(8) What are your thought about a neighborhood revitalization in Henderson, similar to what has been done in Roanoke Rapids and Troy, in which blocks now full of rental and abandoned housing would be converted to affordable owner-occupied housing?
Alston: Of course I support the concept of increasing home ownership and do believe that the city should do its role in increasing home ownership. But, I must point out that there is a condition precedent to such an effort. We must improve our economic situation so that our citizens can afford the houses. The city can help create the houses, but if people are without jobs and the means to buy the houses, have we moved ourselves forward?
Gupton: Having owner-occupied housing will impact many of Henderson’s problems. We desperately need to change the percentage of rental units vs. owner-occupied units. Occupants would certainly take more pride if they were owners and not renters.
Harper: As chairman of the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing, I am the head cheerleader for this effort. Both the N.C. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development say that Henderson must reverse its current percentage of 65 percent rental and 35 percent ownership. Nationally, converting an entire neighborhood of homes from abandoned structures and rental to homeownership stabilizes the neighborhood which reduces crime, increases children’s readiness for education, stabilizes property values in adjacent neighborhoods, and encourages grocery stores and other services to return. All this has happened in Roanoke Rapids. We are working with HUD consultants and community stakeholders to plan such a revitalization in the Orange/Pettigrew Street area. We hope that when digital mapping is complete that this idea can be reproduced in other neighborhoods and appreciate the support of landlords, businessmen, churches, and neighborhood residents for this effort.
Daeke: I’ve already answered this by saying that homeownership, which comes with economic development, better-paying jobs, assistance with developing credit, and pursuing all avenues of resources from state and federal sources will eventually turn Henderson into a community with more homeowners than renters.
Yount: Household economic stability is crucial in decreasing intergenerational poverty. Decreasing poverty is essential to increasing our tax base and is a draw for economic development. There is a great disparity of wealth in our town, one of the greatest disparities in North Carolina, according to a study from the Research Triangle. Most towns our size have 65 percent homeowners and 35 percent renters. Here in Henderson these statistics are reversed. Homeownership will require counseling, saving accumulation strategies, and some credit recovery education, but it can be done. Section 8 vouchers can be used to purchase homes. We can do it, but remember, if you are making money off the system as it stands, there is little incentive to do it. When you are on top, it is very difficult to feel what it’s like to be on the bottom. Building the asset of homeownership for our low-income people will have very positive effects on crime, education, health and our city’s stability. It’s one of the best things we can do for our town.
Wester: Homeownership should be the goal of any neighborhood revitalization effort. Obviously someone has the specifics of the Roanoke Rapids project, and I would like to think that if someone had them, they would have shared them with the rest of the council. Everybody would stand to win if tenants could become owners and the existing property owners were properly compensated. Our city has a long history of receiving Community Development Block Grants, which have pumped millions of federal dollars into areas of need AND paid the salary of our staff person.