v19n04 - Seth Power Interview

TALK JXN

poverty

200 Jackson Families to Avoid Eviction with Assistance from City, Salvation Army

by Kayode Crown

L

VOTING, from page 7 they have early voting, or they at least let people vote absentee due to COVID,” he said in an interview this week.

Dortch, who previously served as a Democratic representative in the Mississippi Legislature, resigned in early July to take leadership of the Mississippi ACLU, warning at that time that “our democracy and voting rights are under assault.”

In the interview, Dortch explained that he had participated in attempts to expand absentee-voting access in previous years, only to be stymied by the leadership of then-Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves in the Senate. The lack of progress even in 2020

worries him, but Dortch said there is still cause for hope.

“There are Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature that agree we need to expand early voting,” Dortch said.

“It’s about getting leadership that’s on board,” he added.

Regardless of what is to come, Mississippi, which has suffered from one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 per capita of any state in the nation, stands alone in its restrictions upon voters, a pattern that 2020 has done little to change.

Email state reporter Nick Judin at nick@ jacksonfreepress.com.

file photo / Imani Khayyam

sippi does not. The Democracy Initiative, a progressive voting-rights organization, said in an Oct. 8 release that “Only one remaining state—Mississippi—still has in-person voting on Election Day as the only option available to all voters.”

Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, told the Jackson Free Press in an Oct. 13 interview he worried that “we’re setting things up for failure Nov. 3.” He says we are risking a superspreader event that could drive hospitalizations and deaths up in the colder winter months.

“If you look at all the states we border,

Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi and a former legislator, warns that Mississippi risks a superspreader event at the polls on Election Day.

October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms

TALK JXN

File Photo by Stephen Wilson

ow-income families threatened with mayor and his staff for bringing us into eviction in Jackson can receive assisthis partnership. We promise you will do tance via a $517,706 homelessnessthe best with what we have, and again this prevention grant offered by Salvation city is a great place to serve,” Lyle added.

Army in partnership with the City’s Office of Housing and Community Develop‘Poverty Is The Greatest ment, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba anForm Of Violence’ nounced Monday.

”The greatest form of violence is

The initiative may help more than 200 poverty; it really reflects the best of who families avoid eviction. It began Friday as we are as Jacksonians when we respond the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown takes to people in need, in our efforts as a city an economic toll, Salvation Army Major to create what we see as a dignity econoRobert Lyle said at the event. my, we feel it is important that we focus

”In order to be helped, you have to on areas of need such as this,” Lumumba provide a court-ordered eviction notice,” said at the Monday press conference.

Lyle said. “You will need to call for an ap Lumumba expressed fear that those pointment.” who need the rental-assistance program

The number to call is 601-982-4881, may not benefit from it because they may not get the information about it. He and the items to bring along are a photo ID, called for the public to help.

Social Security card, a lease agreement, any Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said that a new rental-assistance program, with recent bill and the eviction notice.

“Far too often, when we have a prothe City working with the Salvation Army, will help many families affected

”We realize that COVID has caused a economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. gram of this caliber, the people that are lot of grief, but we are in the greatest counin greatest need don’t have access to the try of the world and at the greatest time in history, and we Development gives the City of Jackson by taking, selecting process, meaning they are unaware,” the mayor said. know we are going to be able to make a difference because and distributing funds to local service providers.

“So we are not only speaking to people who di ”COVID-19 has been a pandemic on multiple fronts, rectly face the issue of eviction, if you know a family of this partnership,” Lyle said.

”This right here will allow us to help more people, not only to the physical health of people in our community that is facing the issue of eviction, if you know someone and again it’s just a good thing for this community, and but the financial health of many people within our commu- who is less inclined to go to the Salvation Army to call it’s good to keep families together,” he added. “No one nity,” the mayor said Monday. “And so it is important that the Salvation Army, please encourage them to do so. wants to have to come home and say to their child, ‘we we have programs and partnerships as the one that we are ”Sometimes, you will find if resources are available announcing today so that we can have a holistic approach like this, many of those resources are not utilized beare moving because we can’t afford the rent.’” to all of the things that our communities are suffering from cause there are not enough people who know to call.” not only locally but nationwide.”

‘A Pandemic on Multiple Fronts’:

The Salvation Army major said he appreciates the Physical and Financial Email story tips to city/county reporter Kayode Crown

The Office of Housing and Community Develop- opportunity to collaborate with the City of Jackson to at kayode@jacksonfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at ment states on its website that it manages federal grant help people and pledged judicious use of the funds. @kayodecrown. ”We want to say thank you to the City and to the money the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

9