Seems like a couple times a year I see a non-profit project go up in smoke due to public outcry from the neighborhood in which the project was due to be sighted. Here’s a recent article regarding an outreach at a University Place Church to illustrate the point. Neighborhoods rightly concern themselves with housing projects and programs that will be moving into the area.
Issues like increased traffic, noise, unwanted foot-traffic, and fear of unknown neighbors lead people to want to fight any development.
Our Adams Sq. project has been an example of neighborhood cooperation and support. This is due largely to a couple of key factors:
1. Cooperation and Information in Early Stages of Planning. Our project was crafted with the help of the Oakland/Madrona neighborhood in which it will be built. Their input on issues and our willingness to put our promises into a contract at the very beginning helped to create a positive outcome for both the Tacoma Rescue Mission and the Oakland/Madrona Neighborhood.
2. Info, Info, Info. In my estimation, many of the NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) issues arise from disinformation or lack of adequate info. By providing information early in the process to citizens at all levels (neighborhood groups, neighbors, Policy makers, law enforcement) you can help to avoid a situation where fear spirals out of control. Early on in the development of the Adams Sq. project we provided a list of details, contact info, and forums for feedback to help shape the housing project in Oakland/Madrona. This helped to calm any concerns the neighbors had in throughout the re-zoning process and in getting an agreement with the neighborhood group.
3. Interact personally with neighbors. I personally believe this is the most important part of any project – the leaders need to get out and talk with the people affected by the project. I’ve personally be out door to door through the Tyler Sq. and Adams Sq. neighborhoods as well as having a Mission rep. regularly meeting with the business owners around our New Life Sq. facility. There are many reasons why people don’t do this (fear of angry responses, timidness, belief in the superiority of an “air war” won through direct mail, and awkwardness) but I’ve not heard of a reason that would convince me it isn’t absolutely vital. People NEED and DESERVE to be heard when you are working with large people groups in their neighborhood.
While I’ve gotten my share of nasty calls, been chewed out, and generally treated rude on my door to door excursions, the overwhelming majority of people are just please to know they can be heard. They want to know who they can talk to with any question they may have. This is reasonable. As far as handling the criticism that is inevitable – That’s why they call it LEADERSHIP. You’ve got to get out front and lead. 
You’re not always going to get it right, I’ve not always gotten it right. You certainly won’t be able to control all of the unknown consequences of locating a church/shelter/soc. service in a neighborhood. You can however, make every effort to be transparent and open with the neighbors and listen.
P.S. HERE’S THE COPY OF THE LETTER I TOOK WITH ME ON MY DOOR TO DOOR OUTING RE: ADAMS SQ.:
Dear Neighbor,
I’m David Curry, the Executive Director for the Tacoma Rescue Mission. I stopped by your house today, but you weren’t available, and I wanted to keep in contact with you regarding the construction we have begun on our new Adam’s Square Family Center project.
We realize that construction is not the most enjoyable activity to have going on in your neighborhood, and we want to make the process as painless as possible.
We want to be good neighbors and ensure that the project has as little effect on your lives as we can achieve. There will be contractors and workers driving back and forth on Adams Street. If they cause any undue or excessive disruption such as speeding, please let me know so we can fix the problems.
We anticipate the project to be completed in August 2010. If you have any questions or concerns about the project, please feel free to give me a call. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. Our number is (253) 383-4462. If I am unavailable, please call Bob Kilmer at (253) 383-4493.
Sincerely,
David Curry
