Site Partner: Design Corps

Available:  Two (2) positions beginning September 1, 2008

Deadline:  n/a

Decision:  n/a

Contact:  bryan@designcorps.org

Job Description:

COMMUNITY NEED:

In reaction to the unjust and substandard housing conditions and the potential to create better designed and thoughtful alternatives, Design Corps has developed the Farmworker Housing Program to build quality new housing on farms where there is a need. This project, a pilot project for farmworker housing in North Carolina, is designed for former farmworkers who have themselves lived in the challenging housing conditions and are now determined to set higher standards for farmworker housing. The program combines benefits of manufactured processes and site built construction for the optimal benefit of each. According to the National Center for Farmworker health, migrant farm labor supports a 28 billion dollar fruit and vegetable industry in the United Sates, the greatest majority of which is hand harvested. Despite their integral role in our food economy, migrant and seasonal farmworkers are some of the most economically disadvantaged people in the United States. North Carolina is home to the fifth largest farmworker population in the U.S. According to the Housing Assistance Council, “Farmworkers are among the hardest-working people in the U.S. They are also among the poorest. Farmworker poverty, along with other factors, leads directly to a lack of decent, safe, and affordable housing.” (Migrant & Seasonal Housing Report, Sept 2003). Overcrowded rooms and substandard housing conditions promote the spread of diseases, such as tuberculosis, measles, emotional distress and upper respiratory infections. Many earn less than $10,000 annually and over 60% of families have below poverty level incomes. Low income correlates to poor health and farmworker housing conditions, are often substandard or non-existent. In the sate of North Carolina, over 150,000 farmworkers and their dependents labor each year in crops including tobacco, greenhouse and nursery, Christmas trees, vegetables and fruits; 10,000 farmworkers in the targeted area (NC Dept. of Ag. And Consumer Services, 2004). Each farmworker labor contributes over $12,000 in profits to NC’s economy annually  (Larson A., Farmworker Enumeration Study, 2000). 47% are food insecure; 9.8% suffer from moderate hunger; 4.9% suffer periodically from severe hunger; Inadequate housing, overcrowding and poor sanitation conditions promote the spread of diseases, infections and emotional distress; 70% live in overcrowded conditions; 3000 seasonal, migrant and resident farmworkers and their families, living in the Sampson county in North Carolina; Fifteen years ago, the farmworker population was largely African American and white. Today, the vast majority (85%) are Latino, primarily Mexican (Quandt, Arcury et al, Public Health Reports, Nov-Dec 2004).

In an attempt to improve housing conditions, The North Carolina Department of Labor has developed Migrant Housing code regulations. However, even “Gold Star” growers who are providing some of the best housing options, minimally meet required state codes which call for only one laundry tub for every 30 workers, one shower for every 10 workers, one toilet for every 15 workers, and neither mattresses nor telephone access in case of emergency. The kitchens only require one burner per 5 people and .75 cubic feet of refrigerator space.  Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and unsafe structural defects are just some of the realities of farmworker housing. Unsanitary conditions are often exacerbated solely based on the fact that up to 48 workers are sharing a kitchen, and in such large quantities. The Member activity will be to create a true partnership that involves the farmers and the workers in the process of developing the design and making it affordable to both through the assistance of federal funds, which are secured by Design Corps from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.  Due to past work of Design Corps Members, the NCHFA now recognizes farmworker housing as a significant need group in the state. They will fund up to 75% of the project cost contingent upon the farmers agreement to maintain the housing and use it only for farmworkers for a minimum of twenty years. The farmers then provide 25% of the project cost, the land and the maintenance costs. Design Corps sees this as a way to bring good quality housing at a very reasonable cost to farmers who are often struggling for funds to provide adequate housing.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

The migrant housing program is directed by a broad coalition of farmworker advocates called the Housing Development Corporation which was founded in 1990 by NC Council of Churches Farmworker Ministry Committee. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to address the inadequate housing conditions faced by farmworkers in North Carolina. Member organizations include the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, Heifer International, NC Cooperative Extension, Good Works, Student Action with Farmworkers, NC Farmworkers’ Project, NC Rural Communities Assistance Project, and Design Corps.  A critical component of design process is the realization that addressing issues of farmworker health is a holistic practice.  Housing is a key component to ameliorating farmworker health, but must be considered within the context of food security, nutrition and economics. Design Corps’ process is a participatory process supported by a vision that is realized when people are involved in the decisions that shape their lives, including the built environment. This design process involves a synthesis of ideas from three major stakeholders; the farmer, the farmworker and the State Housing Finance Agency. This participatory process is composed of meetings, surveys, discussions, and is integrated with material and manufactured housing research to provide housing options that are affordable, durable and sustainable. The surveys provided valuable information about farmworkers’ daily schedules, cleaning off after working in the fields, how they like to spend their limited free-time and ways they might relax such as spending time on a screen porch.

This project reflects planning by a coalition of farmworkers and representatives of non-profit, governmental and faith-based organizations working together in central North Carolina. The Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry (EFwM), located in Sampson County is a key partner in this project in terms of day-to-day contact with farmworkers. EFwM  is a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.  EFwM has provided support programs for farmworkers in Sampson County for over twenty years.  Last year they served over 6,000 farmworkers and their family members.  They have helped and will continue to help us coordinate all advisory groups and identify migrant housing need.  Specifically for this project, one Advisory Group of farmworkers, government, non-profit organizations will guide the project to assure that it has long-lasting, regional impact.

FELLOW’S ROLE:

Design Corps has developed a model migrant housing program over 15 years.  In 2005, Design Corps had migrant workers deemed a special needs population which accesses a $10,000,000 grant fund for housing through the State Housing Finance Agency.  In 2007, the state legislature requested that the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) propose a method to provide a supply of new migrant housing. Design Corps has been working with the NCHFA and local advocates of the Farmworker Advocacy Network (FAN) to create the model in response.  Furthermore, new immigration legislation includes a guest worker program that requires new housing.  This program is becoming the only way for farmers to have available work force and thus creating an urgent need for new housing to be built.  This is a rare opportunity to increase the supply of quality migrant housing.  The Members role will be to implement this new model and to follow the steps of the Design Corps process to work with two farmers and their workers to design, fund, and implement two projects housing 50 migrant workers.  The steps have been refined over fifteen years of experience with migrant housing and are summarized as follows: (1) Initial query received from farmer interested in providing housing to meet state requirements. (2) Complete Needs and Feasibility Assessment. (3) Site visit and discussion with farmer and farmworkers about housing needs and the housing program. (4) Determine infrastructure needs and develop suitable schematic plans. (5) Farmer, farmworkers and FAN review of design development, plan and elevation drawings. (6) Farmer and farmworkers and FAN give final approval. (7) Bidding process. (8) Application to NCHFA for 75% grant funds and payment for farmer’s share (25%) of construction costs. (9) Construction of units.

IMMEDIATE GOALS:

• Collaborate and organize with local partner agency, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, to define and serve needs of farmworker through monthly meeting with an advisory committee of ten farmworkers.
• Coordinate the efforts and activities of the eight member organizations of the Housing Development Corporation, a consortium of farmworker advocates through monthly meetings.
• Identify two funding sources and seek approval from North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for a model migrant housing project
• Design and price a manufactured migrant housing unit.
• Promote the use of the Design Corps migrant housing program through relationships with two public and two private human service organizations such as the NC Department of Labor and the NC State Housing Finance Agency.
• Strengthen the relationships between Design Corps, farmworker advocacy and service organizations.

TARGET RESULTS:

• Design Corps designed homes are adopted as a model of quality migrant housing in Eastern North Carolina.
• Greater access is available to quality, affordable, safe housing stock for the migrant population in Eastern North Carolina.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have:

• A degree in architecture or planning, landscape architecture.
• Experience/study in construction, urban design, urban policy, community service, non-profit or non-governmental organizations is a plus but not required.
• Ability to speak Spanish a plus but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work with diverse groups, and the demonstrated capacity to move between cultures, disciplines, and professions.
• Highly organized and motivated.