It sounds good to have housing for veterans – it does. But will veterans actually end up living there? They have a preference, but if no veterans apply, the housing will go to others. And, in reality, no homeless people will live there. Is that how we want to be using our tax dollars? ($2M of county funds, plus city funds?, plus other tax dollars?)
Ok before you watch this video and get all confused like the committee members did, here’s some fact that should help.
1. There are 8,000 veteran families in all of Dane County. Not 8,000 homeless veteran families, not 8,000 veteran families who need housing. 8,000 veteran families with children. That means that in all likelihood, at least 50% of them are homeowners, more likely 68% of them depending upon where they live in Dane County. Of the renters, statistically speaking, about half have housing they can afford and half have housing they can’t afford.
2. We have zero homeless families who are veterans that have been identified. Haven’t had any for a long time, we just don’t see that as a need in our community very often.
3. Can I get an equity analysis??? Statistically speaking, 94% of veterans in Dane County are white. 4% are African American. When you pair that statistic with the fact that African American families are 27 times more likely to be homeless and in the shelter than white families – it just seems like we’ve chosen the wrong target for this housing. A target that wasn’t chosen in the RFP, but from the super secret staff committee of white men.
4. Watch Ed Kuharski share his experience trying to find out what the other proposals for this project are. Spoiler alert: he can’t get a copy without a written open records request which will be denied. Free the proposals!
5. There is no guarantee veterans will actually live there. If there aren’t qualified veterans who have applied, the housing will go to others.
This was the only committee this was sent to, the full county board will vote on this on February 1st.
