Fayetteville City Council to discuss declaring housing crisis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Fayetteville City Council members plan to discuss declaring a housing crisis within the city through a drafted resolution that acknowledges there’s a housing shortage with plans to take action.
The people leading this push want to see action that leads to real solutions for housing to be more attainable in Fayetteville.
“This is a problem and it’s a problem that we have to take a close look at,” said Fayetteville City Councilmember D’Andre Jones for Ward 1, Position 2.
Jones and the residents of Fayetteville plan to bring more awareness of the city’s housing crisis to the agenda for the city council. Residents have been signing a housing crisis resolution petition.
“That is circulating, asking the city council members to declare a housing crisis here in Fayetteville,” said councilmember Jones.
Residents also plan to bring action to the city’s housing crisis with the help of a rally and press conference in front of Fayetteville City Hall.
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“Making sure that they are heard, that their stories are heard and that they can believe in city government,” said Jones.
“As a culmination of those community members, those active citizens that have been impacted by the housing crisis in Fayetteville. And it’s really them creating a call to action,” said Fayetteville city councilmember Sarah Moore for Ward 2, Position 1.
Jones and Moore are both sponsors of the petition but also support the rally and press conference.
“Over half of our households in the city of Fayetteville are cost burden for their housing, but that we really see those faces, what they look like,” said Moore.
If passed, the resolution will put in place a task force, a housing member, and coordination for the city. The task force will have the goal of researching and listening to requests made by residents to create solutions. Moore hopes voices will not only be heard at the rally and press conference but at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“We will hear a wide-ranging set of stories from individuals, you know, of what the impact has been to them,” said Moore.
As for Jones, he hopes the city council will bring a listening ear to what those in the community have to say.
“They can believe and rely on their government to advocate for them, to listen to them and work on solutions that are in their best interest,” said Jones.
The city council is set to discuss the housing crisis resolution at Tuesday’s city council meeting at 5:30 p.m.
You can find the full resolution which will be presented at the city council meeting, here.
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