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Ideology hopes for invisibility
(by Barbara Christian - May 06, 2010)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Ideology hopes for invisibility
By most standards, we live in pretty affluent communities in the Chagrin Valley, and so we have this bubble philosophy that tells us, "Nothing bad ever happens here."
Unfortunately, bad things do happen here. Like becoming invisible. It often comes with age and need and sometimes both. They become inconsequential, dismissed as that old guy up the street who lets his lawn grow too long or that elderly woman next door whose house could use a coat of paint.
But the invisible have a cautionary tale to tell about how bad things can happen. It's politely called "changed circumstances" when illness or personal economics take a nose dive.
Some of the invisible own homes they have lived in for years and wonder if they will outlive their money before a furnace, hot-water heater or roof decides to go on the blink.
The good news is there is hope for these folks through our government's social services and senior citizens organizations that help the elderly tap into resources. In Cuyahoga County, the department of development operates a program for low- to mid-income homeowners of all ages who qualify for its deferred, low- and no-cost loan program. It takes care of major home repairs and code violations and offers home-energy assistance.
Chagrin Falls and Hunting Valley are among the few towns in the county that have opted out of the program, even though it costs nothing to join.
It's likely that Hunting Valley residents will not qualify for the assistance, but Chagrin Falls is not Hunting Valley, and there are people in our town who could use the help.
In fact, one Chagrin resident tried to access the assistance only to find he could not get the help he needed, because the village never signed up for it or didn't know it existed in the first place.
That person let the village know about it, and now our town leaders are looking into joining. They are likely to do so, as long as it doesn't tamper with Chagrin's sovereignty, its charter or other regulations. It should be a no-brainer, since no participating town in the county has had a problem.
The only thing that may stand in the way is ideology. We already heard one person say, "We only had one request, and one does not a need make." True enough, unless you happen to be the one. Then it means everything.
Another harrumphed about the county program being "another layer of government we don't need." Unless the extra layer means the difference between a leaking roof and a sound home. Then it means everything.
One sniffed about how we don't have that kind of need here. Besides, joining the program admits that we do, and what will that do to property values?
The better question is what will that says about our values, period? Particularly when we choose to blind ourselves to our neighbor's need. Do we think that, with a little benign neglect they will go away, become invisible?
We would be the first to say Scripture and the Bible have no place in making government policy. But maybe we could make an exception for the part about being our brother's keeper.
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