WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, November 16th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have a Few Minutes with the Mayor – a biweekly segment where WFHB News poses questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues. More coming up in the bottom half of our program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, United Way of Monroe County has secured over 5 million dollars in funding for the 2021 Heading Home project – a long-term guide to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in the community.
Monroe County and Jackson County Collaborate on Watershed Monitoring
On November 11th during the Monroe County Storm Water Management Board meeting, MS4 Coordinator Kelsey Thetonia informed the board about a contract they have with the United States Geological Survey, and explained Monroe County’s support of the project moving forward.
“The stream gauge was put in as part of the lake Monroe watershed management planning effort. And they will be using the data in the Watershed Management Plan,” said Thetonia. “And they hope to use it in the future as they begin implementing the Watershed Management Plan to hopefully see measurable improvements in water quality due to the reduction of nonpoint source pollutants.”
She said that Jackson County has gotten more involved, and will take on the contract with USGS since the gauge is in their county. The Monroe County Water Fund is requesting that the board fund three thousand and five hundred dollars in 2022 for Lake Monroe Watershed monitoring efforts. Board of Directors Chair of the Lake Monroe Water Fund Jane Martin spoke to the board.
“We at the Lake Monroe Water Fund are trying to build a coalition of the counties particularly the upstream counties that have a big effect on our water quality and so engaging,” said Martin.
Board member Lee Jones agreed that the collaboration with Jackson County was exciting. The board unanimously approved to help fund the replacement of the stream gauge. The next board meeting will be held on December 8th.
Local Government Pledges More Than $5 Million to Combat Homelessness
Local government has pledged more than 5 million dollars to combat homelessness in the community.
During a press conference last week, local officials announced the Heading Home 2021 funding partnership. United Way of Monroe County secured funding from the City of Bloomington, Monroe County and the townships of Perry and Bloomington, according to Executive Director of United Way Efrat Feferman.
“Housing insecurity and homelessness were on the rise even before the pandemic, both nationally and locally,” said Feferman, “And we’re here today because our communities began taking action on a collective level that change that trajectory.”
United Way of Monroe County, the Community Foundation of Monroe County and the Housing Insecurity Working Group conducted a report titled, “Heading Home 2021: A Regional Plan for Making Homelessness Rare, Brief and Non-Repeating.”
According to the report, over half of Monroe County residents are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent. As a result, the lack of affordable housing leads many individuals to experience housing insecurity – one of the many contributing causes of homelessness. The 11-page report says it seeks long-term housing solutions to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in our community by embracing a “housing first” approach.
It outlines three main goals in addition to strategies and objectives to address them. Those goals include making homelessness rare, brief and non-repeating. CEO and President of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County Tina Peterson elaborated on what those goals mean.
“The housing plan that we have constructed collectively, is grounded in the concept of housing first,” said Peterson, “To quickly and successfully connect families and individuals to permanent housing, without preconditions and barriers.”
The city had committed 1.2 million dollars to support the initiative as a part of its Recover Forward initiative. Deputy Mayor Don Griffin said that the City of Bloomington will dedicate an additional 1.5 million dollars for the project in 2022.
Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas said the county designated 1.2 million dollars in the here-and-now, plus an additional 1.2 million in endowment funding for long-term solutions to combat homelessness. To read the full report, click here.
Feature Report:
Now it’s time for A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a biweekly segment where WFHB Assistant News Director Noelle Herhusky-Schneider poses questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues.
In today’s segment, Herhusky-Schneider discusses a new domestic sibling city relationship the City of Bloomington will undertake with Palo Alto, California. We turn to Herhusky-Schneider for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Tod Wicks and Benedict Jones.
