2023 Action Recap: New Commitments for Safe, Affordable Housing
On May 1, 2023, CAJE brought its people power to the Nehemiah Action at All Saints Catholic Church and secured commitments that will make housing safer and more affordable in the greater Evansville community. Here is what we asked — and the answers from officials.
Rev. Floyd Edwards: Facing a 2026 deadline to spend the $10 million of ARPA funds you designated for Affordable Housing, will you publicly identify all ARPA contracted and planned Affordable Housing projects prior to November 1, 2023?
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke: Yes.
Edwards: In our conversation on this topic in 2021, you held your announcement of the allocation amount close to your chest but stated that the amount you had in mind would be more than what we were asking. In that vein, will you and your administration work with the City Council to ensure all ARPA funds that you designated, and they approved are under contract by the end of 2023?
Winnecke: Yes.
Edwards: Mr. Mayor, will you allocate $1 million from city resources to the Affordable Housing Fund for the budget year 2024?
Winnecke: No.
Edwards: Will you allocate $500,000, the number from previous years under your administration, to the Affordable Housing Fund for the budget year 2024?
Winnecke: Yes.
Edwards: Will you attend the CAJE Community Problems Assembly in November to report on new Affordable Housing projects funded with ARPA funds and a separate report from the city budget and provide the number of affordable housing units that have been or will be created with each funding source?
Mayor Winnecke: Yes.
Housing Conditions Chair Vel Sitzman: Will you convene these groups (local groups concerned with housing conditions) along with CAJE reps to improve the current ordinance for landlord accountability, annual inspections on rental properties, and enforcement of the fining system?
City Council President Zac Heronemus: Yes.
Sitzman: Will you commit to meet with CAJE no later than the week of June 5th to begin planning this process?
Heronemus: Yes.
Sitzman: Will you commit to attend the CAJE Problem Assenbly in November to report on the progress of the improvement to this ordinance?
Heronemus: Yes.