A jobs program on the west side of town to reengage teens. An expanded police presence on the east side of town.
The Housing Authority of New Haven/Elm City Communities ( HANH/ECC) is including those two features in a response to the uptick in violence in the city, particularly as it is affecting vulnerable residents in public-housing developments.
That news emerged Tuesday afternoon at the regular meeting of the HANH/ECC, which was convened via the Ring Central video-conferencing app.
Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton asked the commissioners to approve a resolution to spend $10,876 for additional police services at Eastview Terrace from July 26 through Aug. 31.
The resolution passed unanimously.
The funding will pay for shifts of extra-duty New Haven police officers in four-hour blocks, of two officers on foot or in a cruiser. The cruiser will be dedicated to patrolling Eastview, DuBois-Walton explained.
Over the past weeks, the family development on Eastern Street, at the foot of Bella Vista, has been the site of shootings. One resident was struck by bullets and is in the hospital, she said.
This week and next, HANH/ECC staffers are also convening community meetings, she reported, to address the violence and general issues at Eastview as well as the St. Anthony Townhouses, two scattered-site developments of 16 units. She said HANH staff is concerned with issues raised by kids being out of school and unconnected, as they might otherwise be busy with clubs, sports teams, or summer jobs.
DuBois-Walton praised West Hills Alder Honda Smith for helping to organize with HANH a summer jobs program for about 20 14 – 16 year-olds to work at the McConaughy Terrace development, where they live.
There are other pieces to HANH’s plan, she added, including rolling out the activities in other developments.
“We’ve identified those of our families who might be particularly at risk at Eastview and at St. Anthony’s Townhouses, and we’re holding meetings there already,” she said. “But we’ve gotten very concerned with a number of young people out of work and who need to be engaged.
“We want these people to be busy and not be a [tragic] headline, and we’ll roll this out in other developments,” she added.
We need more summer jobs and activities for youths age 13-18. If young people had more jobs and constructive activities and mentors then they would be less likely to fall prey to the violence and mischief out on the streets.
The Devil makes work from idle hands.