Neighbors Place – The First Year
What’s it like having eighteen women living in Neighbors Place? I’m writing this from the perspective of a person – who happens to be male – who has an office in the building and is in at least five days a week. It’s great! I come in early, about 7:00. Typically, a couple residents stop my office on their way to work to wish me a good day. I try to walk the halls every day to see if anything is OK. Some days I’ll get a request to fix a dripping sink or change a fluorescent light bulb. The Neighbors Place population has been relatively stable. Since taking occupancy in September (the top floor) and December (the 2nd floor), perhaps four individuals have moved on. But with the partnership with Housing Opportunities, a new tenant is always on the waiting list. About half the women work, the rest being on Social Security or disability income. For the most part, the apartments are as neat and clean as Felix’s room in The Odd Couple.
There is a palpable sense of pride among the residents: “This is my home.” During the summer, the southern patio was often occupied with women enjoying the warm weather, chatting with each other. Now that it’s cold outside, the lower level, “Her Place,” gets more use. With comfortable furniture, a TV, game tables and an exercise machine, there is relief from cabin fever. But easily the most popular feature of “Her Place” is the stack washer and dryer. We’ve had some social events for the women. A local contra dance group holds dances in “Her Place” once a month and the ladies are invited. There were Christmas parties and carolers in the hallways and an occasional birthday party. Mostly I observe one or two women cutting out coupons, playing cards or watching a movie on DVD. With rare exceptions, Neighbors Place is a quiet, safe and economical place to live. I should clarify that. It is always safe and economical. A few times the smoke detectors have gone off (if one beeps, they beep in all the units) because someone has burned her toast. And I get an occasional call from a resident who has locked herself out of her apartment. Neighbors Place was an experiment in small, efficient housing. It seems to be working.
A letter from Darryl Jackson
On August 29th, 2015, my life took an unexpected turn which has had a significant impact on me personally, as well as on the Valparaiso community. While this incident has created an enormous amount of controversy, it has produced extremely important dialogue here in NWI, amidst the current climate in our nation. We have been afforded a great opportunity to turn the corner with an issue where both sides involved have signed a joint statement. The statement had four parts: 1) Acknowledging my heightening of the situation, 2) calling for continued dialogues, 3) calling for the implementation of quarterly events, and. 4) calling for mandated Implicit Bias Training for Sheriff's deputies across Porter County. Project Neighbors has been instrumental in supporting me and this effort by attending meetings, engaging in thoughtful dialogue, and providing a stage for my statement to be read publicity. I want to thank the Valparaiso community, Project Neighbors, the HRC, and individuals across the nation for their support and encouragement throughout this process. I look forward to being a part of the change moving forward.