us at the October 12th meeting, explaining the methodology used as well as their findings from this first stage of the project. We’ll also hear experiences from some of the eviction court volunteers: e.g. what type of information was requested at the information table and what they learned from observing the proceedings.
Join us that evening with your questions and comments about these community action projects!
Aug 29: HHR Meeting: We Need More Affordable Housing
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 6 PM – 7:30 PM
MAIN ST. LIBRARY, COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, CLASSROOM B
PROGRAM:
Kathy Schuth, Director of NNN, Si Barker, VP of Board of 466Works,
Regina Williams Preston, Far Northwest Neighborhood Activist.
LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND BEGIN A DISCUSSION OF
THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
July 31: HHR Meeting: A Place for Safety
Next meeting of HHR, Monday, July 31 at 6 pm
Classroom D, Community Learning Center at the Main Library
Topic for discussion: A Place for Safety
An introduction to new roles, growing efforts, and ways to help.
A continuation of our discussions on Homelessness featuring Carl Hetler, South Bend’s newly appointed Homeless Coordinator, and Common Councilwoman Lori Hamann
Lori Hamann will discuss the Common Council’s tabling of a bill that would add “housing status” as a protected class. Carl Hetler will discuss national training being used by many local agencies, and provide hands on skill development for the general public.
June 19: HHR Meeting on Homelessness
Next Meeting: Monday, 6/19, 6 pm
At the Civil Rights Heritage Center (1040 West Washington St.)
Discussion topic: Need for a “HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS”
A Homeless Bill of Rights is, at its essence, a reaffirmation that the homeless are entitled to the same rights and privileges as other citizens and an understanding that those rights and privileges are not always recognized.
At the next meeting of the South Bend Common Council, Councilwoman Lori Hamann will introduce a bill that would amend the city’s human rights ordinance to establish the “unhoused” as a protected class.
At our HHR meeting next Monday, Councilwoman Hamann, South Bend’s newly appointed Homelessness Coordinator, Carl Hetler, and other housing advocates who have participating in the development of a Homeless Bill of Rights, will join our meeting for a discussion of this issue.
The amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance should have its first reading at the June 26th Common Council meeting. After the 1st reading, the Public Health and Safety meeting will review the amendment and it will be voted on at the 1st Council meeting in July.