"PHAR" is the Public Housing Association of Residents. We're a nationally-recognized non-profit organization, founded in 1998 to build grassroots leadership among public housing residents in Charlottesville, Virginia. PHAR's mission is "to empower low-income residents to protect and improve our own communities through collective action." Welcome to our Web site!
Public Housing Association of Residents
1000 Preston Avenue, Suite C
Charlottesville, VA 22903
ph (434) 984-3255
fax (434) 220-0511
Deirdre Gilmore, Board Chair
phone: (434) 296-2114
Holly Edwards, PHAR Coordinator
phone: (434) 971-1200 or click here to e-mail
Remarks by Riverside resident Sherri Clarke, upon graduation from the 2007 PHAR Resident Intern Leadership Program -- 6/24/07
I first would like to give honor and glory to God, and give thanks to my kids, who have supported, encouraged and put up with me during my comings and goings. I was remembering when I was a little girl, going over to my cousin's house, who had lived in "the projects" (as they are called) and the kids in school thinking and saying that people who live in the projects were poor and don’t want anything out of life but to take the free ride of being in the projects.
Well, today I stand proud and humble to be here celebrating the accomplishment of completing the internship program with PHAR (Public Housing Association of Residents). I stand to address the cliché about the projects known as Public Housing. I hear a lot of people saying, “I can’t go in the project or you need to get out of the projects." When I think about our busy society, people on the move are always people planning and they have a project in mind. So you see today, where I come from a project is good, as well as being a community and a home for where I live.
I have always believed that “home is where your heart is." So, as I say from my heart what the projects mean to me, I hope that today you will understand how important the projects and the people can be. The projects to me represent:
P- PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE
R- Reaching for their goals
O- Outreach organizers
J- Joining together
E- Exalting their communities
C- Caring for their families
T- Talented and gifted
S- Standing for dignity
So as I stand here, as a resident of public housing, I say to you: the next time you meet someone, never judge them by where they come from or where they live. Thank you.
In summer of 2006, PHAR was pleased to host a major statewide conference for residents and advocates of low-income housing in Virginia.
"Save Our Housing, Save Our Homes" took place on Friday, June 9, 2006, from 9:00am-5:00pm at First Baptist Church (735 Park St.) in Charlottesville. Almost 200 resident leaders and allies from across the state participated in this event.
Sponsors included PHAR, the Legal Aid Justice Center, Virginia Organizing Project, Quality Community Council, Virginia Poverty Law Center, ENPHRONT, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
This conference provided an excellent opportunity for participants to get educated and get organized around low-income housing issues at the local, state and federal levels. Guest speakers included Ed Williams of ENPHRONT, Barbara Sard of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Alex Gulotta of the Legal Aid Justice Center, Joe Szakos of the Virginia Organizing Project, and many others.
Workshop topics included:
* Strengthening Your Resident Association
* Use of Resident Participation Funds
* Update on Federal Housing Issues
* How Can We Make Homeownership More Affordable for Our Residents?
* Gentrification -- Race, Class, Housing
* Strategies for Successful Statewide Organizing
* ...and more!
PHAR would like to thank everyone who attended this very special event, and all of the individuals and organizations whose sponsorship and support helped to make it possible.
