THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170417
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
After enduring months of suspicion, Norfolk's public housing task force encountered little controversy at its public hearing Thursday.
There was little comment at all.
The hearing at Booker T. Washington High School drew about 35 citizens who were not officially connected to the task force or city government. Only four spoke out.
Nonetheless, City Councilman Herbert M. Collins Sr., task-force co-chairman, said he came away with a deeper appreciation for public housing. ``I think we do have to have a safety net,'' he said.
A year ago, Collins fueled rumors that Norfolk would bulldoze public housing. He suggested that some apartments be replaced by an equal number on scattered sites.
Since then, the task force has recommended against any demolition.
On Thursday, School Board Chairman Ulysses Turner, a task-force member, praised Collins for showing the courage to discuss public housing.
``We have to put aside all the special agendas and stop pointing fingers,'' added Elzie Stewart, a task-force member and public-housing resident. ``We need to come together for one common good, that's to upbuild the city of Norfolk.''
While the task force was assigned to study public housing, Collins agreed with some speakers who expressed concern for low-income citizens not living in the complexes but still needing help.
Mark Yatrofsky, a Ghent resident, warned against shutting them out in the future.
The task force wants to allow a broader mix of income groups in public housing, not just the poorest. The theory is that working families would be role models and also break up concentrations of poverty.
But Yatrofsky urged ``recognition that some people . . . currently not in need may fall into that category . . . due to things beyond their control,'' such as economic downturns and personal catastrophes.
Collins agreed, saying: ``We have to be there for those folks.''
He noted that public housing has a waiting list of families who have lower incomes than current residents. ``That's a real concern,'' he said. ``That's one of the reasons some of those already (in public housing) need to be in a position to move on because there are those with needs that are much more urgent.''
The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority says public-housing families have an average annual income of $6,577 while those on the waiting list have $5,860.
Barbara Ballard, president of the League of Women Voters of South Hampton Roads, urged caution on changing tenant selection procedures until Norfolk could assess the impact of welfare reform and the success of job-training programs. Many task-force recommendations seek to improve chances of tenants to move upward. They cover issues such as education, neighborhood design and safety, entrepreneurship, job training, community organizing and values.
Some guiding philosophies were:
The need to blend public-housing neighborhoods and residents with surrounding communities.
Recognition that ``all Norfolk residents have a stake'' in the health of public housing and initiatives to help residents.
That tenants share responsibility for creating and maintaining stable communities.
City agencies and residents must work harder and more closely to reduce crime in public housing so programs can have a better chance of success.
Many existing programs need expansion but better coordination.
Still, there were doubters.
Yvonne Myles, a former tenant, said the effort would not be taken seriously until more jobs were created and the city enforced laws more strongly against outsiders bringing drugs into public housing.
Collins said final recommendations will go to the City Council by year's end. by CNB