The HUDdled Masses and More!

The PRU Crew feels that most people have kind and charitable hearts. So much so that organizing a 501(c)3 non-profit organization seems to be all the rage these days. And this non-profit business wing of the population seems to have enough clout to manage to get themselves exempted from pending legislation on junk mail, along with political entities and small businesses; small businesses being the only entities the PRU Crew doesn't mind receiving junk mail from.

Of course in many of these non-profit organizations there are paid staff members conducting the organization's work; we use the term loosely. And of course many of the 501(c)3 non-profit organizations are substantially government funded.

Say hello to HUD, a.k.a. the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD funds so many assorted 501(c)3 organizations that we could not possibly list even a fraction of them here. Which leads us to believe, as with most government departments the Crew's ever come to know, they probably aren't doing a real bang-up job of due diligence and oversight. And that is probably why lack-luster social programs such as PADS are allowed to continue being funded. That and the fact that nobody, and we mean NOBODY, really knows what the hell to do about the problem of the homeless and all the other problems associated with that condition.

It's "the system".

But, if one isn't truly looking for solutions to a problem and is, instead, looking to "work the system" then...

Say hello to HUD!

A couple days ago, a poster here referred to Mayor Howard and asked, "He can't make a buck on a PADS shelter, can he?"

The answer is, probably not directly. But indirectly? Quite possibly.

You see, the way the system works is that you incorporate a 501(c)3 (even out of sincere intentions), then you establish a continuum of care plan for the homeless and low/moderate income folks at risk, which is exactly what the Journeys from PADS to Hope organization is. Then you demonstrate that you are filling a community need through your program.

Then you apply for grants.

Community Development Block Grants.

Why would Park Ridge want to apply for CDBG grants with big time Federal strings attached? Because it's nice to get the Feds to pay for community development initiatives.

And because HUD is as interested in promoting its 'America's Affordable Communities Initiative' as any self-perpetuating bureaucracy can be, and the Feds can count on our very own Governor Blow Dry to help with that, along with so many assorted local organizations and socially conscious butterflies, we literally could not save all the links. But we did find a few "stand outs."

To start we have the “Prime Solutions for Affordable Housing” Illinois’ 2008 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan (.pdf). The vision statement in this plan says: "Quality housing, affordable to each household, with accessible and appropriate services where needed, that supports individual and family success. Housing is an essential asset and economic engine for neighborhoods, integral to the creation of robust communities for the citizens of Illinois."

Okay, uncross your eyes and continue.

Apparently, if your community is so "robust" that your housing stock doesn't include at least 10% of units "affordable" to low and moderate income people, then you should expect to be required to make amends. No exceptions, or "non-exempt", as the State of Illinois' prefers to phrase it. And the "non-exempt" phrase means communities like Park Ridge.

In a 2004 report released by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Park Ridge was listed as one of the affordable housing community slackers (.pdf), right there on page 4. But what caught the PRU Crew's attention in that report was the section:

Local Control is Maintained

“One of the important provisions of the law is that local decisions remain with the local government and that all developments must meet the standards of the local community,” explained Dibble. “The community can tailor its own plan for its own needs and concerns. And once they have their plan in place, the community is in charge of its own destiny.”

"Communities also have the option of choosing one of three planning goals. They can adopt a plan that requires 15% of all new developments to be affordable; a plan whereby the community will increase its overall percentage of affordable housing by three percentage points; or a plan whereby communities will increase their overall percentage of affordable housing to 10%."

"The type of development – rental or for sale – as well as the type of buildings – detached single family, attached townhomes, condos, etc. – are all completely under the control of the municipality. Also, the population that the community intends to address is completely flexible and under the control of the municipality. Communities with aging populations may consider rental developments for seniors, but others may plan for a homeownership program for teachers, hospital workers, or other municipal employees. Still others may develop a program to retain the young families who grew up in the community, who are otherwise forced to find homes in other communities."

And that right there, our dear fellow Park Ridgians, means developers. Campaign contributing developers, along with whatever else those developers may deign to bestow upon a politician who may then look favorably on a new development.

Because what will happen is that any developer required to set aside some portion of a development for "affordable housing" purposes will then have a substantial reason to ask for...

...can you guess...

...that's right...

...increased density. Density. Density. Density.

And in case anybody has forgotten, a majority of our city council members made drooling lapdogs of themselves when presented with "senior housing" that isn't really "senior housing," when Norwood Builders wanted to increase the density of their development at Executive Office Plaza. We tell you now, affordable housing set asides will be deemed a "real hardship" and there is likely to be nothing close to a fighting chance for staying within the zoning code.

And while all of that is procedural and municipal and ordinance-laden, the socially conscious butterflies are hard at work (.pdf - see pg. 5, first item). We guess former Alderman Sue Bell just can't get enough of "representing" Park Ridge. It also appears that our Fair Housing Commission chairman, Nan Parson, forgot which commission she intended to join. Though, anybody who has been paying close attention or knows Nan Parson, knows that Nan is nearly incapable of distinguishing her role as Fair Housing chairman from her "social justice" agenda for affordable housing.

And the people with social and political agendas hide themselves behind the communities of faith who will ALWAYS be suckers for a hard-luck story, but remain shallow and short on thought when it comes to public policy.

And all of that is likely why Mayor Howard is working behind the scenes to support the PADS shelter at St. Mary's. You don't risk appearing to be less than a "good christian" in front of the clergy because, after all, they've got the ultimate bully pulpit. And no matter how much of a ding-a-ling she may be, you don't cross a political party ally, former Alderman Sue Bell, politically. And you might just be able to spin some campaign contribution hay out of some new residential development plans.

BOHICA.

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Tomorrow -- Other things considered.