THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 46 lines
Many public-housing residents resent the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's new ``social-lease'' provision asking 20 hours a year of community service of the able-bodied and jobless. Many also fear eviction if they don't comply. But is the social-lease nudge to volunteerism unwarranted or unconstitutional? We think not.
Anyone who buys a condominium agrees to abide by community rules and payments. Anyone who rents public housing in Norfolk agrees to conditions of tenancy. For example, tenants who engage in drug-related criminal activity are liable to eviction.
Responding to alarm and protests, the NRHA's board of commissioners backed away from ``mandating'' or ``requiring'' public service. But the provision adopted demands that tenants ``agree'' to volunteer service.
NRHA says failure to live up to the agreement won't be the sole basis for eviction, but NRHA counselors will take up the public-service topic with prospective renters and tenants whose leases come up for renewal.
Is that bad? Vice Mayor Paul R. Riddick says the provision constitutes unconstitutional governmental intrusion into personal lives. Some public-housing residents see the provision as ``slavery.'' Others complain that many residents already volunteer.
The objections are noted. But more must be done to combat public-housing parks' socioeconomic afflictions.
Too many residents who could work their way out of public housing become stuck in it. Too many children from single-parent, welfare-dependent families in public housing fail in school and in life, growing up to burden welfare rolls, police resources and courts.
Social workers, schoolteachers, law-enforcement personnel and others engaged daily in promoting the common good would welcome more constructive responses from all they aid, protect or nurture.
Jobless public-housing residents who participate in improving their community needn't worry about NRHA's effort to promote volunteerism - they, too, would benefit from similarly constructive activity by more neighbors.
And, as NRHA Executive Director David Rice argues, welfare-reform limits on benefits will force many public-housing residents toward a job market that calls for skills that many lack. The awesome habilitation challenge found in the public-housing parks demands the involvement of all hands.