Support Affordable Housing in Louisville

From KFTC Jeffrson County member Linda Stettenbenz:  The chapter's been getting more involved in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  Join them for these meetings to support afforcable housing!

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund would generate $10 million annually.  Programs would benefit individuals and families at or below 50% of the area median income ($14,421.50), with 50% of funds set aside for those at 30% and below of median income ($8,652.90)  The need for this fund is great:

• In the 13 county Metro Louisville region, 26% of renters and homeowners combined, or nearly 80,000 households, pay more than 30% of their incomes for housing.


• 11,251 homeless women and children (for some reason I don’t have the statistics on men) used homeless services in 2005.


• In Metro Louisville, 10,758 households are currently on the Section 8 waiting list.
  

 The AHTF is an opportunity to make our community stronger, more productive and efficient.  It would help reduce the strain on services for people cycling in and out of homelessness.  It would generate revenue for the city, jobs, and opportunities for struggling people to maintain housing and therefore have a better chance at health and success in their goals.  This will ultimately create a healthier community for all of us. 
 
In 2006, the mayor formed the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Task Force, which recommended unanimously that the AHTF be created.  The proposal passed by ordinance by a 25-1 vote, with bipartisan support.  A broad coalition of supporters has worked hard for a long time to keep this moving, and the Task Force is now reconvening.  What is needed at this point is mobilization of everyday citizens to the mayor that this issue has not gone away—and he needs to appoint the board to get things moving; and to show city council that we appreciate their support and stand behind them in their efforts to move forward.   This is where KFTC comes in.  There is a lot of momentum behind this issue already, and it’s happening now.  The AHTF meshes well with our vision of economic justice, and it’s a great opportunity for KFTC to act locally.  

Organizers of the AHTF are scheduling a series of meetings with councilmembers to strategize and reaffirm support.  All meetings will be held at City Hall, 601 W. Jefferson St., meet by security inside the 6th st. entrance.  Please mark the following date, and try to attend--we're looking for lots of folks to come out:

Wednesday, August 26th, 4pm--Government Accountability and Oversight Committee meeting--EVERYONE

Also, IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS AND ARE A CONSTITUENT, please try to make it to: 

Brent Ackerson, District 26, Friday, August 21, 1:30-2:30
Mary Woolridge, District 3, Thursday, August 27, 1-2
Jon Ackerson, District 18, Thursday, August 27, 2-2:25

Don't know your metro district?  Click here.
For more information, contact KFTC member Linda Stettenbenz at lstettenbenz [at] yahoo.com