noahmanyika.com

Today I went back to visit Double Oaks, the low-income community in North Chalotte that was my home for three years from 1995-1998.   What is left of Double Oaks is what you see in the picture on the left.    Double Oaks has gone the way of the other low-income communities such as Piedmont Courts, Belvedere Homes, Earl Village etc.   Soon it will be replaced by mixed-income apartments as Charlotte continues its aggressive policy of deconcentrating poverty.

I am certain that anyone trying to stop the gentrification train would not succeed.  Neither do I think that would be the right thing to do, particularly if the new communities truly become mixed-income communities that welcome the poor along with others who have more means.    The troubling question is: during these times of transition as we build new communities, what is happenning to the people who used to live in these communities today?  Where are the children from Double Oaks today?  

What stares us in the face, and should shame us as a city, is that there are over 2,000 children that are homeless in Charlotte every night.     The deafening silence of the citizenry of Charlotte, Churches, agencies etc, is puzzling and indicates fear that if we talk about this openly, then we will somehow be seen as being against progress.     I am convinced that if we tried, we would find that we can chew gum and walk at the same time, that we can support progress while at the same time showing that we truly care for the least among us, particularly the children.

Can we eliminate homelessness for Children?  YES WE CAN!  It is a cause worth your investment.   To join the movement, visit www.nexusnews.org and go to the campaign page.