Just more of the madness....

[rosetree]

This was in today's TP. So..... you want to help the musicians who lost everything from the storm. You gather together some big names like Harry Jr., Bradford, the Edge, and you declare that you are going to build new houses to give to musicians for only the cost of the house. All of the dignitaries go there for photo ops. Now , when it comes time to get the musicians to move in, you tell them that because they are musicians, they are a credit risk, so they don't qualify!!!!:mad: This is the topsy-turvy world that we live in here...some things are just plain stupid, and some things just don't make sense.....

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1167720179104140.xml&coll=1

[ohio]

<sigh>

[funkkjunkie]

THAT's just wrong.

[Michelino]

Sheeshs...this has got to be fixed. Maybe we need a musicians' debt relief fund charity to get itself organized. But above all else, all of us who contributed and continue to contribute have to pressure Habitat. We must inform them that we expect Habitat live up to the vision to which prompted so many of our donations in the first place.

[NOLA]

This was reported in OffBeat several months back, but the story has just now found its way to the mainstream media. Here is the letter I wrote to OffBeat (never published) with regard to the story. I still believe there are some creative ways out there for this program to work...


Great story on the Musicians’ Village and the difficulty many of the applicants are facing with respect to their credit histories. This aspect of the story has gone largely unreported in the mainstream media.

I realize that the objective of Habitat for Humanity is for people to own their own homes. But the circumstances surrounding the Musicians’ Village and its target audience may mean that Habitat needs to consider an alternative approach.

The circumstances of the individuals who are the intended beneficiaries of the Musicians’ Village program are not typical of Habitat for Humanity clients. By the very nature of their work, musicians have difficulty verifying a steady source of income. A look at past and current issues of Off Beat’s live music listings could be one creative way of verifying that a musician has steady work. In addition, like thousands of other New Orleanians, many of these musicians lost any tax and employment records they might have had before August 29th. If the goal really is to place musicians in housing, Habitat should consider adding more staffers to help these musicians navigate through the process of recovering tax records, employment data, etc.

Although it may go against their “ownership” doctrine, Habitat could get a little more creative with respect to some of the musicians who are rejected due to bad credit. For example, Habitat could construct a few shotgun double style houses in the Musicians’ Village for rental property. By allowing those with bad credit (who would otherwise qualify for the program) to rent a home for a couple of years, those individuals could begin to re-establish their credit by making timely rent payments. A requirement could be that those who are allowed to rent a Habitat home must apply for credit counseling in order to further improve their credit. If they are able to clear up their credit problems within a couple of years, they would then be eligible to purchase a new Habitat home, and the rental property could be leased to another deserving musician. If Habitat doesn’t want to be in the landlord business, there are possibly real estate firms that could manage the process either on a pro bono basis or for a reduced fee.

Another idea is to allow applicants who would otherwise qualify to enter a “rent to own” program. The idea would be for the rental payment to be somewhat higher than a typical Habitat mortgage payment would be, with the differential being credited toward a down payment on the house should the musician decide to buy (and assuming he or she is able to clear up any credit problems). If, after some period of time (say, 2 years) the renter’s credit has not improved, then their lease would end and they would forgo the money contributed toward the down payment, which could then be used by Habitat to clean and refurbish the house for the next potential “rent to own” tenant.

The Musicians’ Village concept is something new and creative for Habitat for Humanity, and the organization needs to adopt some new and creative thinking so that the Village can fulfill its purpose of housing deserving local musicians.

[ozzie]

Obviously the finance and credit issues of musicians in general was a mystery before all the money was raised... I think not. Cheers to those who are trying to sort through this mess on behalf of the folk who were supposed to benefit.

[NOLA]

Here's another thought - if anyone wants to volunteer this year while you are in town for Jazz Fest, maybe we can find some sort of coummunity outreach program to help musicians work through their credit problems, fill out their paperwork, etc. to give them a better shot at housing in the musician's village. Also, perhaps the friends of New Orleans music in general and Jazz Fest in particular could donate toward a fund to help musicians pay off their debts so they will qualify for a home. I don't know whether such a fund exists but it would be worthy of consideration for the patry and raffle proceeds...unless our musicians can at some point find affordable housing in New Orleans, they will not be able to stay here and entertain all of us!

I think I need to pause here just to say a heartfelt "thank you" to all of the Threadheads who have donated time, labor, dollars, tools, raffle items, etc. toward the rebuilding of New Orleans and the restoration of our musical heritage. You are the best! I am sincerely honored to be associated with such a fine group of people.

[Amy Winette]

I think the rent to own proposal is a great idea for this situation.

I've actually done pro bono work for habitat when we had to foreclose on defaulting owners who filed bankruptcy. Other banks had gotten in there and gotten second liens (something that should now be prohibited by the deeds). The (very real) fear is losing these houses that were intended to benefit certain people to banks or other creditors in a default/foreclosure/bankruptcy situation.

[swag]

I have it on good authority that FestAid will be resurrected for '07. Updates in the coming weeks...

[rosetree]

FestAid??????? Someone please clue me in....

[Blitzzzzz]

Amazing, isn't it? To think they didn't figure this part out in advance. Seems to me Habitat is cruising for a huge PR black eye on this one. Anyone know Jimmy Carter's e-mail address??:cool:

[Rossvegas]

It's really hard to fathom how so many of these NPO's and government agencies are unable to think outside the box. Many of them seem to get wedged into their specific, narrow mandates and the real "problem" - whatever it might be - doesn't seem to get solved. A prime example is how FEMA's mandate precluded them from providing secure (and hurricane resistant) creole cottages because ther mandate doesn't allow for "permanent housing".

Someone out there has to realize that the Musicians' Village isn't a normal Habitat project. You're talking about rebuilding the very cradle of New Orleans' (and the US's) cultural society here! After all, what would Florence (or Italy for that matter) be without it's artisans?

I realize that we NOLA aficionados might be more than a little biased, but calling NOLA 'the cradle of US culture' isn't a reach...it's the truth. We're talking about 'reseeding' of a cultural forest here; the bedrock of the only REAL music to ever be invented on these shores. Surely to Gawd™ that's worth restoring, isn't it?

[mightyradgumbo]

I, for one, feel scammed.

While I understand habitat's need to maintain policy, that when undertaking a project such as the Musician's village they would have more insight into what they were actually getting into. A good many musicians, even in good times, live gig to gig. Given they are trying to re-establish themselves after the Thing, you would figure more creative methods of getting these folks housed would be explored. After all, it is called the Musician's Village, you would think they want actual Musicians in there.

I find it disengenuous for habitat to make statements like this "If I play the flute at home, but I do PR for my job, I can call myself a musician," Come on now, you know that is not the case.

NOLA, you come up with some very creative solutions. I also agree with Ross when he makes the statement about NPOs and Government Agencies not being able to think outside of the box. Typical bureacratic illness I refer to "head in ass" sydrome. This is where the agency has been by the book so long that they cannot think outside of the lines, therefore having their heads...well you get the picture.

I feel that we all should either collectively or individually write habitat and let them know that they have an obligation to do good on their promise to help rebuild New Orlean's musical heritage. I, especially being a donor to some of those fundraising projects and touting the good work they do, am contacting them to do the right thing and think outside of the box and to get more musicians housed.

[NOLA]

In addition to contacting Habitat directly and asking (demanding?) that they live up to their (implied) promise to help our musicians, we should also make sure Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis are aware of the situation. A little pressure on Habitat from the originators of this concept could go a long way.

[ohio]

This is really great dialouge! I have no idea how to set up a charity (though it seems that is what's needed to get musicians into Musician's Village). So I remember reading on the New Orleans Musician's Clinic web site that they sometimes help musicians out with their credit, finances, etc.

Unfortunately, they are in the process of moving off of WWOZ's server and moving onto their own (and have been for weeks now). I wonder if Ms. Beadhead or some other of us who worked with NOMC last fest has any valid contact info still?

[Amy Winette]

Jeff's got Bethany's info (I might even have it in my NOLA folder too, I'll look). It does sound like, from the article, there are folks helping with credit problems (but obviously a lot more is needed).

Swag, is FestAid the website that was set up last year to coordinate volunteer opportunities or is it something else? Very curious, would like to know how we can help.

[ohio]

I must have had a bad link, Saturn sent me a working one: http://www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/

[ozzie]

This from WWOZ web site...

Need help with Musicians Village Application?
Press Release August 15, 2006 by NO Music Coop

ELLA attorney Ashlye Keaton is now assisting local musicians who have attempted to apply for the Habitat for Humanity Musicians Village, but who have had financial issues which have kept them from being approved for the program.

You may contact Ms. Keaton by email at akeaton@edp.nocoxmail.com or call her office at 504-861-6404 to make an appointment to meet with her at Tipitina’s Music Co-Op.

ELLA is the "Entertainment Law Legal Assistance," operating from Tipitina's Foundation Music Office Co-Op, has been helping New Orleans musicians and artists in various media since January 2005. Attorney Ashlye Keaton is assisted by Tulane Law School students and the Arts Council of New Orleans in helping local artists resolve their arts business needs.

Mark Fowler
Manager
Tipitina's Music Office Co-Op
501 Napoleon Ave.
NOLA 70115
504.891.0580
mfowler@tipitinas.com
http://musicofficecoop.com

Maybe a phone call into Tipitina's Music Office Co-Op to see where our efforts would be most effective/practical. I'm happy to send an email, but a phone call from someione in the country might do better in the first instance.

[ozzie]

Just sent an email to Habitat.... won't do squat but holy crap it made me feel good!

[rosetree]

Ozzie : You never know, if enough people express their outrage, maybe (hopefully) someone there will "get it".