Outreach Notebook August 21, 2022

Welcome back everyone to another Outreach Notebook, this one submitted on Sunday August 21, 2022. This week, we’ll cover the survey results from our County’s Housing Access Resource Agency [HARA] search about what shape HAWC [our HARA, stands for  Housing Access for Washtenaw County] will take in the near future. We then seek your input for future content on #eastannarbor. After that, we’ll check in on the Black Lives Mural project spearheaded by Survivors Speak and, finally, a brief break with a last days of Summer photo excursion.

HOUSING ACCESS FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY

The search for a new agency to serve as our single-point entry for housing crisis services in Washtenaw County continues as results from the survey put out by the County Office of Community and Economic Development were released earlier this week.

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As you can see above a large *plurality* of the 61 survey respondents chose the “one organization operates call center and satellite sites for intake/ assessment by population.”

Lucas Smolcic Larson covered the blow-by-blow of this situation in an article last week which should be available without subscription here. The most prominent takeaway from reading this account is contained in the final paragraph, quoting OCED director Teresa Gilotti: “‘There are some challenges overall, and I think there may be a need to better resource the system to the expectation of the community as far as a response,’ she said” [emphasis in bold added].

We will continue to cover this story as the county conversation around this topic continues to evolve.

WASHTENAW COUNTY BLM STREET MURAL COLLECTIVE

This Saturday several community members gathered at Wheeler Park, just outside of downtown Ann Arbor, to paint a street mural much like has been accomplished at Gallup Park as well as Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.

Survivors Speak sparked and coordinated the event which included space and materials for sidewalk chalk drawing, a DJ and lunch for all registered volunteers.

“Another day of community love and bonding…” was, in part, how the event was described on a facebook page dedicated to this ongoing community project. The project could be considered the visualization of efforts like municipal reparations, also being spearheaded by Survivors Speak.

What stories would you like to read about in #eastannarbor?

I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed and continues to read our little newsletter every week. Thanks for the comments and emails, encouragement. Hopefully we can continue to engage and create spaces for informed dialog on local issues that matter to you. What are those issues? What do you think?

Or send email to a2gpratt@eastannarbor.com

Final days of Summer 2022 image-log:

We wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there. See you next week!

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