HOPE VI AT MICHIGAN COURT AND
FLOSSIE RILEY:
SECOND ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT
FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FORT MYERS
HOWARD UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR URBAN PROGRESS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH POYO CONSULTING
December 7, 2009
If the demographic data for Michigan Court [refugees] from this report is applicable, Horizons Apartments can expect over 650 residents, of which 180 are head of household (90% female), 70 non-head of household adults, and over 400 children. 80/20 Black/Hispanic distribution. 75% English speaking, 25% Spanish or Creole. Applicable household annual income average about 10k with 40% of households reporting employment as a source of income (i.e., 60% unemployment by household). This would imply about 100 units will be provided at the minimum rent of $50 per month (the HACFM refused to answer this question at our meeting).
The Howard University report proposes to measure the efficacy of the HOPE VI project at Michigan Court and Flossie Riley. However, all 173 Michigan Court households (remaining out of the original 326) were relocated off-site to various other HACFM projects, and through the HCV (housing choice voucher) program to additional housing. Thus, as the HOPE VI initiative is based upon a comprehensive rebuilding of the community, and as only 85 senior housing units (Flossie Riley) have been rebuilt at the original site, is it ridiculous that this report considers the Michigan Court diaspora as still within the scope of HOPE VI - and measurable as same.
Report here:
http://www.coas.howard.edu/hucup/papersandreports/HUCUP_HVI_second_interim_michigan_ct_flossie2009.pdf
The HACFM has clearly established that it is incapable of providing safe low-income Public Housing due to the fact that all of such existing projects under their control are chronically plagued by violent crime including drive-by shootings, murder, manslaugter, assault, robbery, etc. As such, the communities of Tanglewood and Whiskey Creek oppose their plan to convert Horizons Apartments, right next door to our Tanglewood Elementary School, to low-income Public Housing.
