Why Must Windsor Park Be Austin's Dumping Ground?

Dear Editor,
    Why must my neighborhood be Austin’s dumping ground?
    Why shouldn’t Austinites share our community responsibility to care for the less fortunate?
    As Chronicle readers may know, a new low-income and homeless resident housing development has been proposed in the Windsor Park neighborhood at 5908 Manor Rd. Readers may not realize that Windsor Park is already doing its part to provide this type of housing. According to 2007 Austin census data, my neighborhood supports approximately 115 Section 8 households. By contrast, other Austin neighborhoods to our west host drastically fewer: Hyde Park has only four Section 8 households, and Tarrytown has none. Why must my neighborhood bear our community’s burden while more privileged neighborhoods neglect to do their part?
    Windsor Park residents are proud of our beautiful homes, our proximity to Downtown, and our vibrant and diverse community. We’re also proud to give a second chance to those in need. But we’re tired of bearing that responsibility for all of Austin. Local residents voted 53-1 against an amendment to our neighborhood plan that would allow the low-income and homeless housing development at 5908 Manor Rd. I urge city officials to respect my neighborhood’s wishes, and I encourage Austinites to share our community’s responsibilities to help the less fortunate.