COPC Working Group on Housing

Meeting Minutes

March 21, 2005

In attendance: Daniel Friedson, Jamie Cortazzo, Erin Ramsay, Laura Halula, Jamie Rayman, Kelly Hoffman

Ms. Ramsay reported that planning for the Dumpster Project has started. OPDC held a meeting with 8-9 landlords to start planning for the April dumpster project. The landlords said they did not want to financially support dumpsters in April and felt that the dumpsters were not necessary until August. They said they thought contractors were the only ones using the dumpsters in April. They would support a truck that went around and collected the unwanted furniture, trash, etc. from area apartments. Ms. Ramsay said she would research the costs of the truck service and OPDC would continue to work with the landlords and other stakeholders to determine the best course of action for April.

Ms. Ramsay said the landlords seemed interested in the idea of the used furniture sale. Ms. Rayman said that CMU has an electronic bulletin board where students can advertise the furniture they want to sell.

ACTION: Jamie Cortazzo said she would do research on the logistics of having an electonic bulletin board.

Ms. Halula said OPDC is going to be planting wildflowers on 5 vacant lots in S. Oakland. OPDC recently met with PA American Water. They will be donating “residual materials” left over after they treat water. OPDC received a donation from the Schenley Farms Garden club. Ms. Halula said that due to the uniqueness of this partnership and project, OPDC plans to try to get as much media coverage as possible.

Ms. Rayman said that she has recently begun the process of compiling a list of International student organizations and the services that they provide (e.g., transportation from the airport) for incoming international students. She is hoping that this list will be helpful to new International students.

The working group discussed the closing of the hostel in Allentown and the need for a hostel. It was mentioned that the San Lorenzo club is still on the market and if OPDC purchased it, we could explore the idea of using some of the space for a hostel. This would help alleviate the problem of lack of short term housing for International students.

Ms. Rayman reported that it the requirement for a co-signer on a lease often is very problematic for International students. American students often have their parents co-sign but this is often difficult if not impossible for International students. Ms. Hoffman suggested that if they can show in writing that they have the funds to pay the rent each month, the landlord may be willing to waive the co-signing requirement. Perhaps the advisors and OIS could serve as liaisons between the landlords and the students and the students convey their ability to pay.

It was suggested that looking at how other schools advise their students on this issue may be helpful.

The working group discussed the off campus housing survey. We have the results in raw data form but we do not have anything in writing on the methods or conclusions. We need this information so SGB can try to get the results of the survey published.

ACTION: Ms. Ramsay and Ms. Halula will complete this write up. They will also modify the survey for International students, based on the discussion at the working group.

ACTION: Ms. Ramsay will contact our web developer and find out how much it would cost to get the survey web based.

ACTION: Mr. Friedson will invite the director of the Fair Housing Partnership to the next Working Group on Housing meeting.

Other Updates:

Ms. Hoffman reported that construction has started on Chesterfield Rd. on the next 4 units of houses.

Ms. Cortazzo reported that her brochure distribution went well.

Mr. Friedson handed out information on services the Homeownership Center will offer.

The next COPC Working Group on Housing will be: APRIL 14^th at 2:30pm (please note that this time has been rescheduled from the date originally decided at the meeting due to a conflict with the COPC Regional Conference)