Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 17, 1995 TAG: 9510170081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Residents of Roanoke's Justice House got some straightforward advice Monday: It's time to find another place to live.
Five representatives of the building's estimated 50 to 60 tenants met with government and social-service representatives at the offices of Roanoke Area Ministries.
``We can't tell you what to do,'' Wendy Moore, RAM's executive director, told the residents. The clear message from all quarters, however, was that moving out would be the best course.
Moore said she called the meeting in response to requests from Justice House residents for emergency financial aid last week when their electricity was turned off.
Power was restored without financial aid from RAM, but Moore said the description of the deterioration of the Justice House property prompted her to initiate talks between the residents and agencies that might assist them.
``We can make ourselves available to you and make sure you know we've got help available,''she said.
``You deserve safe, affordable housing,'' and it's available in the Roanoke Valley, Moore said.
Justice House was founded a decade ago by David Hayden, then a Mennonite minister with a vision for a self-sustaining community of the poor and formerly homeless. The Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions bought an apartment building on Elm Avenue Southwest for Hayden's Justice House/Justice Church ministry. The church later defrocked Hayden, but in 1990, under pressure from him and residents, signed over the property to the Justice Church.
Hayden, known for his advocacy of government and religious care of the poor, left Justice House in January. Since then, some residents say, living conditions have deteriorated.
Hayden, now living in Floyd County, contends that Roanoke Area Ministries agreed to assume responsibility for the Justice House program. RAM officials deny that.
In addition, it now appears that the legal transfer of the property's ownership was never completed, and the courts will have to decide who holds title.
Resident Daryoush Khalajabdi began Monday's meeting with a plea for temporary financial assistance to keep the building open because ``It is hard to ask people to leave'' with winter coming.
But another resident, who identified himself only as David, said he does not believe the roof will survive the winter. ``The wiring is very bad. The plumbing is very bad. The back porch needs to be secured.''
He and the representatives other than Khalajabdi seemed resigned to the necessity of moving.
David Yoder, president of the Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions, contended that delaying moving would only put off the inevitable. If the courts decide his denomination still is the owner of the building, it will sell the property.
The Mennonite Church ``would like to urge you to move. We gain nothing if you stay or move ... but we believe you could improve yourself if you move,'' Yoder said. ``In the long run, relocation is going to be necessary, anyway. Rather than wait until the heart of winter, I think it is better to make a move now.''
``It would be impossible for us to provide the management'' for a program for the poor from the denomination's regional office in Harrisonburg, Yoder said. Neither could it afford the substantial investment that would be required to make repairs to meet current building codes.
Moore said a contractor RAM asked to assess the property concluded that $500,000 worth of repairs and upgrades would be necessary.
Glenn Radcliffe, Roanoke's director of human development, said the city has assessed the property as well and may have to ``move toward condemnation unless someone tells us they're going to spend half a million dollars'' on repairs.
Dave Baldwin of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority told the residents the city has about 100 city-owned housing units available. He offered to send a representative to the Justice House building to take applications from residents interested in that housing.
Dannie McClain, who screens clients for eligibility for Roanoke Area Ministries' programs, will serve as a referral specialist for Justice House residents looking to move. He is already familiar with the programs offered by the other agencies representated at Monday's meeting, such as Total Action Against Poverty, Roanoke Department of Social Services, Presbyterian Community Center, Council of Community Services and others.
Jodye Matchett, a Justice House resident at the meeting, already has looked into an apartment offered by a Roanoke real estate agent who contacted RAM after news stories about the conditions at Justice House ran last week.
She and the others said they would call a meeting at the building and let the other residents know about the options she heard Monday. ``I feel good about it,'' she said. ``I think this is the best situation.''
``This goes beyond money,'' Moore said. ``Everyone needs a safe place to live. There is no reason for anyone in this city or this country to be living in a situation that is unsafe. ... If they want to move to another location, we will try to make that move as painless as possible.''
by CNB