Homeless Forum: Dickinson School of Law

Wednesday, October 2, 2016

7:00 p.m.

Opening Remarks for Mayor Scott

Good evening,

First and foremost, on behalf of the Borough of Carlisle, a warm welcome to each of you for attending

this evening’s forum on the issue of homelessness – a topic that is uncomfortable for many, but one that

requires each of us to not only acknowledge, but to act.

Over 18,680 people call Carlisle home. These individuals take up residence in the Borough’s 8,404

housing units…each unit assigned a specific number known as an address. An address…it seems so basic,

but let us take a moment to digest its relevance...

An address is a destination serving a multitude of purposes….one can receive and send mail and goods

via an address. One uses an address to prove residency (placement) and stability (permanence) when

applying for employment, financial credit, services such as Social Security and Veterans benefits, and

leasing or purchasing a property. An address does even more though…it gives us (the people who are

fortunate to have one) a designated place to call home. For others, the idea of an address (or a home)

seems unattainable. It is often these individuals who are the forgotten, faceless, voiceless members of

society and the reason we are here tonight.

During a press conference over 12 years ago (October 1, 2004), the Borough announced “an end to

years of discussion and planning on what do with” a 1919 structure called the Molly Pitcher Hotel. At

that time and over the course of several long years, a collaborative effort had been undertaken to

address the deplorable conditions of the hotel and the health and safety of the disenfranchised who

occupied the property-a number of whom lacked proper identification; financial resources; medical and

mental care; and, emotional and spiritual support. Some deemed transient homeless.

Through proper planning, assessment of each person’s specific needs, and providing choices to these

individuals with regards to future permanent housing, these once voiceless and faceless people were

afforded opportunities that at one time would not have been considered attainable:

stability….permanence..a legal address….a place to call home. This effort, along with the renovation of

the existing hotel structure that is now home to income eligible seniors, has been touted as one of our

great successes. From there, the Homeless Task Force evolved and strides were made to

comprehensively address homelessness countywide through the “Home for Good, A Ten-Year Plan to

End Homelessness in Cumberland County”.

The Plan was the first of its kind for the County and by its own admission “ambitious”, “but one with a

clear focus - ending homelessness”.

The Plan noted that “the seeds of homelessness were planted in the 1960s and 1970s with the

deinstitutionalization of mentally ill people…however, widespread homelessness did not emerge until the

1980s with the loss of affordable housing…”. Lack of affordable housing and income not keeping pace

with the cost of housing were cited as primary reasons for this crisis.

Carlisle has always been fortunate in fostering relationships and partnering with both the private and

public sectors on quality of life issues like homelessness and affordable housing.

With respect to homelessness, there are a number of examples that I could point to this evening, but I

am mindful of time constraints. Thus, I will point to only one…Carlisle CARES at 60 West Penn Street. A

homeless day center concept that recognized the need to serve the homeless-individuals without a

permanent address nor a place to go between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CARES recognized the

need for homeless persons to be have an address that could be used when applying for jobs, benefits

and services, etc. And a place where the area’s disenfranchised could obtain basic life necessities and be

treated with dignity, consistent with the HTF’s Plan to end homelessness.

The need for affordable and improved housing surfaces often in the same discussions as homelessness.

Throughout the past 30 years, the Borough and its partner, the Cumberland County Redevelopment

Authority, have collaborated on initiatives such as the “Pride of Carlisle” Projects that started in 1998. If

you are not aware of these neighborhood revitalization projects, please take an opportunity to travel

through Carlisle’s Pride neighborhoods-areas such as North Pitt Street, North Street, East Street and

West Street…razing of blighted properties, construction of new homes, acquisition and rehabilitation of

existing structures all eventually sold to low-to-moderate income eligible, first-time homebuyers.

While each home possesses its own unique characteristics and address, these homes prominently

display the “Pride of Carlisle” plaque that distinguishes them from the others. The impact that these

transformed properties have had within their respective neighborhoods is commendable and one that

agencies like DCED has recognized in the past.

Fast forward to the present….advances are being made to transform a portion of the former Carlisle Tire

and Wheel site into affordable townhouse units. The developer, PIRHL, wanted to be part of Carlisle

because our community and the efforts made to date met PIRHL’s Mission which is “to thoughtfully

address the acute need and growing demand for affordable housing in America through the

preservation, development, construction and ownership…of homes”. The Borough will likely welcome

this new housing complex in 2017.

Tonight’s forum will likely touch on some of the reasons that factor into the state of homelessness-

factors like loss of income; lack of affordable housing; divorce and life status disruptions; health and

mental health issues; poor or non-existent credit histories; and, criminal records to name a few.

And while Carlisle has taken strides through the years to address homelessness and the issue of

affordable housing, I fully acknowledge that there is much more work ahead. We have not been

successful in ending homelessness yet, but as Julian Castro Secretary of HUD said in blog post last

Thanksgiving,

“To end homelessness, we must redouble our efforts at every level of government and among our

nonprofit and private sectors, make the most of every tool we have and continue to fight for adequate

funding. Right now, HUD can only serve one of every four Americans eligible for our services and

Congress has proposed further cuts. In addition to this, our nation is struggling with an affordable

housing crisis. As rents climb higher and credit is difficult to access, Americans are squeezed desperate

for the opportunity to buy their own homes and lift themselves out of poverty…This is the American

dream, one that Norman Rockwell’s Thanksgiving family symbolized: freedom from want, sharing a meal

in a safe, warm home”.

I personally do not consider myself an expert on the homeless issue, but I do consider myself one who is

open to difficult issues, willing to become educated on the issues of today, and subsequently act to be

part of the solution and not part of the problem.

If nothing else, let’s take away these final thoughts from Castro, “…we believe that every person counts,

everyone is worthy of an investment in their future, to live with dignity…together, let’s reaffirm our

commitment to ending homelessness”

THANK YOU