The Affordable Housing Action Alliance asked the City Council candidates their views on several housing questions. Here are their answers for District 8
AYOMI OBUSEH
Describe what you see are the main housing problems in Madison.
Madison’s main housing issue is affordability. Our housing crisis is caused by unreasonably high rents, an issue of which can in some ways be directly linked with the high living costs of campus. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that people are not being paid a livable wage and are using 30-50% of one’s income on housing. I support housing first initiatives such as investing in tiny homes and reclaiming old buildings to be used as housing or communal space, as well as protections that prevent evictions, which are crucial now more than ever. We need to build wealth in madison by working with nonprofits to do micro lending programs, and I would also advocate for the city to participate in land banking and for local developers to build sustainable housing as well. This city needs creative and innovative affordable housing such as tiny homes, and with a lack of readily available wifi we need new development projects to have wifi availability and affordability. At the end of the day, housing is a human right, and it is time that Madison started to reflect that. With COVID we are seeing evictions exacerbate such a big problem in Madison and we need to be helping on all fronts with affordable housing and tenant protections as well, especially for vulnerable populations such as our undocumented communities.
Give your opinion of the site for the new men’s shelter, which is proposed for the East Towne Mall area.
I am super excited and in support of the new Porchlight mens’ shelter down on Zeier Road with the hopes that this will grow into a permanent location for shelter & support services for men experiencing homelessness. However, we must recognize this shelter as the first step that it is. The city needs to work on more permanent housing options to fully meet the needs of our residents.
Due to COVID, some residents without housing set up camp at McPike Park in Madison and had been staying there since last summer. The City of Madison is no longer allowing camping in that park and made the people staying there leave. Do you support this decision by the City of Madison? Please explain your position
I believe the City of Madison has a duty to house its residents, and so I would only be understanding of these actions if adequate alternative housing options were provided. I understand that there was a considerable effort on the city’s part to relocate the folks without homes to various shelters. However, if there is still a want and a need to camp in McPike then this is indicative of the inadequate or unfair conditions at some shelters. I personally went to McPike to hand out donated food with Feeding the Youth, and if grassroots activist groups such as this one are able to provide a helping hand to people without homes then there is no excuse for the city to fall short. The city must do more to meet the needs of the community, especially as climate change makes the winter conditions even more unbearable.
This pandemic has shown how many holes are in our social security net in terms of the issue of homelessness, such as temporary eviction protections, not enough shelters with quality conditions, and the lack of a livable wage to even give people a place to start. Being able to have a site for those without residences to converge enabled groups like MACH OneHealth and Meriter Health to bring medical assistance to this extremely vulnerable and transient population; so now that camping is no longer available at this site, it will only be more difficult to reach out and provide resources for these people, especially since they are unlikely to be able to access a shelter.
Please provide your opinion of AHAA’s housing agenda outlined in the attached flier. Below, write next to the corresponding number for each proposal whether you support it and give your reasons.
- Tenant right to counsel for evictions – I am ABSOLUTELY in support of funding legal resources for tenants at risk of evictions. This will be a vital resource especially as the extended moratorium ends and will see an influx to those at risk of eviction.
- Support permanent affordability – I believe that affordable housing is a right and agree that we need to ensure that land and housing can permanently be affordable. I plan on working to increase BIPOC homeownership during my term along with other housing initiatives to ensure that rent will not exceed more than a third of a person’s income. I also plan on working on urban gardening initiatives to increase land ownership.
- Incentivize good landlord behavior – I believe that this gold star program will benefit not only renters but landlords also, so I am in support of it.
- Support non-profit capacity building – I am definitely in support of non-profit capacity building. I believe that local nonprofits are the voice of the community and will establish and maintain housing projects for the community, by the community.
- New homeless services position – Yes! Departments and organizations that serve those experiencing homelessness are understaffed and underfunded. Creating this new Homeless Services Position will extend our capacity to aid those experiencing homelessness on a county level and can hopefully fill the gap that we’ve had.
- Start a social housing pilot – I would be in support of starting a pilot social housing program. By having a variety of housing units, the amenities of the residence can be shared and enjoyed by everyone regardless of income levels. I have seen the plans for a project like this being funded through TIF, so Social Housing is feasible and can definitely be increased.
- Opportunity zone code of conduct – I am in support of creating local policies based on the Opportunity Zones that focus on investing equitably on needed projects. I would need to confer with my fellow alders, neighborhood organizations, and other local advocacy groups to determine how to advance this.
JULIANA BENNETT
Describe what you see are the main housing problems in Madison.
One of my main priorities if elected surrounds making sure everyone in Madison has access to affordable and guaranteed housing. It is absolutely unacceptable that there are 850 people without homes in Madison. Over 20,000 people in Madison could be without a home with one financial mishap. We must protect our most vulnerable populations, especially during these frigid and grueling months of the pandemic. I plan to secure funding for affordable housing, protect citizens from predatory practices, and tackle future developments through an equity lens.
Secure funding for affordable housing
I plan to use a toolbox of methods to secure affordable housing, such as density bonuses, the payment in lieu option, and direct intervention methods like lank banking and community opportunity to purchase provisions.
Protect citizens from predatory practices
When elected, I will work to empower citizens with the ability to bargain for lower prices, while protecting citizens from eviction. I will connect District 8 constituents, especially those living in the Langdon, College Court, and Spring Street areas, with City Building Inspectors to ensure homes are livable (ie. have heating, no rodents). I will propose legislation that will create a public database of vacant properties to stop the rush to get an apartment and allow citizens to push for lower rents. I will also work within the city’s budget, UW Law, and the Tenant Resource Center to offer free legal representation for those facing eviction.
Tackle Future Developments through an Equity Lens
I will always prioritize affordable housing projects over luxury developments. I would like to
add a young person’s seat to the Plan Commission and work within the Joint Campus Area
Committee to secure housing for the NPHC (historically Black fraternities and sororities).
Additionally, I fully support the city’s current efforts for tiny homes and I would like to
expand such innovative methods to give homes to every person living in Madison.
Give your opinion of the site for the new men’s shelter, which is proposed for the East Towne Mall area.
I am in full support of the new men’s shelter on Zeir Road. It’s extremely unfortunate and disappointing that the deal for the original site at Play Haven fell through, but it highlights the dire need for a new men’s shelter, as we have seen an increase in homelessness since the beginning of the coronavirus. The new men’s shelter on Zeir Road meets the criteria for a new men’s shelter and the city must go forward with this project in order to better support our community members experiencing homelessness.
Due to COVID, some residents without housing set up camp at McPike Park in Madison and had been staying there since last summer. The City of Madison is no longer allowing camping in that park and made the people staying there leave. Do you support this decision by the City of Madison? Please explain your position
I do not support the City of Madison’s decision to close McPike Park. The decision to shut
down McPike Park is in direct conflict with the Center for Disease Control’s protocol when it
comes to handling encampments where people experiencing homelessness are staying.
Furthermore, the city did not provide any alternative locations for people experiencing
homelessness who do not wish to stay in shelters to stay that are also nearby to essential
services, such as the Beacon Day Resource Center. The closure of McPike Park and the
forced disbursement of those living in the encampment was unethical and potentially harmful for their health and wellbeing.
Please provide your opinion of AHAA’s housing agenda outlined in the attached flier. Below, write next to the corresponding number for each proposal whether you support it and give your reasons.
1. Yes, I support tenants’ right to counsel for evictions. I believe that housing is a human right and all resources that guarantee access should be protected. Just because the pandemic ends, it does not mean that the economic fallout that has resulted from it concludes. As such, it is the government’s responsibility to fund legal service so that tenants do not fall victim to the profit-maximizing motivations of landlords.
2 Yes, I support permanent affordability. Public ownership over land is one of the best ways to ensure that housing remains affordable. Community land trusts do not only accomplish this, but they also create a mechanism for community members to build equity in home ownership. Finally, transferring expiring LIHTC to nonprofits allows for the affordable stock of housing to not be in the control of private capitalists, but organizations whose sole existence is to positively serve residents.
3 Yes, I support incentivizing good landlord behavior. This allows for residents to know what kinds of leases they are getting themselves into and provides a mechanism to avoid potentially dangerous situations. If landlords are incentivized to stay up to date on maintenance and address resident needs, then overall wellbeing will improve.
4 Yes, I support non-profit capacity building. This will transition housing away from being a for profit endeavor to one that instead treats it as a human right that all have access to. Nonprofits, tenant associations, and community land trusts must be supported and equitably disseminated resources to at the municipal level.
5 Yes, I support creating a new homeless services position. It is very important to consider that many community members facing homelessness do not fall within pre-existing poverty thresholds and status determinations that constitute eligibility for services. A new homeless services position designed to address the gap in services would ensure that no resident falls through the cracks and that all funding opportunities be taken advantage of.
6 Yes, I support starting a social housing pilot program. Cross-subsidization is an innovative model that will help prevent neighborhood segregation on the basis of socioeconomic status. TIF districts could circumvent public dollars into areas of community need. An example of this would be utilizing TIF to increase the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. I also believe that luxury developments should not be prioritized. Pre-existing luxury properties should be heavily taxed and charged immense fees, therefore drawing revenues for affordable projects and disincentivizing expensive development.
7 Yes, I support an opportunity zone code of conduct. It should be up to the residents who live in these zones whether they support such a classification. These residents should determine the policies that govern these zones and what any priorities for them be. Investors using tax incentives to proceed with development should only do so if the project fits within the parameters of the code of conduct and is mutually supported by the community that lives within the zone.
