8 February 1 - 7, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents housing projects in the pipeline for the money to be spent on. Cynthia Rogers-El- lickson, interim director of housing and neighborhood revitalization, explained that there’s no pipeline of projects because that’s not how development works. “Our developers have to know money is available before they can shop around for fi- nancing, for their subcontractors, for all the things that they need for development deals,” Rogers-Ellickson said. “It’s not possi- ble for them to say ‘OK, I have this project that I don’t need to start for three years and, city, can you put that in your pipeline and I’ll wait for you to get money.’” Council member Omar Narvaez said he supported housing dollars in the bond and recommended using housing bond money to help fund projects through Dallas’ Housing Finance Corp., which offers support for the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of multifamily housing. “We really would not be doing the right thing if we don’t put money toward housing,” Narvaez said at the meeting. “At the end of the day, if we can get workforce housing and more of it here in the city of Dallas, then our residents will be able to one, stay and or move in and maybe rent- ers like me would actually have an opportu- nity to purchase a home.” But, as reported by the real estate news site Candy’s Dirt, council member Cara Men- delsohn isn’t so sure putting all this bond money toward housing is a good idea. To her, there are enough mechanisms in the city to build affordable housing, so it shouldn’t have to be addressed through the bond. The day before the rally at the mayor’s house, the group dropped off petitions at the homes of all City Council members to advo- cate for more housing funds. Majed said many City Council members have expressed the need for more affordable housing in the city. “They’ve all said that, but they need to actually put the money, the people’s tax money, behind those statements,” Majed said. Majed described green affordable hous- ing as sustainable development that doesn’t contribute to climate change. Majed said she lives in a beautiful home in Coppell, but not everyone is so fortunate. “That’s not enough if everyone doesn’t have access to it,” Majed said. “It’s not enough to just have it for yourself.” Majed said she’d like to live in Dallas if it were more affordable. One rally attendee named Alan Lu was a server about 10 years ago, living on mini- mum wage and tips. “It was very, very diffi- cult to even make minimum wage,” Lu said. “That is not a way to live, and there is no way you can save for housing,” Lu continued. “That was 10 years ago. Since then, the housing market has gotten even more ridic- ulous in Dallas. There are more people out on the streets. … There’s just no way of sur- viving out here in these conditions. I think housing should be a human right and people should be able to afford living under a roof.” Another attendee, who identified himself as Jay, said people deserve a place to feel warm and protected. “Housing for all is a climate issue. The city’s unwillingness to provide homes for its constituents is a prob- lem that will lead to the death of more peo- ple,” he said Unfair Park from p6 GIFT CARDS FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE BEAUTY INSTEAD. Give THE FLOWERS. Skip DALLAS PLANO 214.987.1919 JOHNNYRODRIGUEZSALON.COM ® SEND YOUR RESUME HERE TO APPLY! D
