Community Development Begins With You

On May 2nd, the City of Fort Wayne announced that it would begin enforcing weed and grass ordinances outlined by the Neighborhood Code Enforcement Department. This isn’t a new thing and not something we should get bent out of shape with the City about. This policy has it’s weaknesses, but it’s not all bad. 

     

Here is Neighborhood Code Enforcement’s Mission:

We exist to provide proper enforcement of minimum 
housing standards with a commitment to integrity 
and excellence in customer service.

We should be thankful that there is a governing body that focuses on keeping people on top of home maintenance and repairs. Some neighborhoods would be in even worse shape than they are now if it wasn’t for them.

Unfortunately, as Code Enforcement enforces these repair orders and pose subsequent fines on homeowners that choose to let their homes deteriorate under their own will, there are twice as many people in low-income situations that cannot perform the required tasks who become at risk of losing their homes.

Here’s the simple Code Process: Code officers patrol neighborhoods and respond to calls posed by neighbors. They inspect the properties in question and give the homeowner a list of repairs needed and a date to have them done. The homeowner must show progress and/or have the problems fixed. If they don’t, they begin receiving fines. If those fines and the problems continue to go unmet, then the City can put a lien on the property and force the homeowner to court for unpaid fines. If the homeowner cannot pay the fines, the homeowner will lose the home.  There is more to it and each situation is a little different, but that’s the quick overview.

The biggest drawback of Code Enforcement is that offers no closed loop assistance for those that physically and/or financially cannot afford the repairs. We could talk for hours on whether it’s even a good idea for them to try to provide assistance. I’d say it’s not the right decision for them to provide direct services. It would be better if they supported more organizations like NeighborLink who could attempt to provide the services.

      

NeighborLink has been helping Code Enforcement project for years. Each year we take countless mowing projects and receive a large number of requests from homeowners facing fines. NeighborLink and the City are working on funding solutions that would allow us to assist on more involved projects. We’d be happy to take every Code Enforcement project that comes up in which the homeowner cannot perform the work.

Why? 

because it’s our mission to provide practical, neighbor-to-neighbor expressions of God’s love. We are living out the love that has been given to us. We need more volunteers who embrace this sense of purpose and call to keep up with the demand.

Also, because we believe a lot of these projects are neighborhood and community issues. They are our issues. We’re the neighbors with the resources who can help. An 80 year old widow who’s lived in the same house and neighborhood for 30+ years and can still live independently shouldn’t be forced out of her home because she can’t mow her yard. Regardless of faith, this should be enough of a motivator. 

It shouldn’t be the local government’s responsibility to use our tax dollars to pay contracted mowing companies to mow the grass of our neighbors, especially when it’s something as simple as mowing. Most of the seniors and people with disabilities are living on fixed incomes of less than $1000 a month, which barely covers expenses, let alone hire a mowing crew on their own or pay a fine.

With all the talks of community solutions, community development, economic development, and quality of life, I know there are folks that live around us that won’t experience the same enthusiasm because of the tangible need they can’t overcome. These high level conversations are falling on ears that will never believe it’s attainable without some practical actions being made they can experience.

I believe community development to be most successful when it’s focused on one person and encouraged to be reciprocated. No matter how big the plan or vision is, if it doesn’t call us to on the ground action one neighbor at a time, it won’t take off. 

      

I encourage you to grab a mower, visit www.nlfw.org, become a coach and find a neighbor that’s asking for help. Mowing projects are starting to come in and there is desperation in the voices of those asking. A senior on a fixed income cannot afford a fine and shouldn’t bear the burden of getting fined. 

Community development begins with you.