When we signed the mortgage to our house, we knew that we’d be held accountable to the terms. The bank laid out the terms that state what I have to pay and when; if we don’t pay the mortgage and keep insurance, the bank will help us move out – I knowingly agreed to this.
Our house sits in a lovely neighborhood with well kept lawns; we accepted the social accountability to keep our lawn well cared for and manicured. I certainly can’t match the talent of the fantastic gardener who lives next door to us, but I do ensure that my lawn meets the standards of our neighborhood – we’re accountable to that standard. Each of us, whether we rent or own, are held accountable to items we agreed to perform in order to live in that domicile.
We hold our children accountable (mostly) for school work, chores, being respectful and caring for others. Once they hit high school, in many cases, we hold them accountable for volunteering in their community – it actually impacts their grade or their ability to serve in a variety of clubs and groups. Volunteerism is very important in National Honor Society and Key Club as it imparts valuable skills, social awareness and civic duty. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts incorporate civic responsibility and volunteerism in their highest levels of achievement, Eagle Scout and Gold Award.
If we can agree that accountability and volunteerism are responsible elements of a good society and healthy citizen, why then do we not want to hold people who are being assisted by Rockford Housing Authority accountable to the terms they agreed to when signing their rental agreements? Why wouldn’t we want them to benefit from the valuable effects of volunteerism?
Research indicates that volunteering can actually make us healthier:
Volunteerism also helps build self worth, self esteem and social networks – all of which are extremely important to people who often find themselves isolated in public housing. How does one learn about new opportunities and options if they never leave their own neighborhood or group of friends? I’ve met wonderful people I’d probably never have met if not for volunteering; in fact, three of my best friends were met through volunteer opportunities.
The Register Star Editorial Board’s Our View was spot on – so is RHA in moving forward in enforcing terms of their rental agreements – terms each person living in RHA properties agreed to perform. Just because the volunteerism term wasn’t enforced prior, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be now – you have to start somewhere.
Human service providers are sometimes accused of enabling those they serve, of keeping them poor and dependent instead of pushing them to achieve economic independence because they don’t hold them accountable to treatment plans or case management plans. There has been an outcry from some housing/homeless prevention providers that RHA’s enforcement is cruel and unwise. I would argue that RHA is actually making it uncomfortable to remain status quo, for residents and providers alike, and that’s very wise.
Public housing wasn’t meant to be an end point in housing, it was meant to be a stabilizing safety net where people could live while getting the rest of their lives in order, skill sets improved upon and then move up and on. Standards and goals must be set if we really want to push people to strive for more – and they should be held accountable, just as any other contributing member of society should be.
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“Judy” showed up at the Habitat ReStore one day. She needed to volunteer 8 hours a month to continue as a Rockford Housing Authority resident. She picked the ReStore for many reasons, but primarily because it was on the bus route. She did not own a car.
Judy was put to work immediately and worked a full day. At the end of the day, she claimed she would be back tomorrow. A “story” the ReStore hears a lot. But, she did come back. Again and again. Judy consistently volunteered 40 hours a week. She did anything asked of her … bagged cabinet handles, painted walls, cleaned bathrooms, assisted customers. She brought in new ideas of better ways to display products. Her skills were tremendous and she was complimented again and again.
Sadly, after a few months, she told the ReStore she could no longer afford the bus tokens to North Towne Mall. She had to “quit.” We were all disappointed. We needed her, but understood.
Fast forward … “Judy” was recently spotted working at a local box hardware store!!! Wonderful news! A woman who once thought she had no skill and nothing to offer now has a paying job. What gave her the confidence? Where did she find the skills? Did volunteering for weeks, following a regular schedule, prepare her for the real world? Who knows?
But I bet there are more Judys out there who just need something to help them discover their self worth, hold them accountable, give them hope. On behalf of Judy, and the other volunteers who learned from her, thank you RHA!!
There’s nothing voluntary about RHA’s community service requirement, so by equating it to volunteering, your whole argument fails. I think some in this community, including the editors of the Rockford Register Star, need to stop talking down to public housing residents before they can legitimately offer to boost the residents up. It’s easy to write of the ills and perils of public housing without ever having gotten to know a resident family who calls RHA home. I, for one, am not opposed to RHA enforcing its rules. I think it’s fair to expect RHA to enforce them in a fair and just way, that recognizes the dignity of the families it exists to serve. Now, how many hours of community service will the YWCA offer to help residents fill?
I disagree, Jeremy, on your assumption as to what qualifies as volunteer service. We serve many families in public housing and I have a pretty good understanding of what families living there deal with. That knowledge leads me to support the volunteer requirement as a benefit to those who live in public housing.
Since you so sarcastically asked, I’m happy to share with you the YWCA’s position on supporting the volunteer efforts of people in the community. We have worked with TANF for several years in offering a place for their clients to work/volunteer so they can meet their public service requirements. Normally, I have at least one person, sometimes two on a daily basis for four hours per day. We teach them office skills, mentor them in office etiquitte and dress and help them in job searches. In fact, we’ve hired two TANF workers. Many of the TANF workers we mentor go on to find jobs with the skills they’ve gained with us – there are always those who really don’t want to work and leave the program.
The YWCA will work with RHA in providing skill building volunteer opportunities, just as we do with the TANF program. Can they rely on YOUR organization to do the same?
Kris
There’s nothing wrong with accountability, Kris. Your post is right on the money. Residents are volunteering when they accept their accomendations, I would think.
I guess its customary to seem to be talking down to someone, when you are actually trying to help them up!
We considered 8 hours a month a very minimal commitment. Also, housing project residents typically are isolated from the larger community, because projects nationwide were designed to box poor people up in a small area. The service requirement does get people to explore the wider community and perhaps find an activity that will lead to a job or career education.
It’s not looking down or up. It’s just a practical idea.
Great post, Kris. Many of the local NFPs that serve residents of the RHA facilities would love to have the extra people power to maintain grounds and facilities, do office work, box food baskets, serve food, do laundry, assist with donation intake and stocking, and help with just about any other task. These organizations are so strapped and staff has been cut to such low levels that meeting basic operational needs could be greatly helped by volunteer hours.
It is critical that people are able to escape their urban reservations and get involved in the community. When people know they make a difference, they work hard. When we work hard together, good things happen.