Live blog: Ability Housing Springfield meeting

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Packed house and they are still entering the women's club. Approx 200 people currently here.

The beloved Doug V will officiate. A wise choice for this controversial meeting

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Slammed packed

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Calvin Birney is here

Action news. First coast news


JSO

Obviously the meeting will not start on time as people are still coming in 

Councilman Lumb

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Bill Hoff addressing the crowd.

Daryl Griffin is here

Cm Guliford

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The crowd gives Doug some love.

Talk of overlay and special uses.

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Ground rules:

1. Read questions submitted

2. Time will be limited

Ability housing (Shannon Nazworth) is speaking

Overview:  owns 255 rental units throughout jax. Own three multi family properties.  Encourage everyone to visit.

Not special use  single occupancy unless married couple.

She's nervous and needs to pause

She talks about the Reno of the property 

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She goes on: 

About the grant.  They could only find the property due limitations of the grant.  The location was important.

They didn't think they'd get the grant.

She apologizes for not getting in touch with the neighborhood when they heard

People yelling for her to speak up

Restless group

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Changed mics

Talking about the grant applications. Veterans comes up.

They didn't want to commit to the grant the service to only veterans

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"Yes we will be serving homeless veterans". We will be serving others if no veterans are available

Background cks. We are more lenient than the average landlord

They allow felons but only if not recently. No sex offenders

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No services by ability but va will provide to veterans if appropriate

If they are in violation of their leases they will evict   They will evict if illegal activity

If they are not a good neighbor they will not be able to stay

No on site staff. But they will screen knowing this.

Someone will be visiting the propert weekly

She's thanking spar board.

They will prioritize homeless vets currently living in Springfield

They will contribute to the securty find and ask the security fund to keep any eye on the property

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Current residents   They don't know about this yet. They will provide financial support if necessary --  if they have to move out

They have brought a resident from ability housing who tells about her journey.

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So this isn't a vacant building?

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Tiffany tells her story about be a working mom living in a shelter

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So this isn't a vacant building?

No

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Ability housing is done

Doug is setting some ground rules

"Could you explain how you came up with the Reno costs "

Based on their other projects

"What is definition of veteran"

Using VA definition.

"Why did they hide their plans from the community ". The crowd explodes   

AH had no intention of hiding anything. We have learned our lesson. We will never do this again

AH has always been welcomed in other communities

Crowd doesn't buy it