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*CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> She continued, Ownership, we have ninety-three (93) South Bend owners. We have thirty-five <br /> (35) out-of-state owners and approximately six point five (6.5) properties on average per owner. <br /> We were asked to supply a map and here it is (referencing a slide in the presentation). This is the <br /> map of the failed inspections that we've conducted as of the end of May, June 1st. I'm sorry it is a <br /> little bit blurry, but it was the best we could do. And then this is the map of the passed inspections, <br /> which were twenty-one (21). The working group feedback, so as you know, we were asked to put <br /> together a working group. It has been fantastic. This (referencing a slide in the presentation) is <br /> some of the feedback we got from folks. They agreed the program was needed. They feel it is <br /> fulfilling its purpose and it is responsibly using City resources. It is affecting those people who <br /> really need it. They are pleased with the accessibility of the data on the program. They have been <br /> supplied a map of served areas which we've also supplied to you all today. They are requesting <br /> data on if the unit is occupied or not. Occupied Upon Inspection is not something we initially did <br /> but is something we have started to do. So, we are doing the best we can on trying to gather <br /> information on whether or not the unit is occupied or not occupied. This emphasizes the need for <br /> more affordable and safe housing options in the City of South Bend. That will require a <br /> community-wide effort and is something that is bigger than all of us in the room. We are really <br /> going to need to work together to increase the affordable and safe housing out there. Obviously, <br /> that is the overall goal of this program. Eventually, there will be a lot of safe housing in the City <br /> of South Bend but what are we doing until then? <br /> She went on,We are using this information and common violations will continue to develop better <br /> educational resources for those people so that they do pass the first (1st) inspection. We do want <br /> landlords to be aware of what it is we are looking for, again, to save both their and our time. Why <br /> do we do what we do? These are our inspectors (referencing a slide in the presentation). These <br /> are the inspectors that are a part of the RSVP. The gentleman with the hat on, he is the Chief <br /> Inspector. We do it because we run across issues like these(referencing a slide in the presentation) <br /> and nobody should have to live in these types of conditions. We do it for the single working mom <br /> of four(4), living in this condition right here(referencing a slide in the presentation). We do it for <br /> the veteran who can't get assistance from their landlord and is just living in a totally unsafe <br /> situation. And, we do it for a person who is displaced and forced to live out of her car with her <br /> young child, until she can find safe housing. Those are just a few examples we are reminded of, <br /> day in and day out, why we do this program and why we are all here today. Our Program <br /> Coordinator, Shelby, is going to share a little bit about her first (Pt) hand experience. She is the <br /> face and the voice of the tenants and landlords. Anyone requesting an inspection or calling with a <br /> complaint, Shelby is the person who they speak with. <br /> Shelby McGowan, RSVP Coordinator for the Department of Code Enforcement with offices <br /> located on the 13th floor of the County-City Building, stated, I want to talk about one (1) of our <br /> first (1St) condemned properties we had. The tenant called just to make a complaint about the <br /> property he was living in. We had Inspector Steve go out and do an inspection and we did end up <br /> having to condemn the property. It was said that if we had one (1) more rainstorm, the chimney <br /> could have fallen on the property next door. Then in the basement, the cracks and the gaps in the <br /> cracks of the foundation were extremely large. The tenant was also a disabled individual and they <br /> had a case worker with Oaklawn. I personally knew the property owner because he owns other <br /> properties in the City. I had his phone number and called him. He was concerned for this tenant. <br /> He knew of his lifestyle and everything, so, he gave me the case worker's phone number. He also <br /> gave back the four hundred dollars ($400) of monthly rent. He asked me to call the case worker, <br /> too, just to make sure the case worker knew this was pretty serious. The tenant did not want to <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 1 TD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 7 <br />