Hac Seizes City Council

by Ken Garber

ANN ARBOR- To the delight of the more than 100 homeless people and housing activists gathered at City Council chambers, the "People's Council of Ann Arbor" conducted a mock council meeting on Nov. 20 to demand low-cost housing. "We have spoken from the outside and have been ignored," said Tandy Watts, who sat in city administrator Del Bergsdorf 's seat and presided over the meeting. "We are here tonight to speak from the inside."

As "regular" city council members waited in the wings, the People's Council (chanting the slogan, "House people, not cars") passed four resolutions. The resolutions are to: cancel the proposed "Kline's lot" parking structure and instead build 1,500 units of low-income housing; set aside 30% of new housing developments as affordable units; require all new downtown developers to contribute to low-income housing; open new emergency shelter space and transitional housing (and find a permanent site for the day program).

Several speakers supported the measures. Carole McCabe, program coordinator for WIT House, a transitional shelter for women, said that an average of 84 people each night had sought emergency shelter so far this November, up from 62 a year ago. "We 're also seeing a dramatic increase in the number of homeless women," said McCabe, who backed the proposal for more shelter space and transitional housing. "But housing people in shelters is not the answer," she added. "We need more affordable housing in Ann Arbor."

Several homeless people also spoke. "I have seen the cruel and inhuman treatment of homeless people in this town," said Bob Harris, a shelter resident. "It makes me mad that City Council can sit on the problem. Housing is a right, not a privilege."

"Most of them are struggling daily to be productive members of the community. Most have jobs. Most are not mentally ill, nor are they or alcohol-dependent," said M. Shane-Bey. "There hasn't been any affordable housing built in the community for the last 15 years - which is truly deplorable. People who work here cannot live here." Despite the unplugging of the community access" television camera on orders of council member Torn Richardson, HAC's message did get across. The approximately 200 people on hand in City Hall heard not only a plea, but a warning. "If council does not take steps to change this deplorable state of being," said Shane-Bey, "we will take 'HACtion.'"