Edtorial: Need for decent, affordable housing must be addressed
Published in the Troy Record
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The closing of the Brunswick Road boarding house, where homeless men were often sent to find at least a chance at stability in their lives and a roof over their head for a reasonable cost, brings to the forefront once again the need for decent, affordable housing in the Capital District.
Last week, the city of Troy shuttered the boarding house that Joseph’s House, a well-regarded provider to those living on the streets, routinely sends homeless men with no where else to go. The city was justified. The landlord was pumping raw sewage out of the basement into the backyard and there were structural problems with the building as well as code violations.
Now we have to question what becomes of the more than 20 men who lived there. Where do they go? Do they go back on the street? Unfortunately for them, there is a long wait for a Section 8 housing certificate to get subsidizing housing in the city of Troy, says Joseph’s House Executive Director Tracy Neitzel.
There is the debate, and a worthy one, about whether a solid economy is built from the top down or the bottom up, but the fact remains that the homeless are a drain on our society and on our economy.
But the fact remains that some people just need a little help. In fact, some of them will take the help and run with it and make a life for themselves and turn into a contributing member of society rather than a burden.
That is why the city of Troy should re-examine the proposal by Joseph’s House to convert an old pool hall, and before that an automotive garage, into 16 single-bed apartments for folks who find themselves on the streets.
Some in Little Italy are up in arms about the plan to bring homeless into their neighborhood, but so were the folks in Lansingburgh when Joseph’s House converted the old Phoenix Hotel into permanent housing for the once homeless and we haven’t heard too many complaints about that operation.
Joseph’s House has proven itself as an entity that can make a difference, not just for the folks they help on a daily basis, the ones who turn to them for a meal or a roof, but, by extension, the city as a whole.
Granted there are many who take advantage of the system and that leads to understandable skepticism. But, if there is housing, affordable, decent housing, for those who sincerely want to take advantage of what is offered to them, then such a plan will help everyone.
Reprinted with permission from the Troy Record.