October 31, 2018. WMRA.
Tuesday night [Oct. 30] was the 13th Annual Assembly of the Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together, or IMPACT for short. And the focus of the faith community yesterday was: affordable housing. WMRA’s Marguerite Gallorini attended the assembly at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Charlottesville.
Twenty-six local congregations came together yesterday under the banner of IMPACT, to tackle the issue of affordable housing in Charlottesville. Rev. Albert Connette, from Olivet Presbyterian Church, is a member of IMPACT’s housing research team.
ALBERT CONNETTE: The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment has risen to over $1,300 a month; meaning a minimum-wage earner would need to work three and three quarters full-time jobs for that apartment to be affordable.
In response, interim City Manager Mike Murphy also came to the assembly to provide details and updates on the City’s efforts to address this issue.
MIKE MURPHY: [City] Council determined that the Planning Commission should conduct additional community engagement, to ensure that more voices from low-wealth communities were heard. That engagement is wrapping up. I encourage all of you to come out on November 26th as we discuss the possibility of funding for the redevelopment of public housing sites in Friendship Court; to comment on our comprehensive plan in December; and to participate in our budget work sessions between January and April of 2019.
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