Moreau Center Social Justice Programs

National

Connecting Abstract Ideas to Our Concrete Experiences

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March 6th

Today was our last day on site with Habitat for Humanity. A few of us had the opportunity to finish back splashing a kitchen in one of the homes while others got to nail onto a home earthquake supports, among many other very important tasks. We met so many amazing workers and volunteers this week with Habitat for Humanity. As a group we have learned all the crucial steps in the process of building homes and all the important people who are involved in these processes. Beginning the week with the panel of people involved with the Housing affordability issue in Tacoma, we were able to root our concrete experiences on site, into the abstract issue.

This week has been very informative and eye opening into the issue of Affordable Housing, with many examples from inside Tacoma which are applicable in many other cities. Many key points that we have learned are about the stigmas placed on the term “Affordable Housing.” The idea of “Affordable Housing” comes with a negative connotation. The differences between lower case affordable housing and upper-case Affordable Housing are these stigmas. Upper case Affordable Housing connotes government intervention and subsidies housing, it creates a division between many people. Lower case affordable housing is a basic human right. This whole week we have been focused on breaking down these divisions. Creating a partnership is key, we have had the amazing opportunity to meet multiple of the homeowners.  For me knowing that even though I am making even the smallest difference, these differences do not go unnoticed for the homeowners.

This week has been so amazing. We have met so many amazing people who have dedicated their lives to this issue, they are truly inspiring. I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect all the amazing concrete experiences with a much more developed idea of the abstract issue. Housing affordability is an issue that affects more than just Tacoma, it is an issue everywhere. This week has taught me that there is no easy or correct answer to the questions about housing attainability. However, it is through organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the AmeriCorps volunteers that these issues begin to be addressed.

Tessa Johnson

Just Like Us

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March 5th

We returned to the Habitat for Humanity full of eagerness to continue the work we have started on Tuesday. We were gone for only one day and already it seemed that much progress had been made. For one of the buildings, what was once a skeleton of a house was a more solid structure with the addition of interior walls and wood paneling. It seemed clear as to how this progression was possible – upon entering the site we saw many new faces belonging to regular volunteers, who were scurrying around busy at work and must have contributed significantly to the building’s construction. We were able to mingle with these regular volunteers while completing appointed tasks, and in addition, had the honor to work with future homeowner Miriam. Throughout day we have nail-gunned wooden frames, sealed houses with glue, cut out structural insulating foam, grouted tiles, hammered panels to frames, and completed other various work. For me, working in the same space as Miriam and regular volunteers revealed how interconnected communities can be, and shows how important these types of interactions are for Habitat and other organizations on the quest to create affordable housing.

In the evening we had a great dinner with Jesuit Volunteers (JV) Alex, Meghean, Anna, Katie, and Grace. We learned that each were involved with various volunteer programs ranging from beekeeping to helping run shelters for those experiencing houselessness. They shared their experiences, some claiming that while their services may be difficult in some aspects, it was still fulfilling, whether it was because they shared laughter with the houseless community or because coworkers strongly supported mental health. After dinner we toured the Jesuit house, looking at pictures, artwork, and various other belongings past Jesuit Volunteers left behind. We learned that the JV lived minimalist lives. They functioned with no car and earned a humble income for food. To me, it was a way of life that reflected the lives of those the JV were serving. It was a reminder to erase the “us versus them” mindset, which was especially important as we continued our immersion journey of learning and service. People experiencing vulnerability are just like us and we should never forget it.

Alysha Naone

Flowers and Bullets

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by Meghan Potter

“They tried to bury us, they did not know we were seeds”

On the morning of our last full day in Tucson we met with a group called Flowers and Bullets. This is an organization that is trying to politicize and organize their community through two very simple things—food and art. The abandoned school that they have turned into a farm is where we met, and we learned about the importance of accessible sustainability for the neighborhood. We got the chance to help work the land, pulling weeds and prepping  crop lines. As for the art, Flowers and Bullets designs merchandise and paints murals for the neighborhood. The art serves as an act of resistance to the oppression so many people in Tucson have experienced. So much of this week has been so heavy, and working on the farm was a moment of hope, a moment of peace. Meeting with groups like Flowers and Bullets is so beautiful because it reminds us that no one is alone in this fight. I am so blown away and inspired by the resilience of all the people that we have met with this week, because despite the struggle people are always willing to fight. There are so many people out there doing the work to fix the problems of the world and ultimately what it’s all about is finding community. This organization is using two simple things, food and art, to build up a community.

Students working in field.

What stuck with me most from meeting with this group was their name, Flowers and Bullets. When I asked where that name comes from, Jacob—one of the founders of Flowers and Bullets—explained that the name resonated with people for a lot of different reasons. According to Jo-Jo, a community member helping out at the farm, Flowers and Bullets reflects finding the beauty in the struggle. The stark contrast of hope and pain is represented so perfectly in the image of a flower growing out of a bullet. For me, that’s what this whole experience has been about. Flowers and bullets, beauty and pain, hope and heartbreak.

Legal Immigration Simulation and Visit to the San Xavier Mission

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San Xavier Mission on Tohono O’odham Nation

by Brooke Niemer

Today we started off our day simulating different situations that migrants face. We represented thirteen different individuals trying to gain citizenship in the United States, compared to the millions of people who apply for citizenship per year. Each of us had a different character with different socioeconomic statuses, home countries, education levels, and family situations. For my character, I was a white male from the United Kingdom who was a millionaire and a soccer player, and I had a criminal background. Just because I had money, I had the quickest way to gain citizenship. After hearing everyone else’s stories, it was a very hard realization that if often takes decades to even have a green card or a work visa. Even those who have families in the U.S. does not always give them a hand up when trying to attain citizenship. It was so frustrating to hear that people who are living in fear and extreme poverty, are still not able to have an easier path. 

Then we traveled to the San Xavier Mission. Upon arrival, many of us were confused about why we were there. We took a walk and rock climb up to the top of a hill with a cross on top. It was an opportunity to reflect on our immersion and life. I also realized that that we are on stolen land and recognized how beautiful the land is. Then I walked around the mission, and mostly into the church. It was very beautiful and different memorials were set up and candles were laid down in honor of people. During reflection this evening, we came to the understanding that we were there to realize the history of colonization and forced religion upon the native people. We had to reflect on religion and the impact it has on society, and ways that religion and spirituality has positively and negatively benefited society.

Operation Streamline

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by Noa Higgins

There is a gathering of people in the court room. Our group of 14 lines two benches in the back of the large room. This is the place where justice is supposed to be served, where the judge hands out sentences to those who have broken the law in order to uphold the standards that we have put in place to protect our society. But here before us, we see officers passing out headsets for translating to the individuals sitting in the chairs. Each one is shackled by foot and those around their hands are connected to a clanking chain hugging their mid-drifts as they shuffle through their motions. And while the building presents itself as a professional place of justice, the situation before us pleads the opposite. The individuals calmly and quietly sitting in the chairs are not criminals with the goal of harm. They are individuals with faces of compliance, there to filter through the system that we have created for them, without truly understanding their sentencing. They are the people who were found, attacked, and arrested by border patrol in the desert, two days ago at the same time and place that we were walking through the trails. What is it that the system does not see here? Not only the system in general, but what does border patrol, and all of the individuals who play a direct or indirect role in condemning these individuals not see here?

What is it? If everyone else in the court room were to be given brown skin, Spanish as their first language, and a story about how they barely escaped violence, persecution, starvation, injustice etc. in their home country, imagine how different things would be. Imagine if the defendants each were able to explain their situation, telling the judge about their last meal at home before they grabbed their backpack and left. Each defendant explaining how he kissed his brother, mother, wife, son one last time before promising he would turn himself in if necessary so that they would not be left wondering where his body was. Or, in what was the case of many pleading asylum in the courtroom today, telling the judge how when they heard that final death threat from that group back home, they knew they had to get out as quickly as possible.

Because it is sometimes impossible to make others empathize, why have we created a system where there is no room for sympathy? Operation streamline doesn’t even give individuals their basic right to a full trial; they are herded like cattle through the doors, up and out of the chairs, to the microphones to say “si, si, si, culpable”, and back out the doors. Fifteen people standing in a row at a time, and one group right after the other for more than an hour, five days a week. The only thing most of these individuals are guilty of is searching for a better future for their kids, more working hours even in the worst of the jobs, safety, and refuge. It is sickening to think about how different things would be if the people sitting in the chairs in front of the judge were white and English-speaking. It is difficult to say what it is that those in favor of the system could possibly see, but it is clear the dehumanization that happens within these courts. Justice is in no way being served here.  

Finding the words to express what we recently witnessed is incredibly difficult. But the faces of the individuals looking back at those who are their to watch their “hearing” is something I believe none of us will ever forget. While sitting on the court benches as well as now, I find myself feeling helpless, only knowing to pray fiercely for protection for the brave people who had hope and justice cruelly ripped away from them.  

students entering Federal Court building for Operation Streamline

by Alexus Garcia

Extinguish

I struggle to picture myself in society after this experience

I feel stuck

Bound by theoretical shackles that could have very easily been my reality

Do you admit that you crossed the border illegally?

Immigration is divisive

Often classified: not for the dinner table

I exist in a world where my peers support the death of those who do not look like them

Are you pleading guilty voluntarily?

There is no economical benefit worth the inhumanity that is the United States Immigration System

I do not wear this flag with pride

I do not tolerate any individual that supports past or present policy

Do you understand the rights that you are giving up?

Hearing my name called in that court room

Garcia

Garcia

Garcia

How do you plead?

Culpable

A powerful reminder that everything we have as individuals is sheer luck

Due to my family

Who have sacrificed so that I could Flourish

It is a blessing that I was born in this country

Free from political corruption & poverty

By some random power

I was gifted safety & a life with loved ones

Protection under a government I am ashamed to call mine

Tucson

Nogales

A day of mixed emotions

Guilt

Anger

Vergüenza

Fortune

Still learning how to re-enter this world containing a fire I didn’t know existed

It Takes a Village

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March 4th  

Today’s big event was the Urban Studies Forum on Attainable Housing hosted at University of Washington, Tacoma. The forum brought together a variety of people to address the issue of attainable housing from multiple angles – even though there is still a lot to be understood about this complex problem, there are a lot of people creating strategies to try and address it. The keynote speaker from University of Illinois at Chicago talked about the importance of not just making affordable housing but keeping it affordable. She pointed out the irony in building a large number of small living spaces in the name of affordable housing, because even though these types of living spaces are great for solo individuals, studio apartments aren’t going to help those who are often the most in need of affordable housing, like families where parents make an income, just not enough to buy a typical market property. And when rent for such places is more along the lines of what a professional earns rather than a low-wage worker, such housing options aren’t actually affordable for the people they’re meant to serve. Expanding on that, she emphasized that it’s not just about making affordable housing, but keeping it that way, for those who occupy the space after.

Local government officials spoke at length about how attainable housing is being addressed in Pierce County where the cities of Tacoma and Auburn are located. They took questions and comments from local citizens and encouraged them to share their stories so that as elected officials, they could better do their jobs in serving those they represent.

In discussions titled “Learning from Others”, national affordable housing experts spoke on what housing insecurity looked like in Denver and Westminster, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota and the strategies being used to address them there. In Colorado, there was an emphasis on tackling the supply side of affordable housing using zoning codes and other policies to ensure that housing is not only affordable and attainable but also stable.

I especially enjoyed the talk given by the representative from Minneapolis. Her presentation showed how race is a hugely important factor at the center of the affordable housing issue. It may be tempting to think about confining the problem to non-white neighborhoods where the income disparities are the largest and affordable housing is most in need, highlighting just how systemic the issue is. Luckily, Minneapolis is making headway through housing reforms that will bring development across the city to all neighborhoods, not just the non-white ones.

Even though the talks were very technical, the passion that all these people had for the issue was very clear. From policy makers and strategists to non-profit workers interacting with people face-to-face, they are all working towards helping people and making more affordable housing a reality, not only for their own cities but across the country, and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. Because at the end of the day, this is an issue that affects the lives of people. The endgame is for people of all backgrounds and all situations to be able to own a home, simple as that. I never realized it before, but there are a lot of benefits that come with the capacity to own a home, and that really speaks to my own privilege. I’ve never had to worry about or see my parents worry about paying rent or choosing between rent and food. Being able to live in one place provides stability and encourages loyalty to a place, helping to grow a sense of community. Further, ownership can be empowering – knowing that something belongs to you, that you have something that you can leave behind to your loved ones is powerful. I’m grateful to have heard from so many perspectives and I’m really looking forward to continue working with Habitat for Humanity to build a place for someone to someday call home.

Jennifer Ng

Fear and Desperation on the U.S.- Mexico Border

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By Aidan Hall & David Vargas Puga

Our first view of Nogales, Senora set a tone that would stick with us for the rest of our excursion. The U.S-Mexico border cuts straight through this community, and measures have been taken to ensure that loved ones stranded on opposite sides cannot even hold hands across this line. The level of militarization of this border resembles that of places like the “demilitarized zone” that divides North and South Korea, who have technically been at war with each other for the past 65 years, but unlike these two nations, the U.S and Mexico ostensibly have a symbiotic
and friendly relationship.

  • Jose Antonio Mural

The war comparison unfortunately starts to make more sense when discussing the fate of José Antonio, the 16 year old Mexican boy shot 10 times in the back and killed by a U.S Border Patrol officer on the Mexican side of the border in 2012. The involved officer alleged that he felt threatened by the rocks Antonio was throwing at him, though despite the immense level of U.S surveillance of the area in question, no video footage was ever provided that could verify this claim. Other murders have occurred in the past few years following this exact pattern, and no Border Patrol officer has yet faced justice for their crimes. To be effective at achieving the goal of “American security,” the border wall needs protection: razor wire, security cameras, and guards with guns who have the willingness to use them at the slightest provocation. In Nogales, Sonora, the border is not just a wall or a barrier, but a threat, a loaded gun aimed at every Mexican citizen in sight, and the U.S doesn’t want to see any sudden movements.

On the other side of the border, and the other side of this issue, is the desperation faced by people like Daniel (name changed in respect for his privacy). As he tells it, he was forced to leave southern Mexico, from his home in Michoacán after the passage of NAFTA in 1994, which devastated the Mexican agricultural economy. Mexican farmers could not compete with the heavily subsidized American agricultural products flowing across the border after the establishment of continent-wide “free trade,” and as a result many thousands of workers were forced to seek employment elsewhere. Many of these migrants, like Daniel, decided to set their
sights on the United States. Unfortunately, U.S officials seem to have foreseen this situation, or at the very least, were ready to respond to it. The U.S Border Patrol introduced a new strategic plan in 1994, which attempted to reroute migrant traffic from the safe ports of entry in cities like Nogales to the more harsh and uninhabited desert regions of the border. The militarization and securitization of safe ports of entry would be accelerated sharply, and the border would be left less fortified elsewhere in order to bring this about. This plan of “Prevention Through Deterrence” had the express goal of endangering the lives of migrants coming from Mexico and
in doing so discourage them from making the journey, and for this reason, Daniel promised himself that though he yearned for the opportunity that the U.S had to offer, he would never attempt to cross anywhere but a safe port of entry.

Of course, as everyone knows, many migrants still do attempt this desert border crossing, and this speaks to the stark absence of economic opportunity throughout the country. As we learned, though there is much work to be done in Nogales, working at the various American-owned factories there, the workers are compensated very little for their labor. For
example, in order to have the money needed to purchase a single pound of pork, a factory laborer earning the minimum wage of 19 pesos per hour would need to spend more than nine hours doing brutal factory work. An American in Portland, Oregon would spend less than 30 minutes working to earn enough to purchase this pork at their local supermarket. The standard minimum for the workweek of a Nogales factory worker is roughly 48 hours, and the pay from this work schedule leaves few able to afford the basic necessities of life, forcing them to take on more and more shifts. We, as privileged college students, on the immersion trip, were delighted by how low the prices were at the supermarket we visited, but for the average resident of Nogales such a trip is an excruciating exercise in budgeting. Many ordinary people work upwards of 60 hours per week, and still must worry about whether they have enough to make it to the next pay day.
This kind of life of constant, back-breaking labor and economic anxiety seems rightfully horrifying to us American students, but for many of those trying to get by in Mexico, this state of affairs represents the standard “middle class” experience.


Fear and desperation were the most prominent themes of the day, and I don’t think that any of us on this trip will ever be able to forget it.

Assembling Homes in Tyler Court, Tacoma, WA

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March 3rd

Today, our Affordable Housing Immersion 2020 group went to Tyler Court in Tacoma, WA to build houses with the partnership of Habitat for Humanity. Half of the group worked on assembling a house and with the time we had, they managed to put up a wall. For the other half, we first painted trims of assembled homes and then worked on the interior of a developing home by adding tiles to the bathroom wall, and some of us trimmed the tiles with a diamond and water saw. I was with the half that did not work on the house, but I hope to help with constructing the house the next time we are on site (Thursday, March 05, 2020). Weather wise, it was extremely bipolar; it was warm and sunny, then became cloudy, back to being sunny, and then sprinkled a bit (causing us to put on pause on painting) and then sunny once more. What can I say, that is the PNW weather! But majority of the time, it was extremely windy and chilly. Despite the unkind weather, I enjoyed working on a construction site and gain the experience. The purpose of collaborating with Habitat for Humanity is not to just build houses for the people who need homes, but to gain the abstract and concrete view of this social issue, get hands on experiences, and grasp a better understanding about affordable housing. For me personally, I got two things from today. The first getting to experience what it is like being a constructor. From an outsider perspective, I know that construction is a hard labor work, and from today’s experience, I respect people in this industry. The second thing I got was the sense of community and teamwork. By having various people come together to advocate, work together, and make a change, a lot can be done and can help decrease the problem to this social issue.

              After Tyler Court, we had dinner with the Tacoma Catholic Worker at Guadalupe House of Hospitality. This organization serves homeless and hungry in Tacoma, supported by volunteers, and they host dinner every Tuesday. The food comes from donations as well as time and money from the community members. When we arrived, I helped the leader of the organization, Elizabeth, in the kitchen and was fortunate to have a friendly and informative conversation at the same time. What I learned was that she has lived in Tacoma for years and was a baker before being part of this organization. I asked: what justice issues does this organization look at and whether politicians are doing their job regarding to this issue. What I got was that this organization looks at homelessness issues and advocate equity for all. For my other question, she brings up that politicians are not doing their job since instead of listening to people and their needs, they do what they think is best for the people. Hearing this, it was quite upsetting since I believe that for social change to happen, politicians must make change based on people’s needs since first off, the responsibility of a leader is to be the voice for the people and also, the people the ones who have the experience and the platform of social issues. Moreover, Elizabeth and I discussed how affordable housing and homeless is a difficult issue since there are two sides to it and no median. In other words, yes, it is upsetting to see people being houseless and coerced to move their tents, and have to compete for a space in homeless shelter, but yet, considering tourists coming, we want them to feel safe and feel welcome in which, that can be challenging when there is a lot of homeless people on the streets. To me, this issue is extremely complex since of course, there are people who needs help and works hard, but still cannot afford living under a roof. Yet, there are also others who likes to take things for granted and have everything come free to them.

              When it was about time to eat, I left the kitchen and sat on the outskirt of the dinner table since there were no more seats. What I noticed was that this organization was extremely welcoming and I adore their sense of community. Unfortunately, since I was involved in the kitchen prior to dinner and did not have a seat at the table, I was not able to converse to the older people there. However, there was this one worker who I talked to named Grace and we talked about why our immersion group is in Tacoma and where we are from. From our conversation, the thing that stood out to me was how homelessness is an under looked issue in Tacoma compared to Seattle and Portland. This caused me to wonder, what other smaller and not well-known cities have issues with affordable housing?

              Overall, today was an eye-opening and an incredible experience. I would not trade it anything else in the world. I am looking forward to continuing working on the site and grasp a better understanding on the issue of affordable housing. Furthermore, I hope to get answers to my questions such as why people cannot afford homes, what are some best solutions to reduce this problem, and how can people’s voices be heard?

Vy-An Nguyen

No More Deaths- Migrant Trail Walk

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by Abby Kassa

Today was a significantly influential beginning to our Border Immersion experience. We participated in a desert walk in Arivaca, Arizona approximately 5 miles from the border which also involved dropping off water and canned goods at three different points on this walk for the individuals and families migrating from Mexico. I found myself having conflicting thoughts and emotions throughout the experience. Although I developed a deep appreciation for our ability to gain the slightest insight into the harrowing journey that migrants experience and were able to provide a form of service through the placement of canned food and water at various points, it was difficult for me to realize the reality of my privileged position.

For us, this was a short hike in which many of us guiltily enjoyed the natural beauty of Arivaca’s landscape, found ourselves excited for the lunch that was promised and awaiting us back at the trailhead, and indulged in the comfortable thoughts of returning to the Borderlinks base in Tucson. We did not share the fear of migrant individuals hiding from life-threatening situations. We were not leaving our families behind—possibly for good. We were not on day seven of our journey: tired, famished, and dehydrated. We were not fearing individuals who consider us ‘aliens’. And we were not fearing that Border Patrol or right-winged activists would force us into detention centers, detain, harm, or kill us if they found us. Although this walk was thought provoking, I am mournful and angered by my inability to empathize with these oppressed migrants as I wish that I could. With the commencement of this immersion with the desert walk, I hope to continue through this week in a mindset that is aware of the privilege that I hold and how I can utilize and transform this privilege into fruitful action that aides to end the unjust, racially charged mistreatment of migrant individuals. I wish to aide in the hope for migrants that is expressed through the humanitarian efforts of various groups that we met—and will continue to meet throughout the week— such as those at Borderlinks and the No More Deaths Abuse Documentation Working Group. From the brutality and harrowing experience of the migrants that I have been made more clearly aware of today, I am reminded of the importance to perceive each human being on an individual level and to furtherly be a source of hope and relief for those individuals that need it the most.

by Vanessa Hernandez-Zepeda

Today was the first full day and I am already struggling to wrap my mind around what we have learned thus far. The day consisted of two main events: the desert walk and an abuse documentation presentation. Coming into the immersion, I was most looking forward to the walk through the Arivaca Desert. However, this initial excitement was quickly disturbed by the looming presence of border patrol agents located at the checkpoint and the trailhead. The walk through the desert served as an important reminder to check my privilege. Specifically, the hike was a reminder that we are participating in this immersion in solidarity with immigrants rather than charity. Although we were leaving water and canned food along the trail, the goal of this hike was to gain a better understanding of the treacherous journey individuals are willing to make in pursuit of a better life.

Throughout the hike, I found myself struggling to understand my place in this timeline. After all, both of my parents are immigrants from Mexico who came to the U.S. in search of stability. Reflecting on their experiences as immigrants was humbling. This realization made me grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with a group that understands the significance of taking up space in the desert. Even after learning about Prevention Through Deterrence – a border patrol strategy implemented in 1994 that forces immigrants to more remote and therefore dangerous border territories – we were able to come together as a group to engage in a larger conversation regarding what gives us hope. In an immersion where we are filled with so many reasons to not be hopeful, I am comforted by the fact that we can find hope through the meaningful conversations we have with one another.

Education, Empowerment and Exercise

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March 2nd

Today was a day of education, empowerment and exercise. We arrived at Habitat for Humanity to receive an orientation for the week working on site by our Americorp volunteer Virginia. She spoke about the history of Habitat founded by Millard Fuller and since his work Habitat has served around 9 million people in 70 countries.

In Tacoma/Pierce County, they have built over 280 homes since 1985. Habitat’s main goal is to provide permanent housing affordability for individuals by partnering with families to first build the home and then provide an affordable mortgage. Something that stood out to all of us was the concept that Habitat emphasizes which is, this process of building a home, being a “hand up” not a “hand out”. Families must agree to work 200 hours of “sweat equity” working along side habitat workers and volunteers to build these beautiful homes. In addition to this, families take classes to learn about the power and responsibilities around home owning. Providing that education is a key aspect in this because having that knowledge of what it means to be a successful homeowner is so empowering.

There is quite a bit more I could say about Habitat but I think the main take away is the impact of Habitat’s work. Virginia emphasized that when individuals and families become homeowners they have sense of relief but also empowerment. Homeowners are more likely to vote. Children of homeowners are more likely to graduate from college and become homeowners themselves. Habitat has been very successful in keeping people in their housing which helps generate a community that families can depend on.

Later in the morning we had the opportunity to speak to a panel of community members in Tacoma. Daniel Murillo, the Housing Division Manager in the City of Manager, Maureen Fife the CEO of Habitat and Amanda DeShazo, who works for Tacoma Affordable Housing Consortium.

Each individual plays a different role in regards to affordable housing but they also all worked really close together when addressing this issue In Tacoma. An important takeaway from this panel was how complex this issue is and the importance of solidarity among individuals and companies working on providing more affordable housing. It isn’t on just one group of individuals or nonprofit to “solve” affordable housing.

 Another key take away from this panel was addressing the challenges of affordable housing. One of these being money. Not only is building a home very expensive but the restrictions that come with where non-profits like Habitat get the money. This is part of Daniel’s role where he works to fund a lot of the projects around affordable housing. Another challenge that comes up is the community. Both Maureen and Amanda work to advocate to encourage communities to pass housing levies that will help provide funds for housing. In addition, speaking to members of the community to ensure that the housing being built is what the community wants. Providing a vision to the community is just as important.

The last point I want to touch on is the stigma and stereotype on who is receiving this housing. There is a wide range of people who receive these services and working to break these stigmas and stereotypes is so important. I think this connects to one of our Moreau Center Commitments of Solidarity. We are all human beings who deserve a home, community and love. Maureen spoke about bringing a face to those receiving affordable housing is one way to break these stigmas and help people realize that it isn’t just one group of people that need housing affordability.

It’s very challenging to sum up an almost 2 hour panel because of the complexity of this issue but I think we all came out of the panel feeling more educated and empowered ourselves on this. I personally was very grateful for the opportunity to speak to these individuals and for them to give their time to share their knowledge on this topic.

After the panel we drove to the beautiful Point Defiance park to have lunch and go on a very refreshing and needed hike. (photos below!) We ended our day on a delicious spaghetti meal and night of reflection and games. There is an eagerness and excitement to get on site tomorrow and help build some homes!

Sophia Riccardi