News

October 22, 2009

Meetings for housing crisis victims

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – Two local meetings – one of them with a representative of the United Nations – are planned this weekend for anyone affected by the housing crisis in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The NEPA Organizing Center and the Media Mobilizing Project of NEPA will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Organizing Center in Wilkes-Barre for anyone who is facing potential housing loss, foreclosure, homelessness or issues with public housing and Section 8.

“It is absolutely crucial that we connect with local residents that are facing housing issues so that we can gather testimony and begin to connect those affected by the housing crisis with available local services,” said Frank Sindaco, center coordinator.

Sindaco said he encourages anyone who can’t attend the meeting on Friday to contact the center by phone, letter or e-mail about their housing problem.

“We are asking all members of our community that are facing foreclosure or issues with public housing, homeless or housing loss to contact the NEPA Organizing Center and tell us about your needs,” Sindaco said.

The Organizing Center and the Media Mobilization Project then will host a town hall meeting with Raquel Rolnik, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Housing, at 1 p.m. Sunday at King’s College.

Rolnik was appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council to examine and report back on the housing situation of a given country, and Wilkes-Barre is one of the stops on Rolnik’s tour in the United States, Sindaco said.

The national housing tour, which is intended to highlight issues with foreclosure, homelessness, public housing and Section 8 housing in rural and urban areas, begins Thursday in New York.

Subsequent stops in addition to Wilkes-Barre include Chicago, New Orleans and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, with the tour concluding Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C.

“In preparation for this historic visit, we are seeking participation from the many Northeastern Pennsylvania residents that are directly affected by housing issues,” Sindaco said.

IF YOU GO

Housing Crisis Public Meeting

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: NEPA Organizing Center, 198 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre

Town Hall with Raquel Rolnik

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Snyder Room, Sheehy-Farmer Conference Center, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre

Anyone interested in participating in the town hall meeting should visit www.nepaorganizingcenter.org and fill out the online form, call 270-6372 or e-mail frank@nepaorganizingcenter.org.

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