Single-parent housing center of fight between church, neighboring community

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A housing fight is underway between a church in Meyerland and its neighbors. The church wants to help some single mothers, but some nearby residents don't think that's a good idea.

They say the plan could hurt the value of their homes and want the plan to build single-parent housing stopped. But there may not be much they can do about it.

A set of duplexes is being planned along west Bellfort near Balmforth. The program would allow carefully screened single parents to live in transitional housing for nine to 12 months before getting out on their own.

Nearby residents say it's a great a idea, but just not in their neighborhood.

The grassy, unassuming lot in Meyerland, sandwiched in between two churches, has neighbors at odds with the 56-year-old St. John's Presbyterian Church.

"There are a lot of single mothers who fit the criteria," Pastor Jon Burnham said.

"It's a good idea and I agree with that, it's a perfect idea, but we are concerned about our property," homeowner Pedro Navarro said.

St. John's is partnering with the Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services. They plan to construct four duplexes that will become transitional housing for the Houston Single Parent Family Program. It aims to help single parents get back on their feet, into full-time jobs and a home of their own.

A master's level social worker would be on-site full time overseeing the pre-screened mothers.

"There are a lot of single mothers who fit the criteria and who want to improve their lives, the lives of their children, but they just need a little help," Burnham said.

Though they understand the good intentions, homeowners directly behind the project are concerned about its long-term effects.

"See, everything when it's new looks good. But through the years, you never know what kind of people they are going to bring, so property might depreciate," Navarro said.

St. John's Presbyterian Church says they have already lined up a builder and just want to help single parents in need get to a new level in life.

"On out into their own apartment and with a job and with better parenting skills and a more stable family life and hope for a future," Burnham said.

The church says it already owns the lot and plans to move forward with a groundbreaking in mid 2013.

You can read more on this story in the Bellaire Examiner, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners online.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, erik barajas

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Efforts to add Ike-damaged public housing causes conflict

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- It's been four years since Hurricane Ike tore into Galveston Island and the Texas Gulf Coast. But efforts to rebuild some of the island's public housing and low-income residences are causing some conflict.

The debate is over rebuilding public housing on the island. The city is moving forward with a plan, but a lot of folks who live there say it's a waste of money and they don't want it.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike slammed the Gulf Coast, devastating Galveston Island. It forced thousands from their homes, including Rosalyn Jackson.

"I would do anything to come back," Jackson said.

After Hurricane Ike, Jackson, who lived in public housing, got a housing voucher, but says she had to move off the island to use it.

"We couldn't stay here because most of the houses were too high for our vouchers, so we had to move further. So what I did, I had to move to Hitchcock and my voucher covered over there. But I do wanna come home," she said.

In all, Ike destroyed more than 560 public housing units. But the Galveston Housing Authority's plan to build new replacement units is coming under fire.

"We have 7,000 houses that are vacant. So why are we creating more units when we have ample housing that we can refurbish and put people into place?" said Marie Robb, who opposes the project.

Under the plan, which was just submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the General Land Office, the new public housing would include a cluster of 718 replacement units. They'd be labeled mixed income at an estimated cost of at least tens of millions of dollars, depending on private equity, plus how much the state and fed governments chip in.

"It's just a waste of your tax dollar and my tax dollar," said Fredell Rosen, who opposes the project.

But to Jackson, it's money well spent if it means she and her family can return home, to the only place she's ever known.

"I'm from the projects. And I think if they build something up nice for us, I would love to come back into them," she said.

The city was due to have a news conference Thursday morning to announce more about this new housing plan, but that meeting was canceled, and a lot of people say they're frustrated by it.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

galveston, hurricane ike, local, sonia azad

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Houston to use $151M for Ike housing recovery

  HOUSTON -- Houston leaders have announced $151 million in federal funds will be used to fix years-old housing damage from Hurricane Ike.

The September 2008 hurricane devastated Galveston and also spread storm-related damage north to the Houston area.

The funding was announced Wednesday by Mayor Annise Parker, federal officials and community activists.

Leaders of the Texas Organizing Project had been critical of lingering Ike-related damage not taken care of in low income areas.

Parker says there are still whole neighborhoods in Houston reeling from the impact of the hurricane. The disaster funding will be concentrated in four areas.

Texas officials have said Ike claimed more than three dozen lives and left behind about $29 billion in damage.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Houston Housing Market Fares Well During Mortgage Turbulence

Low income housing project worries homeowners

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A controversy is brewing over the possible construction of affordable housing units near the Fort Bend County subdivision of Greatwood.

Homeowners there say 'not in my back yard.' We talked to many who say they will do what is necessary to keep an affordable housing project from ever breaking ground.

Angela Roe just moved into her Greatwood home two months ago. She likes the view from her front yard but she fears it could soon change.

"That makes me very nervous," Roe said.

Nervous, homeowners in Greatwood say, because developers have filed plans with the state of Texas indicating they wish to develop the land there as affordable housing. They want to build 200 apartments on about 12 acres west of Crabb River Road and north of FM 762.

"I think it's just a really bad idea," said homeowner Connie Fletcher-Powell.

Homeowners fear that might bring crime -- not something they want near their children. Fletcher-Powell compares it to friends of hers living elsewhere near affordable housing.

"It's just been very ugly," she said. "They've had break-ins and robberies. It's very noisy."

Homeowners argue that the apartments would also draw additional traffic to Crabb River Road, a two-lane highway already congested at certain times of day. But some business owners nearby support the development.

"It's going to be good for business, definitely," said convenience store owner Rafik Maknojin.

Yet others who live and work here say this affordable housing project can only be a detriment.

Realtor James Pressler explained, "When somebody looks to move into an area and there's low income housing, they start looking elsewhere."

Pressler worries about the effect on property values. The homeowner's association is now circulating information about the project and contemplating its next move. The way of life there, folks say, should not be jeopardized by a project outside the neighborhood.

The project is being considered by the Miller-Valentine group out of Dayton, Ohio. A senior developer there said late Monday afternoon that there are significant "development hurdles" and that they "probably won't pursue" this project.

But no final decision has been made. He tells us if they decide to move forward, a final application would be filed with the state of Texas in March.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, kevin quinn

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