SoWe, the community organization that serves Lancaster’s southwest neighborhood, is organizing a “community conversation” to discuss the local affordable housing crisis and homelessness issue.
It will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Tec Centro West, 57 Laurel St. It will offer an opportunity to learn more, share concerns and questions and and learn about options for community action, SoWe said.
It will feature the following speakers:
- Deb Jones: Director, Office of the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition.
- Dave Anctil: A member of the local Homeless Advocacy Board, made up of individuals with lived experience of being homeless.
- Milan Koneff: An outreach worker with the housing nonprofit Tenfold.
- State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster.
Homelessness and housing precarity have become increasing concerns at all levels: Local, state and nationwide. SoWe has been involved in several initiatives to help Lancaster’s unhoused population, most recently a “Lockers for the Homeless” pilot project.
Next week’s community forum follows one convened last month by members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Last Thursday, meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order authorizing the creation of Pennsylvania’s first Housing Action Plan, targeting both housing affordability and homelessness. The following day, Rep. Smith-Wade-El co-hosted a state Democratic Policy Committees hearing on homelessness at Lancaster’s City Hall.
