Proponents of the Engine 6 project, to build a home for the chronically homeless in Waban, submitted a petition to the city signed by 221 citizens. The petition asks the mayor to reconsider his decision and to release the federal funding for the project. This comes just days before the purchase-and-sale agreement on the property is due to expire on Oct 3.
Read about it the Newton Tab
Interesting.
Maybe the opponents should start a petition. I’ll bet they’ll get more signatures.
Maybe the Proponents should start an online donation system similar to what was done for the homeless Boston man that returned the backpack filled with money and travelers checks.
I am sure they would raise enough money to put this project in motion. And then what will the Mayor do to stop that ???
Good luck with that Joanne. Of the 221 citizens who signed this petition, less than 20 live within a mile of the project. Lots of courageous people when its someone else’s neighborhood. It’s apparent that Newtonites (or anyone) don’t want this type of project shoved down their throats. No one wants homeless next door to their house. Do you Joanne?
JHolden – thank you for being honest about not wanting homeless in your neighborhood. Too Bad the Mayor cant be honest like you. As for projects likes this in Newton – we have plenty of homeless woman and children shelters on the North side of the city. And this was being done by a group that had experience in this type of housing. They have plenty of them already in operation – they have a proven track record. It is the hypocrites who shove Understanding our Difference down our children’s throats in the NPS and then when push comes to shove dont know how to practice what they preach.
The Mayor and his crew can spin it anyway they want – it is still Discrimination.
Joanne – some of us who object to the project as currently planned (a) don’t live in Waban, and (b) don’t object to homeless in our neighborhoods (I live across the street from formerly homeless).
It doesn’t do a cause any good to cast aspersions on those who disagree with you on it. While some may be like JHolden (and I join you in appreciating his honesty), many are not.
Joanne said, “And this was being done by a group that had experience in this type of housing. They have plenty of them already in operation – they have a proven track record.”
Please note that Metro West did not have a proven track record, and while Pine Street Inn does, it didn’t in a community like Newton. The real irony is it’s the very characteristic you cite [experience in this type of housing] where they got failing grades in their presentations in June – some facts were wrong, they hadn’t done their homework on numerous issues, and their initial contempt for the Waban community [in response to legitimate concerns being raised]was condescending. In my opinion, if they want to look at who’s at fault for how this played out, they must simply look in the mirror.
This may well have been a project that could have been done, but for themselves.
The question of services for tenants of Engine 6 keeps coming up. Someone I know made a few phone calls that answered all the befuddled questions coming out of City Hall:
Riverside Community Care runs four main mental health programs for Newton residents: Emergency Services, which provides 24/7 mobile, emergency psychiatric crisis evaluation; Day Treatment, a structured, intensive day program providing treatment for mental health issues; Eliot House, offering job training and placement; and the Outpatient Center, providing therapy and medication management services. To reiterate, NONE of these programs are carrying a waitlist, except the outpatient clinic, and then only a potential brief wait depending on the type of health insurance. All of these programs enable Newton residents, including the ones who would live at Engine 6, to receive support, to enhance their daily functioning, and to be connected and integrated into their community.
Re AA:
A quick google search turns up AA meetings in six locations, all on bus lines–one just down the street from Engine 6 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital! Many members of AA already living in Waban could offer a ride to these people. It’s part of the AA ethos–and a reminder that Engine 6 will be drug-free but how many of our homes are?
Joanne, Joanne, Joanne Again with the Understanding our Differences! I guess Engine 6 has given you a way to showcase your marquee issue.
As we have seen in the weeks and months since the Mayor cut off debate on this issue, there are indeed many Waban residents — and Newton residents — who support going ahead with discussions on Engine 6. It would appear to be too late. But the idea that everyone in Newton is against affordable housing in their own neighborhood is specious.
P.S. To Joanne. I realize you said you do not oppose UOD as a teacher, but the way you refer to it, repeatedly, (“shoving it down our throats”) betrays your real feelings.
Funny, I didn’t take Joanne’s comment as a slam on UOD – I just thought Joanne was articulating what many of us feel: many people in Newton LOVE to preach diversity and a welcoming environment, as long as it isn’t in their village. Paint a pretty picture – live a different reality.
NN- Joanne has mentioned UOD in many past posts. And the “shoving it down our throats” doesn’t exactly sound like she supports the idea, now, does it? I guess Blithely Ignoring Our Differences would be more consistent, by her lights.
Pine Street Inn serviced 45 homeless people from Newton last year. We send our poorest to Boston to receive services and reject nine who could (and would love to) be living here. The CDBG money is not coming from Newton anyway–it is federal money intended for this kind of proposal. Permanent supportive housing is central to the city’s comprehensive plan for affordable housing.
In essence the city is saying that we don’t want these people because some are disabled, and we cannot offer them the services they may need. Let’s extend that logic just by a fraction–if we don’t want disabled people living in Newton, what do we do with the ones who are already here–our children, neighbors, grandparents–whatever? How will the city expel them—self-deportation?
My son is severely disabled but found compassion and respect and, yes, services in the Newton schools. Pardon my preaching, but Engine 6 has struck a nerve.
James Rutenbeck — On the assertion Newton “sends it’s poorest to Boston”, the HUD reports say we got 24 Chronically Homeless in Newton. They apparently aren’t from Pine St, but they are here. Since Nashville, Chicago and Montreal (as well as Wilmington, Sharon and Gloucester…) also “send” their less fortunate to Boston, why are you picking out Newton?
James – you wrote “In essence the city is saying that we don’t want these people because some are disabled, and we cannot offer them the services they may need.” That’s not what the city said. The city is saying that the location is not good for people with disabilities because it isn’t easily accessible to a grocery store, is a long walk o the T stop, etc. Very different statements.
I have concerns about the location for people w/disabilities, speaking as someone who has mobility limitations.
mgwa–
This is the statement that came from Candace and Dori:
Here are the facts as we understand them from multiple presentations by the Pine Street Inn and the developer:
The 9 people who would be housed would be chronically homeless with a disability We asked how services would be delivered and were told people would return to Boston on the
T Individuals would sign on to a service plan each year with a counselor; a big component of the
service plan would be attendance at AA or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. We asked where in Newton these meetings are held and whether these locations are accessible by public transportation. No answer was forthcoming.
We asked where people would buy food since each apartment would have a kitchen. The answer was that they would take the T to Star Market in Chestnut Hill.
Medical, mental health, job, education and any other services would be available in Boston by taking the T
Pine Street Inn currently runs 500 units clustered from 6 to 50 units in Brookline and Boston. We asked how many people in these established units have jobs. The answer was 17%.
James – I read that statement. It supports what I said. The location is not good for disabled people if they have to take the T to reach the supermarket and other services, when the nearest T stop is almost half a mile away. That doesn’t mean the city doesn’t want disabled people – it means the city wants disabled people housed in close proximity to transit and services.
Why is the city disparaging the T? And, btw, here is additional transit running along washington st.:
http://www.mwrta.com/index.cfm?event=Schedules&RouteID=17
The mobility argument is not only bogus; it’s discriminatory.
My son takes The Ride to college–why doesn’t anyone ever mention that service–it’s specifically for the disabled and andminstered by the MBTA? Look for the cars and vans as you travel around Newton.
The argument over the transportation issue falls apart over the following point:
In response to the Mayor office’s questions and concerns about transportation, Pine Street Inn communicated to the city that in situations where public transportation is not a viable option for a resident, the live-in case manager would assist the resident in applying for The Ride. Furthermore, PSI also informed the city that they have access to a van that is shared between programs which the Engine 6 case manager can reserve to transport a tenant to locations not served by public transportation. And, when other options are not available, PSI also promised the city that the case manager will arrange for the tenant to take a cab at Pine Street Inn’s expense.
I fail to understand how this is not a satisfactory resolution to the Mayor’s questions.
The City’s position: if you are physically fit, Newton has no objection to your residency. If you are mobility disabled, the City recommends against your residency.
“Transcendence remains because that light, all in everything, transcends the universe and the species it inhabits at that stage. But back to the present. We have made a step forward in our dialogue. We have observed that in society and the world in which we live selfishness has increased more than love for others, and that men of good will must work, each with his own strengths and expertise, to ensure that love for others increases until it is equal and possibly exceeds love for oneself.” Pope Francis
Oh, for crying out loud. I’m Catholic, am happy to see a change in direction in the hierarchy, but that statement has nothing to do with what’s going on in Newton or with this project.
You clearly are not aware of all that Newton employees do in many capacities on a daily basis to help families and students with extraordinary needs – without fanfare, petitions, meetings, PR etc. They just do the hard work of helping our homeless and near homeless families cope and move to a better place in life.
This brings the discussion of this project to a new low – to imply that you are a person of good will and others in the community are not just goes too far.
Jane, I try to be a person of goodwill but often fail, and I don’t assume for a moment that others aren’t trying too (and likely doing a better job than I am). I was just feeling saddened tonight by how this whole thing has gone down (nine people will not have a home) and felt inspired by the words of our Pope. I apologize if I offended you.
Janes – I’m saddened when I see one of my students moving from place to place without a permanent home, and other students working 30 hours a week to help pay the rent. Maybe this has been a wakeup call for Newton that too many families in our own community struggle to maintain a home. We can only hope.
As for the Catholic issue, I don’t know your religious affiliation, but it’s been a painful 10 years for us. Words are easy. I’ll judge this Pope by his actions.
Agreed.
As we discussed at yesterday’s Fair Housing Committee meeting, people who are recovering from alcohol or substance abuse are also disabled, and there are ample AA/NA meetings in the Engine 6 neighborhood to serve this population. Denying disabled people housing opportunities is against the Fair Housing Act. As the TAB’s article states, the FHC has written to the Mayor (twice now) but has received no response. This is a serious issue that could subject the city to a HUD investigation and sanctions, up to and including the loss of federal funds for affordable housing. As the chair of the FHC pointed out in the article, HUD has come down hard on other communities for not fulfilling their duty to affirmatively further fair housing. It is time for the Mayor to respond to the FHC’s concerns.
A person that is recovering from substance abuse does not fit the definition of Chronically Homeless and would not be a candidate for this placement. There needs to be other things going on that inhibits the person from living independently.
Hoss, that is incorrect. HUD’s definition of “chronically homeless” is someone who has been homeless for a year or more or homeless 4 times over a period of 3 years and has a disability, disabling condition or physical illness. Someone recovering from alcohol or substance abuse is exactly the kind of person who would qualify. So would someone who has a mental illness. This is why it is really too bad that the Mayor cut off the community meeting where accurate information could have been shared and questions like this answered with facts.
Ted Hess-Mahan — If substance abuse in addition to mental/physical disability is not the purpose here, then I am confused. There would be a factor inhibiting the person from accepting typical housing and economic support in addition to substance abuse, right? Why aren’t the typical substance abusers in a halfway situation?
Thank you, Ted, for providing that definition. The chronically homeless, then, are a protected class of people. The City of Newton has now discriminated against them. Is that not against the law?
Priceless that the Mayor has not responded to HUD. Maybe he is waiting till November 6th to respond.
And Thank You Native Newtonian – That was the point I was trying to make about UOD in the NPS – Practice what you preach!
Hoss, I suggest that you watch this video of the Engine 6: Voices of Support event that was held at Eliot Church last week. It may clear up a lot of your questions.