homepage spring/summer 2019
CCIH Responds to Housing Crisis with Five-Year Plan
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t seems you can’t go a day without hearing about the housing crisis — and with good reason. Since 1960, rents have risen a whopping 61 percent nationally, while income has only risen five percent. The truth of the matter is that hard work isn’t quite enough anymore, and full-time employment does not necessarily constitute a living wage. Affordability is just one of the concerns for renters in Contra Costa County. About 75 percent of Concord residents live in fear because of the relatively easy eviction policies in the city. Their fear is not unfounded. In Concord, there are zero neighborhoods that are affordable for households earning less than $50,000 a year. Housing instability leads to stressors that directly effect families, especially children. However, affordability is just the tip of the iceberg. Factoring in issues like disabilities, unemployment, trauma, and systematic barriers — housing insecurity becomes further compounded. This is acutely true for the residents CCIH serves. CCIH residents earn 0-30% of the average median income (which translates
to $10,000-$29,000 of average annual income) and have histories of extraordinary trauma. To realize our vision of a world where everyone has a place to call home so that they can live with dignity and reach their full potential, CCIH just completed a five-year plan. Our primary goal is to triple the number of people we house and growing the support services to ensure people can thrive. The goals include: • Launch housing development task force to identify strategies, costs and next steps for housing acquisition/ ownership/development • Train residents for the “Resident Empowerment Program” to shape local policy and funding decisions • Complete needs assessment and strategy for developing housing and support services to meet the unique needs of transition age youth. Though the goal is ambitious, we know we can accomplish our mission with your partnership and support. Together, we are building strong healthy communities for generations to come. n SOURCE: DIGNITY HEALTH 1
1. “Majority of Concord Residents Live in Fear of Eviction: Report” by Answer Hassan, July 13, 2018. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Majority-of-Concord-Residents-Livein-Fear-of-Eviction-Report-488160501.html
“Defying the Odds Together”
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ercedes and Antonio have always been a team. Though they didn’t meet each other until they were adults, they had parallel childhoods. Both their parents struggled with addiction and they were often left to their own devices, caring for their younger siblings and taking on an inordinate amount of responsibility for a child. Ultimately, both Mercedes
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and Antonio fell into the same cycle of addiction as their respective parents. “Life had always been tiring, and neither of us got to be kids,” Mercedes shared. They met after Mercedes lost her job, which coincided with a substantial rent increase. Meanwhile, Antonio was living in a car. Neither of them had “Defying” continued on page 2