Section Eight article irresponsible

I write in response to the Register’s July 24, 2007 article entitled “Section Eight housing going up across Shroyer Road”. Simply put, the article is replete with misinformation and factual distortions.

The article’s headline implies that Section Eight housing will be constructed across Shroyer Road.  That is untrue.  Rather, DMHA recently purchased four apartment buildings on Telford in Kettering.  Each building consists of four units.  In short, DMHA now owns 16 units on Telford, nothing approaching “eight hundred units of Section Eight housing” as suggested by the article.  Importantly, DMHA has invested over $800,000 in the renovation of the 16 units, hardly bad news for the Oakwood/Kettering community.

In a city of approximately 58,000 residents, 170 Kettering residents use Section 8 housing vouchers. 15 Oakwood residents use Section 8 housing vouchers. DMHA has owned one four-unit apartment building on Shroyer in Oakwood since 2004 and, contrary to the article’s tenor, the sky hasn’t fallen. Further, DMHA’s Director of Planning and Development confirms DMHA has no plans to purchase additional units in the area.

More importantly, DMHA carefully screens all its applicants via thorough background checks for felony convictions and drug and sex-related offenses which automatically disqualify any DMHA applicant.  Oakwood residents should be more concerned about the criminal proclivities of their next door neighbors than DMHA applicants.

Most regrettably, the article postulates that the “complexion” of Oakwood and Kettering will change, a poorly veiled and racially-charged reference calculated to frighten skittish Oakwood citizens that “darkies” may be coming to our neighborhood.  I am sick and tired of tacit acceptance of racial stereotyping in our community. Oakwood, thankfully, has become more racially, ethnically and religiously diverse during the 40 years I have lived here.  It’s about time.

I was most frightened by the article’s anecdote regarding an Acorn Drive “resident” armed with his 38. Cal. Revolver “for good measure” who saw fit to “confront [a suspicious pair]” outside his property and then allegedly follow them in his car. I hope this vignette was merely poetic license. The spectre of Oakwood residents, armed to the teeth and prepared to exact vigilante justice, is hardly something welcomed by intelligent citizens or our Oakwood Police Department. Here’s a tip, if you see suspicious activity, report it to the Police Department and leave the gun play, should any prove necessary, to our outstanding professionals.

I have lived in Oakwood for over 40 years.  My wife has lived here all her life.  Our four children were educated in Oakwood City Schools.  I love Oakwood.  I wouldn’t live anywhere else.  I resent irresponsible articles which merely serve to denigrate our community and frighten its citizens.

Steven K. Dankof, Sr., Esq.
Oakwood

Kettering & Oakwood city managers issue joint response to article about Section 8 Housing

Dear Readers:

The front page article in the July 24 issue of the Oakwood Register  (“Section Eight housing going up across Shroyer Road”) regarding Section 8 housing was both inaccurate and insensitive.  Not only was the article filled with false information, but its tone was such that the article could spread fear and animosity among neighbors and citizens.  This is very unfortunate.  So much so that we felt this issue necessitated a joint response from both City Managers.

Let’s begin by addressing the inaccuracies of the article:

The Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority (DMHA) recently purchased four – 4-unit apartment buildings on Telford Avenue in the city of Kettering, and they have invested $800,000 in renovations to these four buildings. There are no plans to establish 800 Section 8 housing units in Kettering.  DMHA is establishing a total of 16 public housing units, four in each of the four buildings.

DMHA began leasing the 16 units on Telford within the last two weeks and about 10 of those are currently leased.

Parkside Apartments have been in the process of closing down for many years. There are currently 101 families at Parkside. They will be relocated to places of their choosing throughout Montgomery County.  Most have chosen to stay in the neighborhoods in which their families, friends and places of worship are located.

Before a resident is placed in one of the units, they are carefully screened and a thorough background check is done.  Histories of felony convictions, drug offenses or sex related crime automatically disqualify a person from the program.

Kettering and Oakwood have had low-income residents for decades. The apartments in the Shroyer Road area have always been affordable. DMHA’s presence in the neighborhood will not change the “complexion” of the neighborhood and reference, whether deliberate or not, to the racial make-up of residents is racist and discriminatory.

Despite what was written in the Oakwood Register, no Kettering official has ever stated that 79 families from the Parkside Apartments have moved to this apartment plat.  

Kettering’s Planning and Development Director spent almost one hour on the phone and “on-the-record” with Mr. Winkler explaining the facts regarding the apartments.  Mr. Winkler chose to ignore these truths and stated that he could not get a straight answer.

At no time did Mr. Winkler contact Kettering City Manager, Mark Schwieterman, or Oakwood City Manager, Norbert Klopsch, to discuss this issue.

Now, set aside the fact that the article is laden with untruths.  Perhaps the most disturbing element to this whole article is that it excites anxiety about the one thing that is very near and dear to all of us, and that’s our home.  Living in a safe and secure environment is probably the top priority for all Kettering and Oakwood residents regardless of income.

The goal of DMHA housing is to provide decent, safe, affordable housing to people in need.  Shouldn’t our focus here be on helping our neighbors to achieve greater success in life?  

We urge the residents of both Kettering and Oakwood to consider the facts of this issue.  If you would like to discuss this issue further, please contact us at:  

Mark Schwieterman: mark.schwieterman@ketteringoh.org or 296-2412

Norbert Klopsch: klopsch@oakwood.oh.us or 298-0600

Response from the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority

Below are the responses to the allegations that appeared in an article published by the Oakwood Register on July 24, 2007:

The Housing Choice Voucher program, which is also known as Section 8, is a program that is available to private landlords who are willing to participate by renting their units to clients who possess a Housing Choice Voucher.  Although the Housing Choice Voucher program is administered by Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority, DMHA is not currently an owner of Section 8 units. Tenants are responsible for finding an acceptable unit that meets Housing Quality Standards that are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all Section 8 units. If the unit passes inspection and the rent for the unit falls within what is rent reasonable for the client based on their income, then the tenant can enter into a lease with the private landlord.

Public housing units are DMHA owned and managed units that receive rental subsidy under the HUD public housing program.

DMHA has purchased five apartment buildings across Shroyer Road on Telford Avenue.  These units are public housing units, not Section 8.

• In July 2004, DMHA purchased one building containing four one-bedroom units at 2018 Shroyer Road in the City of Oakwood.

• In November 2005, DMHA purchased four buildings each containing four one-bedroom units on Telford Avenue in the City of Kettering.

DMHA has spent in excess of $800,000 to renovate the Telford units.

The Telford Avenue units are not being held or committed specifically to Parkside residents. The units are available to all potential clients that require a one-bedroom unit and are currently on the DMHA public housing waiting list. Units are committed to residents based on family size.

Parkside residents have been offered the choice between a Housing Choice Voucher that can be used in the private housing market or a public housing unit. The residents have been given this option to increase their housing choices.

To date, four units at the Shroyer Road property are occupied and ten units are leased out of the sixteen units at the Telford properties.

Leasing of the Telford units began June 7, 2007.

Leasing of the Shroyer Road units began January 31, 2006.

There are 101 families currently remaining at Parkside Homes.

Forty-eight families have been relocated from Parkside Homes; one individual has been relocated to Telford and thirty-two families have been issued vouchers to be used in the private market.

DMHA currently is not in negotiations to purchase any additional properties in either the City of Kettering or the City of Oakwood.  Although DMHA is currently not purchasing property in either jurisdiction, that does not preclude DMHA from purchasing property in the future (Ed.). 

DMHA feels that affordable housing options should be available to all of the residents of Montgomery County no matter where they want to live and the agency will work to increase those options for our clients.

DMHA has stated to both the City of Kettering and the City of Oakwood that they will inform the jurisdiction of any plans to purchase property prior to entering into an option to purchase.

DMHA is also required to enter into a cooperation agreement with any jurisdiction where public housing units are to be located.

FYI on DMHA

I appreciated your article about the DMHA moving into the apartment complexes in Kettering.  My main question is what criteria do they use to determine a target area for their “mission”?  Their website provides very little data and is outdated to say the least which along with their various scores indicate a shoddy enterprise.  It provides very little useful information. Given Oakwood’s history with this type of housing along Shroyer (the police calls were numerous) I can only assume that the spillover from Kettering will become our problem as well. Bexley in Columbus is a beautiful city but it is surrounded by blight such as DMHA housing. I would be curious as to what experiences they have had?  Just some comments from a concerned citizen.

From their website:

HUD dated Nov. 15, 2004: Indicator #3 - Determination of Adjusted Income: 20 points possible; 0 points scored (How can they NOT check this item?!?!) DMHA earned 82 percent of the 140 potential points.

Performance Rating > STANDARD.

DMHA will check criminal history for all adults in the household to determine whether any member of the family has engaged in drug-related or violent criminal activity. For the purposes of this policy, drug related or violent criminal activity will be construed to mean that if a member of the current family has been arrested within the past three-year period.

For 2005, the income limits for the Section 8 Program are:

1 person - $21,050.
2 person - $24,100
3 person - $27,100
4 person - $30.100
5 person - $32,500
6 person - $34,900
7 person - $37,300
8 person - $39,750

David S. Oda, CFA
Oakwood

Build community, not fences

I was saddened to read your article in The Oakwood Register that sensationalized the addition of Section 8 housing across Shroyer Road in Kettering.  You and the “concerned citizens” who contacted your office about this issue seem to have forgotten something. The people who live in Section 8 housing are human beings. They have hopes and dreams for their families just as we do in Oakwood.  Just because someone is living on a limited income does not mean that they are a criminal.

For Oakwood residents who are concerned about this issue I have two suggestions:

Wouldn’t it be better to welcome our new neighbors instead of criminalizing them before they even move in? Don’t you think that our new neighbors want to live in a neighborhood without crime too?  Lt. Keith Benson, as quoted in your article, talks about Neighborhood Watch systems.  If Oakwood residents are concerned about crime why not reach out to the residents living in the Section 8 housing and work together in the planning of such a program?

And instead of picking up a gun as the resident on Acorn Drive did, I wonder what would happen if concerned citizens picked up the phone and called to inquire about volunteering for one of the many organizations in the Miami Valley working hard to address the root causes of poverty in our community.  If those concerned citizens got to know someone living in poverty, they would realize that they actually have much in common.

I challenge you to rethink this issue in a positive light – Let’s make this an opportunity to build community, not fences.  There are enough issues out there that divide us from our fellow human beings.  We don’t need another one.

Yasmeen Khan
Oakwood

Minimal attention paid

Thank you for the informative article last week concerning the section 8 housing project under way directly on our eastern border. This project is certain to negatively impact all citizens of Oakwood and Kettering. In conversation with many Oakwood residents, we are unanimously appalled by the absence of appropriate action from our elected city officials. All of us are outraged with this proposal and wonder how a project of this magnitude could evolve to this level with minimal attention or intervention. I assume that the Sugar Camp Project occupied all the efforts of city officials. The recently reported tax windfalls from the Sugar Camp Development will almost certainly be negated by the loss of our property values and increase in security expenses as a result of the adjacent section 8 housing project.

We all hope that you and the OR will keep the good citizens of Oakwood alerted as to any developments.
Additional reading is found:

http://www.mcohio.org/revize/montgomery/Montgomery/home/docs/DMHA_5_15_07_Compatibility_Mode.pdf

http://louisville.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/02/19/story3.html?jst=s_cn_hl

Best Regards,

Greg Marquart
311 Greenmount Blvd.

top of page

July 31, 2007
Volume 16, No. 31

front page
arts
schools
sports
editorial
'round town
people
events
obituaries