Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Statement on Cliff Manor
August 12, 2010

One challenge for MDHA in August of 2010 is caring for hundreds upon hundreds of homeless people each day who are well equipped to live successfully in supportive housing with none available. They wait in long lines to get food and medical care and end each day in crowded homeless shelters. Another challenge is being able to respond effectively to some neighbors in North Oak Cliff who find it counter-intuitive that formerly homeless people can recover and be positive neighbors.

To move forward with what we believe is "doing the right thing" and  adhere to what to us seems very clear in terms of the rights of the disabled-- and simultaneously anger good people who believe differently is not easy. However it is easy for advocates to be perceived as cavalier or self righteous if they do their job with integrity. The reality is that there are countless neighborhood associations; there is but one homeless alliance. And we need to speak for the homeless first.

In the case of the task force request last night to delay move ins for six months; we just could not agree to this. Speaking just for me I still feel conflicted about sacrificing half of the supportive housing units in Cliff Manor to create "good will." It was not an entirely rational move but one meant to help us move on with some civility around the long and sad affair of cliff manor and the homeless. I believe the majority of people on the task force who represent north oak cliff are sincere and talented people. But most don't  likely have the experience of seeing people who have lost almost everything recover. I have seen this over and over but that is what I do for a living and what I have experienced in my life.

It is clear that the Task Force members  don't  trust MDHA or homeless service providers to "do the right thing" in terms of their neighborhoods.  Trying to keep one's integrity as an advocate and at the same time respond well to a community that has  concerns (if we believe they are founded or not) is a balance we are struggling to find. Working with the task force can still be important even though they walked out of the second meeting after issuing an ultimatum. The three points that their statement believes were neglected are not problematic. That said,  it is not the case that we need neighbors to provide oversight to do our jobs. We do need their creativity and ideas to help cliff manor be as terrific as it can be.

Perhaps the new starting point is to convey to the new formerly homeless neighbors that they are welcome and they are wanted. There is no reason to  expect anything but success for people who have worked hard to regain their self respect and often their very lives. The people at the center of this controversy and the ones that I wish we could focus on are the formerly homeless neighbors who are now living at cliff manor and the reduced numbers that will follow.

Being portrayed as needing neighborhood leaders to judge their numbers and scrutinize their problems and programs is not what they deserve. Speaking for MDHA-its time to either help and support what is left of the opportunity for formerly homeless people at cliff manor or stop this drain of time and energy that takes us nowhere. Task Force colleagues; please decide that formerly homeless people and the agencies that serve them have legitimacy in this public housing facility that has operated in North Oak Cliff for decades.

Michael M. Faenza, MSSW
President and CEO
MDHA